Xanadu Weyr - Clock Tower
The walls of the tower are the same dark gray stones that make up the outside of the tower. The central portion of the structure is open, so that one may stand in the center of the structure and see the top. Well…almost the top. A ceiling cuts off the view to whatever it is that's at the very top of the tower. Very little light comes in, just tiny beams of light from the arrow-slits in the walls. The floor is of dark hardwood slats, thin enough to have been worked easily but thick enough to provide protection from insects and wildlife that might be trying to get in.
A wooden staircase is built along wall, one that spirals up and up around the inner wall of the structure. It leads a workshop, where along every wall there are…clocks, of course! Clocks of just about every configuration one could think of, and quite a few that are outlandish enough to escape one's consideration at first. While most of these clocks are working, there are more than a few of them that aren't. The gentle ticking sounds fill the space, the clocks almost always perfectly in sync with each other-and with the ticking from the movement of the big clock above-and the sounds mingling together to form an ordered cacophony of sounds.
Clock parts are strewn across a table in one corner. There are a couple of cabinets with parts in them like the ones downstairs—parts that are significantly smaller than those on the first floor. These are obviously for the smaller clocks that are built here. There are no less than two large grandfather clocks in this workshop, both working.
A thick support threads through a large hole in the center of the floor, extending from below to above. A chain hangs beside it too, anchored high above, and the spiral staircase continues up, past a door on the outside and on to more storage space, dedicated to piles of crates with springs and "little" parts for the clocktower's main movement. Of course, the word "little" may not be the best way to describe it; some of these springs and levers are longer than a man's arm. And some of the gears in these crates a man could actually put his arm through the middle of easily.
There's been a recent rain that's left the spring day cool and the ground just a little moist still. The fresh smell of grass and wet wood from the nearby forest permeates the air. Kanekith lays sprawled in the grass, looking pleasantly content, as seen in the eyes as he watches the open door of the tall clock tower. The sound of seconds ticking away is rhythmic and soft…and possibly annoying if one pays too close attention to it. A firelizard pops in from between. A bronze fellow who gives himself a shake and sounds a rough-sounding chirp before popping off again. Ka'el sticks his head out from the exit door, glancing left and right and frowning. "Well, where is it then?" he asks the empty air, rubbing a hand against his somewhat disheveled head. Nobody and nothing answers him.
Kairoikyriath arrives on the scene first, lumbering through the damp grass with her rider distractedly trailing along behind her. Innes, it seems, is in the midst of a rather engrossing argument with herself which has her constantly removing one sleeve of her light jacket only to put it back on again. Ah, indecision. Making people look ridiculous since… well, forever. Kairoikyriath comes to a rather abrupt halt and huffs an annoyed sigh when it appears that Kanekith is in her spot. The spot that she decided she wanted the moment she saw him in it. Her rider, not paying attention, promptly walks right into the gold's stilled side. "Uhh." Blink. Innes trots a few steps forward until she can see around Kairoikyriath's body, grinning when she recognizes the prone bronze. "Lookin' good, Kanekith." A glance goes to the tower, and she arches a brow as she spots the missing bronzerider. "What're you up to, Ka'el?"
Oh, wait. This spot? This spot right here is what she wanted? Kanekith's head slowly swing in Kairoikyriath's direction, and…oh… he could move and relinquish the oh so awesome spot to the Queen but…meh. This is Kanekith we're talking about. And instead of doing that, he streeeeetches and yawns and gives his wings a wide stretch and flick for the ladies. Heeeeey ladies. A rumble is reserved for Innes as bronze wings are again folded to his back, and his attention again is given to his rider, whose head is still poked out of the door. Eyes are on the two arrivals now though, and both Kairo and Innes are given grins. "Hey! Perfect timing! Do you happen to have a screwdriver?" he asks as he exits the door fully, making screwdriving motions with his hand. "A very small one? I sent Alloy on a mission to fetch one, but first he came back with a trundlebug, then with one of Skyler's toys. Accordin' to Kanekith, he's just come back with nothing at all.." He snickers, head shaking. "Heart's in the right place, but his head is everywhere. What're you doing out here? Come to learn the ins and outs of clockwork?"
