What's so Funny?
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Xanadu Weyr – Beach

The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.

The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.


Sunset on Xanadu's beach has washed the sky with pinks and peaches, the colors caught by a glassy-calm lake and has tinted the sands in rosy hues. The air is still, leaving the lake limpid, quiet. A nice evening to enjoy the beach, but relatively few seem to be doing so tonight. Thea's been there for awhile, apparently finished swimming, for she's got a beach wrap on and her hair has nearly dried. For now, she's sitting on her towel, elbows propped on her knees, chin cupped in her hands just enjoying the sunset.

Indeed, the beach is a lovely place on such a day. That aside where else would Siebith wish to be on any give day. The answer there to is the beach. For once however his entrance is not a blue speck in the sky that suddenly dive bombs the water sending a wave towards the sand. No, today he ambles down with D'had not far behind. The blue heads straight for the water, rider however isn't quite so quick to drench himself.

Thea does see that blue dragon head into the water. Well, it's not such an unusual sight for one who walks the beach often to find some solitude. Siebeth is often seen there by her. He's fun to watch when he swims, and she does so without really looking to see if he's alone; dragons often are. She's unmoving, relaxed, eyes half-closed to see if ship-fish might join the blue tonight.

D'had doesn't exactly take notice of Thea just yet either. Somewhere between that storm that wasn't really so very long ago and assisting with related after storm work D'had has finally found time to take that break D'son told him to. "Just go," he mutters to the blue when the dragon looks back to see if he's coming even as he's wading into the water. Well if Donn isn't coming, he certainly isn't going to wait. The rider meanwhile finds a place, not so very far from Thea's really, to drop his towel and then himself.

There's that dragon looking for something behind him, so Thea peeks over her shoulder, spots D'had, winces. She turns back to the water quickly, her shoulders tense, but it's not like she can hide, really, so she turns back and tosses a causal, "Hi D'had."

D'had's eyes were just slipping closed as he was laying back when that voice meets his ears. "Hey," he tosses back casually, laying back with a quiet thud muffled by the loose sand. In fact the sound is seen in the form of that sand flying up from the edges of the towel rather than being heard.

The wingleader looks tired to Thea - likely everyone is. She turns back to watch Siebeth swim; she's not going to bother anyone trying to relax after the week they've just had. Her eyes seek the horizon, where the first stars are just beginning to shine faintly. After a few moments she relaxes, forgetting he's there. She's lost in her own thoughts.

Siebith is having a grand old time, slipping beneath the surface of the water for a minute or two at a time and paying no attention whatsoever to anything going on on the beach. D'had cracks lid when nothing else is said after a few minutes, turning to send a veiled glace in the junior weyrwoman's direction. "Nice night, huh?" Idle conversation at any rate.

Thea jerks back to the here and now with a tiny jump, "Hmm? Yeah." She lets out a long breath. "It beats the storm hands down." She's got that storm-fatigue sound in her voice that many of the weyrfolk seem to have in theirs this week. She turns to peer at D'had over one shoulder, "Heard Search and Rescue has been pulling double shifts all week."

D'had mmms in agreement as he rolls his head back to a position where he's looking back straight up at the sky, or he would be were his eyes open. "Yeah," he replies, that same fatigue more than coloring his reply. "We've all got a few days off now that its over at least."

Thea's expression becomes less wary at the tone in D'had's voice, understanding takes the place of guarded one she usually wears. It's something she can do since he's got his eyes closed. "You do, huh? Why aren't you off somewhere on a tropical island alone where no one can bother you?" Or heckle…

"Too much effort," D'had replies without moving. Out in the water Siebith surfaces momentarily and it would seem that he has found playmates in the form of shipfish this evening. "'Sides here I can send someone else for beer."

"Blech! Beer." Thea makes a face, her eyes scrunched up and shudders. She turns back to watch Siebeth swim. "Still, if I were ever to get a day off, I'd hightail it so far from anyone they'd have to have Kilaueth bespeak Seryth to find me." She props her chin back in her hand and adds, "None of the weyrwomen seem to take the time…"

D'had chuckles, "Not my favorite either," he agrees. "But right now, drunk would be good." Idle chatter which means little. Not so bad. At least it's not crowded. He chuckles again at that last remark from Thea, "That's the trouble with leadership, always something to do."

"Why drunk, D'had?" Thea keeps her eyes out on the water as she asks it casually, a small pucker between her brows, trying to understand. She's nodding, agreeing with him. "Yeah, so it seems. D'son takes regular days though. And no one ever said I couldn't. They just… don't. So I don't."

"Then I can sleep for a day," D'had replies. Whether he's being sarcastic or not… Never mind the hangover apparently. "How's Seryth anyway? Still early enough you can leave her?" There's a pause and then something hits him, "How's the foot by the way? Meant to check in, but then.. busy."

Thea doesn't comment on D'had's reply, although she does flicker a skeptical glance over at him. "She's calmed down some since we moved the eggs." She nods, then adds,"They're surrounded by dragonhealers round the clock in there. I had to… get away." She flexes her foot, "Still a little stiff, but okay." Her lips curve in a bit of a grin, "Still haven't found my boot though."

