Checking out the Digs
PASTE


Xanadu Weyr - Nature Gone Wild Weyrbarn
The victim of one of the major storms to pass through the Weyr this past turn or so, this weyrbarn stands amidst the majestic trees of the forest like a testament to rebuilding and carrying on. Though it used to be little more than a shack, with a lot of hard work and effort, this structure has been returned to its former magnificence. Broad boarded dark wood walls rise two stories to a slate roof, a stone chimney rising up along the right wall crafted from smooth river stones. Windows with shutters often stand open, glass panes also propped up to invite breezes, or closed and latched to keep out the weather.

A smaller human sized door is nestled within the larger dragon sized one, and walking in you are treated to the vastness of space. Much of it given to Kalsuoth's couch on the left side of the building, the worn stone comfortable and perfectly sized for the brown. The human part has been built up from nothing, with fresh wooden floors laid and new furniture brought in. The walls are left to their natural wood, though many of the cabinets have a fresh coat of blue paint, and fabric accents also hold hints of blue and green to soften all that brown from the natural wood. A sitting area on the right side is reached up a few steps, nestled near to the fireplace. Beyond, the open floorplan boasts a kitchen and a laundry room, as well as a spacious bathroom with a wide, deep tub. A spiral staircase leads to the top floor, where there are two bedrooms - only one currently in use - and an office.

Just the kind of fixer-upper Thea would recommend for her son, if indeed she had anything to do with assigning the dwelling. It builds character, right?


After checking the duty rotation schedule, Mur'dah returned home on one of his days off and asked Kalsuoth to bespeak Kanekith, inviting his rider over to the brownrider's weyrbarn. While he waits, Mur'dah putters around in the little kitchen, pushing boxes of un-packed things aside so he can get together some klah and a few pastries to put on the table in the sitting area. Then he stands, fidgets, and goes to putting a few things away. The weyr is mostly finished, but there are all those little things left to do. Taking wrappings and boxes from unpacked items to the trash heaps, putting those mugs away, removing the pile of clothes from the couch…

Kanekith did inform Ka'el, relaying the message while the two of them were on sky patrol. And now, after landing, wiping down, checking in with his superiors, and being dismissed, Ka'el heads through the woods while finishing the last bit of meatroll he snagged from the kitchen. HIs riding jacket is left open. Its hot, besides! And eventually he pulls it off entirely as he approaches Mur'dah's shack. But the closer he gets, the slower his footfalls because the shack has obviously been stolen and replaced with something else. Brows furrow as he peers at the renovated area. Is….he in the right spot? He glances around. Yup. Sure looks like the place Mur'dah's disaster used to sit! And if Kalsuoth is around, there's definitely no denying it. After popping the last bit of bread in his mouth, he moves on to the weyrbarn and knocks on the door.

Kalsuoth isn't outside. He's inside. /Inside/, can you believe it? With a grin, Mur'dah hops down the steps from the raised living area down to the 'ground floor', opening the human sized door with a grin. "I have a door! And you're the first person to knock on it, do you feel special?" Holding the door open, Mur'dah gestures eagerly for Ka'el to come inside. "C'mon in, see the place! What do you think? How're you?" Energy, thy name is Mur'dah. For the moment.

Woah. He does have a door and not just an empty skeleton of a place where you could walk in from any angle and it didn't really matter because there wasn't really an 'in' to get to anyway. Odd. He looks up as the door is opened, then behind him, then at Mur'dah. "It's like you're a real boy with a real home now," he remarks with a smirk. "And yes, I do feel special for having been your first visitor and your first door knocker and, I'm guessin', the first one to go up?" So many firsts! He nods to the energetic brown rider and heads on up to check the place out! " … No way this is the same run down broken shack of sticks that was gifted to you.." he says, looking around with obvious amazement. It's like….a weyr!

Mur'dah laughs, ushering Ka'el in and closing the door (glee!) behind him with a satisfying and solid sounding thunk. "Yes, yes, yes," he says with a wide grin. "Well, Marel was here earlier, but the door was already open." Figures his twin would be the first person he'd invite over. "It is, can you believe it? Look," he says, walking over to point to one of the visible beams. "See? Didn't just fly in a new building. Smiths and I have been working non-stop to get it done. I got so tired of the empty barracks." When he was with his friends it wasn't an issue. But left behind in the lonely barracks alone? Not so awesome.