Yes, that spot. The spot that should be hers by rights because… well, because she wants it. Obviously. With a low rumble of annoyance, Kairoikyriath turns her head and pointedly ignores Kanekith's stretching a spot of her own. One that's better. Hrmph. Innes runs a hand through her hair as she eyes Ka'el with a bewildered expression. "A screwdriver?" Uh. "Do people just carry those around?" She, evidently, does not. However, she does grin as he recounts his tale of woe. "Just keep him at it, he's bound to get it eventually." What's a few turns in the grand scheme of things? With Kairoikyriath settled, Innes wanders over toward the doorway. "It's a bit of a bet, actually. She wants me to run up the stairs."
Do people carry screwdrivers around at random? … Huh. Good question Innes! Ka'el looks momentarily miffed. "I used to," he says, brows furrowing in thought. "Or…rather, no. I carried a hammer." As if that's not just as odd. "Though if you have a hammer, that won't be as helpful, unfortunately. I….er, I mean, someone felt it necessary to mess around with the clocks inside, and one timepiece has fallen apart. Bein' the good fellow that I try to be, I aim to fix it. … I've only come to adjust the clock tower's clock. There used to be a fellow that came to do it every once in a while, but I haven't seen him in a few turns and … someone has to keep an eye on the time." A smirk for that. "Again, it wasn't me." Just making that point clear! *cough* He moves nearer to the doorway with her and lifts his brows a bit. "…For exercise?" he asks with a snicker. "There are a lot of stairs."
Innes stares at Ka'el in bemusement as he regails her with the tale of… that thing he definitely didn't do. To which, of course, the junior promptly says, "So, you broke it and now you're trying to cover your tracks?" She arches a brow and tries to look solemn about it, but the smirk is still tugging at her lips. Curse the humor of the situation. "Well, I haven't got a hammer, or a screwdriver, or any knowledge of how to do anything with a clock other than break it, I'm afraid. But if you want someone to destroy the evidence, I'm your girl." And proud of it. She glances over her shoulder at the lounging gold, shrugging as she turns back to Ka'el. "Kai says I can't, so I have to prove her wrong. She thinks I'm not keeping up with exercise well enough."
"I did…what? Didn't you hear me? Someone else did it! Likely a … clock ruffian. An enemy of time," says Ka'el, slowly rubbing his hands together. "And as Weyrleader it's my duty to keep our clocks safe. How else would anyone know the hour? It'd be chaos. Everyone would be late. Deliveries wouldn't be made on time, and worst of all, the kitchens wouldn't know when to serve meals. This is very serious.." >.> <.< He grins and leans over to bump his shoulder against hers. "Eh, I'll find the tools. Eventually. As for your exercise regime….I wasn't going to say anything, buuut… you're looking a bit slow lately," he says with false sincerity. "It was just the other day when I saw grass grow faster than you were walking. It's concerning." He manages to keep a serious face for just a few seconds longer before his mouth begins to twitch a bit, fighting a grin. "I feel it's necessary that I intervene with Kai. Come on! I'll race you to the top."
"Uh huh." Innes shakes her head , giving Ka'el a pitying look. "You know, you can always take a vacation if this job is putting too much of a strain on you… up there." She taps her forehead significantly. "No one would blame you. Well, I would, but most people wouldn't." She smirks up at him as he bumps her shoulder, adding, "Or, if you'd like, I could send someone after the clock ruffians." There have been a few weyrbrats who look like they don't have enough to do. Why not get rid of them? Her expression darkens in mock offense as he speaks to her physical abilities. "I'll have you know, that was a competition to see who could move slower, and I won." She glances toward the doorway and the stairs, and then back to Ka'el. Her head cants thoughtfully before she blurts out, "Go!" Aaaaand she's off. It's only cheating a little.
"Oh, I see. Well congratulations on winning your slow competition. I'm sure your prize is on its way via package, and it will be here within the next turn." Snail mail! Ka'el grins and takes a breath to say something else, to her, but then… the cheater, cheater, pumpkin-eater takes off! "Wha-?" Blink! "Hey!" He darts after her a second later, his grin broad on his face now. "You'll pay for that! You're the ruffian, aren't you!" He's been set up! How dare she! Into the tower he goes, trailing after her by a few quick steps as they reach the spiral stairs. Racing on stairs? Probably not the best or safest ideas. And safety… probably is a priority when it comes to the Weyr, but when it comes to a race? Pft! Anything goes! So as his boots clunk up the stairs, he reaches for her, trying to grasp at clothing and slow her down. "Come here!"