D'had nods idly. "Right," he half agrees about eggs and dragonhealers only to chuckle when she mentions the boot. "Good luck with that sweets." There's another moment's pause before he adds, "Maybe we should take that trip to a deserted island tomorrow then. Hmm?"

Thea snorts a half-laugh, "Didn't expect you'd help me find that after I whacked you with it." She just flicks a small handful of sand towards him for that last comment. "Right." Dry sarcasm there. He can interpret that however he wishes.

"Well then you thought good," D'had returns. The thrown sand goes unnoticed as he's not looking and sand isn't exactly known for its flight capabilities when thrown. "You said ya wanted to. 'Sides, weyrwoman should get to know the second, don't ya think?"

"I said I wanted to flee everyone," Thea corrects D'had, "And I already know you as well as I'd l-" Her head turns towards him and she's stopping mid-sentence. For a few beats she's silent, letting that sink in. Her eyes light with what could only be impish glee and she accuses him. "You accepted!" She starts laughing, snickering hard and can't stop.

That comment has D'had starting to turn to look Thea's way, but then she's.. laughing? and he falls back to how he was laying to begin with. "Guess you could say that.." he half agrees with no enthusiasm whatsoever.

Thea manages to get herself under control; it takes a lot of effort. She's chokes it down, "You didn't need the perks and didn't want the responsibility last I heard." Her eyes are dancing, "What changed your mind?"

"Nothing," is D'had's simple reply that takes a bit too long in coming. But then that could be due to his lazy state. "Still don't want it. Weyrleader walked during the storm he seems to have it that I'd be good at it." There's a shrug and he finishes. "Asked him if he wanted me for the job, he said yes. So well.." There's not really any more to it.

Thea hrms. "But you took the shiny knot anyway." Thea pretends to swoon, falling on her back on her towel, "What a sacrifice! D'had you are my hero forever." She's giggling once again, perhaps trying to rile him on purpose, who knows?

"Look," D'had starts rather pointedly, "I came out here to relax same as you, but you sure ain't doing very good at letting me." Annoyed? Now how often does that happen with the bluerider? Not often at all, so maybe she did just manage to push the right button tonight.

Thea turns her head towards D'had from where she's lying, eyes still full of silent laughter, but she is quick to soothe, "Aw D'had. I told you the other day you'd do a fine job. But you did sort of set yourself up for this." She's unmerciful tonight; the giggling begins again. She's not laughing at him, but she doesn't set him straight just yet.

D'had is relaxing at the beach tonight. Okay, no, he's not being very successful with it anymore, but he's going to try his best not to let her get to him. "I don't want to hear it woman."

So Thea doesn't explain; he doesn't want to hear it. Silent laughter convulses her, she tries hard to smother it, but you know how it is when you're not supposed to laugh? It gets even more funny. She snorts once and goes off again worse than the first time, just snickering and cackling until she's too weak to sit up.

Silent or not D'had knows well enough that she's still laughing. Its just easier to ignore when she's not making noise. He does finally turn over, propping chin on hands with elbows on the edge of his towel. "What's it to you?"

Thea has tears in her eyes, just starting to leak down her cheeks as she turns to answer D'had, but she can't form the words coherently, it comes out as "Congratulations-" more laughing, "you'll be-" snorting and snickering, "dealing with-" She loses it, flapping a hand helplessly as she's off once more.

"You," D'had finishes for her. "I know that sharding well enough. You and that crazy Weyrwoman. I know, and I'd appreciate you not laughing at me. I'm trying here." Women!

Thea's head turns on her towel once more at that 'you' but she cannot stop, she shrugs helplessly, the words from the irate Weyrsecond sending her into renewed laughter. She nods wordlessly to let him know she heard him, but… well… she's near breathless with the giggling.

D'had isn't exactly irate persay. He's not yelling or throwing a fit, he's being very level headed. Trying anyway, even if he is annoyed by her fits of laughter and the fact that it's at him. Of course while she's not looking he stands to stride towards where she sits and there he pats her head. "Told you, nice to see ya laughing."

Thea looks up and there's D'had. Oops. She levers herself up on her elbows and sits, the head patting has her bursting into a renewed round of cackling, but she pushes his hand away from her head; she's not a canine. All the while she's still snickering. She does want to say something, but every time she tries, she just can't get it out.

"Tell Siebith ta come home when he's doing playing will ya?" D'had half asks. Of course he can tell the blue just as easy if not more so, but that's beside the point. The point is its something to say.

Thea shakes her head. Might mean she's not going to tell Siebith anything or that she wants him to wait, she'll get it out eventually. "I'll have to-" snicker-snorting, "bring my crossbow-" more laughing, "to work now." And she's off again. She can't say why she'll be needing that crossbow because she's still laughing too hard.

D'had shakes his head, manages not to roll his eyes though the thought is clearly there, and pats the woman's head once more. "Be good. Sleep well." he offers, before moving off.

Thea buries her face in her hands as D'had moves off and just loses it totally. Tomorrow, or whenever he's back from vacation is going to be an interesting day, she knows it.

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