Ka'el moves to touch at a wall, then stamps a foot down tentatively on the floor, making sure nothing's going to cave in. He nods his approval, then glances towards the raised sitting area and fireplace, then to the kitchen and then up even more stairs. He shakes his head. "This is mad," he says, unable to believe his eyes! "Bet you're glad," he says, looking back at him now that he's properly looked the place over, though there will probably be more investigating and discovery to be had. "I don't know how you stayed in that place for so long. There'll be new weyrlings before long, and I have expected you'd still be bunkin' with them. Marel help decorate the place, or was all this you?"

Mur'dah laughs, gesturing for Ka'el to take a seat whenever he wants to. Mur'dah is already sprawling onto the couch made of thick cushions and visible wooden poles. "I am. It's a little…quiet," lonely, "but it's nice. I'm real proud of it." Then he chuckles, "Well…it was the easiest place for us to stay, really. Everywhere else had…issues." Chuckling, he looks around with a smile, and then nods. "She helped a bit, and Darsce helped a lot. It's my ideas, they just made it…not look stupid."

Ka'el nods, valiantly keeping the snorted noise that comes with the mentioning of Darsce down to a bare minimum. He moves and sits down in a single seat near his couch, a slight grin reclaiming his face. "Well congratulations. You've finally joined the ranks of the independent adult with his own place." Hoorah! "And now that you're in Comet, you'll be away so much you'll hardly enjoy it," said in a light tease. "Trust me, you'll like the quiet after a while, especially if your days are loud. Home's the only place I find quiet, usually. And with Kanekith busy, it's even moreso." He misses his dragon being constantly around, but a clutch daddy's gotta do what a clutch daddy's gotta do, he supposes, though it helps not ease his loneliness. "Kalsuoth like it?"

Mur'dah ignores it. He's decided to ignore Darsce and Ka'el's issues. Not get involved. It's none of his business. Even when he'd like to smack them both. "Thanks," he says with a little grin. Then he laughs. "I love Comet so far. It's not…that close of a wing, we're all doing our own thing, but I like it. It's nice to fly around, get out, explore. How's Galaxy?" Reaching forward, he takes a mug of klah for himself, and there's another if Ka'el wishes to partake. "He loves it," he adds, glancing over to the dozing brown with a smile. "Likes that he can stay close to me, inside the same building. He doesn't like the weyrs that have the dragon outside or in another building."

"Been to the far reaches of Pern, yet?" asks Ka'el, who does lean forward to take that mug of klah, thank you. "And see the unknowns and undiscovered?" He sits back and glances over and down to the dragon. The dragon who most indeedly is inside! "Well it's a good fit for the both've you, this weyr. I like my space, and Kanekith likes his. I wonder how much plannin' and thought really went into decidin' who best fit where… I could never be an assistant weyrlingmaster. Too much work." Way too much! V'dim, Anoryn, and the rest can have at it. He takes a sip of his drink. "Galaxy's good. Still a lot've conditioning.. You'd think we had enough've that during Weyrlinghood, huh?" A smirk. "But we're going to pratice water rescues soon, they say."

Mur'dah just shrugs, shaking his head. "Not really. Mostly just to the holds around here. Went to Western." Cough. "Won a green flight…" He glances at him to try and see if he really wants to talk about flights, or if the topic will just sail right on by. "It really is. I think they put a lot of thought into it. I mean, everyone's weyr is just perfect for them. Marel's is so quaint and cute, you've got a forge for Faranth's sake…Idrissa's got room for a runner…it's perfect." And his was broken. What does that say? Then he grins. "Have to stay in shape to be heroes. Yeah? Those have always looked real tough. Trying to fly and hover right over the waves. It's hard. I saw a blue once mis-judge it and catch his wingtip in a wave he didn't expect - it was timed, each downbeat of the wings was between the waves - and down he went. Everyone was fine, it was just a drill, but still."

Wait, he won a flight? Ka'el pauses mid-swallow (which doesn't feel very good on the throat, mind you!) and looks at him searchingly. Does he want to talk about flights? Ka'el surely didn't, after his. But not all flights could be like his, surely. So, he suffices to ask, "Everything ok?" leaving it as vague as that and letting Mur'dah decide just how detailed he wants his answer to be. NOt pressing. The summary of all of their personality-fitting homes earns a nod, and a laugh about staying in shape. "That, or they want to break us down to the barebones to see what stuff we're made of. Still can't believe Jnelle was tapped to Galaxy. But she's doing alright." Tougher than she looks, maybe. He listens to his recount of the drill accident and winces, nodding. "Yeah, we're given horror stories of what can go wrong if your head's not on tight and right all the time." He shudders. "So! When you gonna break this place in an' have a proper party?" Proper! No mushrooms involved!