"I don't touch clocks," Innes proclaims loudly as she makes a mad dash for the spiral stairs. He may have the advantage in leg length, but she's more… aerodynamic? Something like that. "I don't believe in time!" Except when it pertains to winning races. She glances over her shoulder, letting out a little shriek (which will be struck from the record books) when she realizes just how close he is behind her. Soriana can run this place on her own if they both end up tumbling down the stairs and breaking their necks, right? Of course! He gets a handful of that jacket which she was so indecisive about before, and with a bellowing battle cry she yanks her arms from the sleeves and lunges forward. The momentum sends her stumbling forward, but she half crawls, half runs her way up a few steps to gain her feet again. "Thanks, I was getting a bit warm," she taunts over her shoulder.
Ah-ha! Ka'el "ha's!" triumphantly as he gets a hold of her jacket, giving it a yank. Now surely he'll surge forward and win this spiraling race! .. Ack! The jacket comes off without an Innes attached to it. "Nooo!" he says rather dramatically as he's left holding on to her jacket. He throws it to the side, letting it flutter down to the bottom floor while he chases after her. Her slight stumble does indeed help him to catch up by a few steps though, and he grins widely as he takes steps two at a time to try to overtake her. "Then you'll be happy to feel the breeze when I pass you by and leave you in my dust!" he retorts, going for an attack to her ribs in hopes of slowing her down. He reaches ahead to poke and press fingers against her side, pushing at her (towards the wall because a Jr. Weyrwoman with a snapped neck is good to no one) as he does so.
Innes would do a victory dance if doing so weren't both life-threatening and… very likely to lose her the race. So instead she'll settle for a crow of satisfaction as she manages to stay ahead of him. Barely. But ahead is still ahead. "You'll never catch me!" she calls, just as he… does exactly that. She does an awkward leap toward the next step, wiggling to get away from his prodding fingers. "No, no, no," she yelps as she whirls around, still seeking out the next step with her feet from behind. The probability that she's going to end up on her behind? High! But she's more focused on her competitor, as she makes an attempt to shove him to the wall (thereby stunning him?) and buy herself a little extra time.
"Oh yes, yes, yes!" cackles Ka'el whose fingers don't relent in their pressing. Poke! Poke! Oh yeah he's got her now! When she turns to face him, she's greeted with a triumphant grin and wiggling fingers that threaten to continue their assault. "I give you three steps before you bust your ass," he snickers, slowing his chase to a stalk because now the object of the game is not to win the race but to…torture her to death? Maybe? Something like that! In any case his mirth is obvious, as is the devious look in his eyes as he advances on her like a predator. Her shove is succesful though, and he is indeed pushed towards the curved stone of the wall. But he's not going alone! He grabs for her arm reaching to hook around her middle, sparing her a tickle attack, but hopefully stalling any attempts at fleeing up the stairs again. "I've the grip of a spiderclaw. You're never getting away! I win!" Because…he says so. Yay!
If death by torture is his goal, it's going to be a long, slow trek for him. Innes is unbreakable! At least in spirit. Her body, however, is very breakable, and those steps won't be forgiving when her tailbone hits it. "My ass will stay in the fine state it's in now," she declares as she eyes him warily, waiting for his next move. Her foot hits the edge of the staircase, not quite lifting high enough to gain purchase on the next level… which is right when he grabs her and effectively saves her from a very painful landing. Not that he needs to know that. She wriggles in his grasp, trying to break free. "I'll bite you, I swear I will." Teeth are snapped in his direction for effect. It's probably a very real threat. "Besides, you can't hold me hostage and still get to the top, so I win!" And neither one of them wins for logic!
Ka'el is a hero! Kind of. The saver of sore bums! Too bad he'll never know it else he'd rub it in her face. A lot. But as it is, all he has is…an Innes! An actual, real life Innes that he can have and hold and throw over the edge of the staircase! If he was an evil person, he might do that. If he didn't mind living life on the run, he could do that. But as it is, he sort of likes his job, life, and Innes for that matter, so … her life is spared. But she isn't spared a glare! He glares at her in retaliation of that mock bite threat. "I'm not scared've your teeth. Your bark's worse, I've heard.." he says, unmoved. Fearless! "And you think I won't drag you behind me so that I can still win? Ha! You don't know me at all then, Weyrwoman. Let's do this!" He grins a very playful grin as he keeps that arm around her and does just what he says he'll do: drags her up the staircase with him! Well, at least as far as he can until his arm gets too tired from trying to keep her kicking and squirming down to manageable levels. Just who'll win this race? Ha, that's anyone's guess..if they even make it to the top!