Mur'dah grimaces at the mid-swallow pause. Ow. "Yeah," he says. "Thanks for your advice. It helped. Kalsuoth was gentle, so…" He was too. "It was a guy though." Slight grimace. "And after, I kept feeling…attracted to him. Like I couldn't get out of Kalsuoth's mind while he snuggled his green. Wasn't until we finally got back home that I remembered I don't like guys like that…" He doesn't think, anyway. "Or that," he says, hopping back to the other topic. "Yeah, doesn't seem like a fit for her but, whatever." Glancing around, he grins. "I don't know. Soon. Is everyone talking to each other right now? I don't want things to be awkward…"

Ka'el grimaces a little. A guy? "Was one've my worst fears," he admits. "Before I knew nightmares could be worse than that. If Kanekith only chases golds, I'll be a lucky man, but even I'm not so daft to give much hope of that happenin'. But he's so large, the chance've him catchin' a green is small, right?" Right?? He lowers his mug after sipping once more, setting it down upon the table. "Kalsuoth'll be catchin' far more than Kanekith, and I'm glad I could help. Glad yours wasn't .. bad. Even if it was with…" He pauses, brows furrowing. "Eh.. how would that even…" Wait. No! He shakes his head, quickly waving his hand. "Nevermindnevermind! I don't want to know!" He grins a little, awkwardly. "Anyhow. Er. I don't know if everyone is talking to each other, but if you wait for everyone to be harmonious with everyone, you may be waiting a lifetime."

Mur'dah nods, "Yeah, he probably won't catch any greens," Mur'dah says reassuringly, with a little smile. "It…it wasn't that bad. I mean, it's not like I could do anything about it. Kalsuoth chased, he caught, and then I blacked out. Woke up next to the guy, still feeling Kalsuoth's warm and snuggly feelings…it wasn't /awesome/ but it wasn't horrifying either. It was okay. He was nice." Shrug. As for how it works, Mur'dah just coughs and shakes his head. He's not even sure he knows, and he was there! Considering for a moment, the brownrider just chuckles. "That's true…well, we'll see. Still have some settling in to do, but soon."

"I'll be incredibly happy to not hear the word "flight" or "chase" for the next turn," says Ka'el. "Doesn't it feel like our lives've been overrun by that? Like suddenly, that's all there is? One flight after another. I wish there was a season for it. A set month or somethin' when you know it'll happen, and then it's over and no one needs to worry or speak of it again til the next turn." He smirks and leans back in his chair, looking up at the rafters above. "This is really a nice place. Get settled. Have a party. Faranth knows everyone could use one, whether we like one another or not." He grins.

Mur'dah nods with a grimace. "Yeah, that's exactly what it feels like. Nothing but flights. Preparing for flights, attending flights, the aftermath of flights…" With another one to come tonight! Woo! He laughs. "Flight Season? I like that. Good luck getting all the ladies on board though." Looking around he smiles. "Thanks, I'm proud of it." He worked hard enough on it, that's for sure. "Yeah, I will. So…how are you doing?"

Ka'el snickers. "Yeah well … someone'd braver than me would have to propose it to them." Females. They definitely like being the only one in the spotlight! "Me? Heh, alright," he answers with a slow lift and drop of a shoulder. "Galaxy keeps me busy. I like that. And when I'm not, I keep myself busy. I have to. Met up with Kiera the other day in the forges. I wish to work with her more. She should be a senior apprentice smith by now, but weyrlinghood held her up. Even so, as an apprentice she knows a lot. I've finished M'kal's dagger … gotta remember to drop it off. Started on my own. Want to meet with Ers'lan and ask him about weaponry. What's standard issue, if anything. And if there isn't, if there should be standard issue weaponry for Galaxy. I've got ideas in my head I need to get down on paper.." So in other words, he's been extremely busy! No time set aside to dwell in bad things. "Your Wingleader is Fl'ynn, right?"

Mur'dah sips his klah as he listens to Ka'el talk, nodding at the right times and then smiling. "Yeah, he is. You're making daggers for people? Or just Galaxy riders?" he asks, grin crooked. "Kiera…she's…that bluerider, right? Keeps to herself mostly?" he asks, head tilting a little bit.

"Galaxy, mostly. Ers'lan told M'kal he needed one. I've had one, but I'd like to craft a better one as the one I have I've had for turns." He leans down, slipping his fingers down the side of his boot to retrieve the blade in question from its thin hidden sheath. Sharp and pointed, it'll do what daggers are designed to do! Flashy? Not so much. "See?" he says, turning it over and offering the handle to him. "I can do better than this now. Thinner, and probably just as strong. We're trained in close combat, and I figure why not give ourselves an advantage? Faranth knows anyone we end up fightin'll have tricks up their sleeves." Bandits and badguys always do! "You're lookin' to have one made?" he asks. "And yeah, that's her. But don't call her a recluse," he advises. "She may gut you."

Mur'dah reaches out to take the dagger, tilting it before he shrugs and hands it back. "Seems like something useful. Galaxy isn't the only wing that might run into idiots on the job," he says with a grin. "What do you charge?" Then he blinks, clearing his throat. "Uh, so noted. YOu learn this from experience?"

What does he charge? "I don't," Ka'el snickers, taking back the knife. "Probably not the best businessman, eh? But uh .. I've only ever been an apprentice. Things I made I never could sell for a profit. I suppose now.. I could. But I wouldn't feel right chargin' my friends." At least, not the first time! "M'kal's is a gift for graduation. Yours can be the same, if you want one." He needs another project now that one has been finished, so it'd work perfectly. As for Kiena. He snerks, sliding the dagger away. "Nearly. I didn't mean anything by it, but as much as she likes to glare at people, I think she's actually the sensitive type."

Mur'dah nods, grinning. "Yeah, I'd love one! Can you put gems in the handle? Like, emeralds and sapphires? No diamonds those are too over the top. And maybe a nice feline fur lined sheath." Wait for it. "Kidding." Kidding! "Thanks." Chuckling, he shakes his head. "Women are so weird. Hey, did you know Id-" oh shit. Never mind. "That I'd, uh…" quick, cover! Nothing comes to mind, so he gestures around, "got this place finished on the weyr's mark? Mostly?"

Gems on the handle? Well…okay, he's seen daggers like that before. The showy flashy kind that can still gut someone if needed. But emeralds? Sapphires? The look Ka'el gives Mur'dah is shiftier and shiftier, and it's the fur lined sheath that gets him. "You git!" he laughs. If he had something to toss at him, he'd toss it at him! As it is he only has his klah and throwing klah probably wouldn't be the best course of action to take. "You know for that I should make you the girliest dagger I can. You'll be sorry." He snickers, though ends up quirking a brow at his truncated statement. Did he know…what? He eyes him expectantly. Id. I'd? When he does finish his remark, he glances around, then back at him, expectantly. "Really?" Really as in…'Is that what you were really going to say' or 'oh really, that's neat!' It's not too difficult which one he means, considering the brow-quirked look he's giving!

Mur'dah grins when he gets Ka'el going, if only for a while. "And then I'll tell everyone who asks about it exactly which manly bronzerider made it for me," he returns, eyes bright and amused. "Yeah…" he says, glancing around with a nod. Then back at his friend, grimacing. "I wasn't supposed to say anything…"

"Good. Do so. My work'll be so sought after I'll be rich before the turn's end," remarks Kale who eyes his fingernails haughtily. He smirks, even though he's not quite sure if he believes that the weyr was Mur'dah's true intention of a topic, but he doesn't press it. "Secret's safe with me," he assures. "But really, how much of a secret is it? Everyone knows you're the poorest rich boy on the weyr." His smirk grows fractionally before he rises from his chair. "Thanks for invitin' me over, but I should go. Get a real lunch before evenin' practices."

Mur'dah laughs, "Only if you start charging people." Finishing his klah, the brownrider snorts and stands. "That's me. I didn't show you my secret treasure room under the floorboards. Maybe next time." Smiling, he walks down the few steps and opens the door for the bronzerider. "Thanks for coming over," he says with a warm smile, offering him a handshake and maybe even a manhug. "I appreciate it."

Ooh, a secret treasure! "I'll remind you of it the next time I stop by. Or one day when you're not around, maybe I'll go treasure huntin'," he kids as he extends his hand to grasp as Mur'dah's, going as far as to giving him that manhug. Manhug! It's the only type of hug he's gotten in forever, for the women hugs (at least from the woman he'd most like a hug from) have faded from existence. But he's too busy to miss hugging, and when he pulls away his smile is still there. "Yeah sure, anytime. See ya, Mur'dah," he says before he heads back down and out, saying a goodbye to Kalsuoth too.


Add a New Comment
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License