Warning: contains saccharine and intimacy
Xanadu Weyr - Clearing
A wide clearing stretches from east to west, the ground packed hard although grass grows across most of it. Trees are strictly forbidden in this space, their danger to the constant draconic traffic reason enough to banish them to the forest that creates a this and sharp border to the north. Where the ground is less trampled, tiny flowers poke their delicate heads out from their shaded hiding places with upturned petals to wave to whoever may be looking.
The cliff looms imposingly on three sides, stretching upwards all the way up the side of the mountain where, high above, Xanadu's Star Stones and the ever present watchdragon sit on a lonely peak. Directly south is a massive tunnel, fully wide enough for even the largest dragon to fly down. Southeast are wide steps leading up to the Caverns and eastwards is the large entrance to the Infirmary. Somewhat north of the Infirmary is a human sized archway that has a frequent quantity of traffic — it leads to the Tavern. Southwest lies the low ledges currently belonging to Xanadu's queens while north and west a broad path cut by the side of the cliff leads to the Feeding Grounds and due north is the spacious trail that leads to the rest of the Weyr.
It's summer time now for Xanadu, and the day is bright and sunny for once, while the mild heat of early summer might drive some to shade. Above the skies of the Weyr, a blue pops out of *between* and bugles a welcome to the watching dragons, proclaiming himself a watchdragon of the Healer Hall. Two people are seated upon the blue's back - if anyone cared to strain their eyes that much - as the blue lazily glides down to the main clearing. One a normal sized man, and the other a small teen girl whom doesn't seem to be sitting still, peering this way and that over the dragon's neck.
A good distance away a certain craggy brown raises his head to bugle a welcome before turning and nosing his sleeping rider none-to-gently. M'nol wakes with a start and soon finds himself running into the clearing, looking up at the descending blue with shaded eyes. "You're wrong," he mutters to his brown, "They wouldn't let Bloodstone in to deliver a message two days ago, why would they let her come back now?" The brown rumbles, knowing full well what the arriving blue had announced. M'nol continues to squint, to full of hope to simply give up like the little voice in the back of his head was telling him to.
The blue dragon lands with the ease of many turns of flying, and the rider barely has the teen out of her riding straps before she nearly throws herself off the blue's back, sliding down the arm in an almost reckless fashion. But she's in borrowed riding leathers that look a bit big on her, which let her do so. "Get your things, girl! I don't have all day!" The rider shouts down from his perch, which causes Phylicia's half-frantic/searching look to turn into mild anger. "Go cool your heels!" She nearly screams. "You'll be lucky if I remember where I put them!" And she turns to face the clearing and the Weyr. "Let alone actually wanting to say good-bye /this/ time." Is grumbled under her breath. She /thought/ she saw a brown of Faraeth's coloration somewhere, which means M'nol has to be at the Weyr somewhere…!
M'nol is watching just beyond the tree line and when Phy slides down the blue's back he bolts into the clearing, "PHY!" Faraeth gives a happy, triumphant bugle from his place amongst the trees. When M'nol reaches the girl he wraps his arms around her, hoisting her off the ground and twirling her around through the air, before he sets her back down, burying his head against her neck and squeezing her to him as he mutters quietly, "oh Phy, phy phy phy phy."
Phylicia's face lights up as M'nol breaks into the clearing, and squeaks as she's hoisted off of the ground, the air escaping from her lungs in a soft woosh. "Ooof! 'Nol!" She reels for a moment or two as her feet are put back down, her own arms finally encircling him with the same death grip he has on her, she rests her head against his, taking a breath. "I'm sorry." She whispers almost too softly for even him to hear with the normal commotion of the clearing, which has resumed now. "I'm so sorry." And she degrades into a hoarse whispering of 'I'm sorry.' while her arms remain clamped in a death grip.
M'nol runs his fingers lightly through her hair, squeezing her just a moment longer before letting go and, if she'll let him, pulling away to look at her, "It's not your fault. Oh Faranth, is it not your fault." He glances then and, noticing that the blue is still there and the distinct lack of baggage he turns sad eyes to her, "You can't stay, can you?" He doesn't wait for an answer, instead pulling her into another tight hug.
Phylicia lets him pull away partially, though she can't really meet his eyes since her own are growing a bit moist. She blinks rapidly, trying to dispel the tears, looking at the ground. "I can't!" Comes her choked reply, which is muffled into his chest as she lowers her head. "I-" And she has to clear her throat, "-I forgot my books of all things. And some other personal items." It appears that she's really not going to let go of him anytime soon, and she's just hoping that Faraeth doesn't maim her for breaking her promise. "I don't-didn't-don't want to go back!" But what choice does she have unless she wants to end her early career as a Healer? "And I tried to find you." Her words are getting faster, and slightly strained. "But I couldn't find you. Thea said the rescue wings were borrowing people. They didn't give me any /time/!"
M'nol's eyes are moist as well, though he blinks to clear them, petting her hair gently as she leans against him. He makes a soft shushing sound, rocking her gently, "I know… I know I know Iknow…" He kisses her gently on the top of the head, then the cheek, "It's not your fault and I'm not mad at you." There are a few more moments of silence before he goes on, "We've been flying all over the region bringing supplies and healers to people." The Faraeth portion of the we remains unspoken, "I was a crafter once too, I know the hall owns apprentices." He squeezes her tightly against him again for a moment, then glances again at the bluerider, "Do you have to go back with *him* or could another rider take you? I'm not cleared yet, but it would let you stay a little longer…" He sighs softly, "Bloodstone tried to bring you a note and the watch dragon wouldn't let him enter the hall. What's going on?"
Phylicia shakes her head again, her frown growing a little longer. "They made it plain. If I hang around too long, I'll be on probabation." She responds sullenly, letting herself be held and coddled. She finally spares an arm from her death grip, and pulls away enough to cup his cheek, stroking a thumb along his cheekbone. "You're not mad.. but is Faraeth?" She asks softly. "I said I wouldn't hurt you, and then /this/ happens." It may not be her fault, but she realizes she's probably hurt M'nol either way. And then she shakes her head. "All I know is that I'm breathing classes and lessons at almost any possible moment. They haven't told me /anything/." When do they ever tell apprentices anything?
M'nol sighs softly, leaning into her hand against his cheek. He loses himself in it for a moment, eyes closed, breathing softly. His speech is calm and nearly whispered, "He was… Wanted to fly straight to the hall and carry you back her whether you liked it or not." His eyes reopened slowly, meeting hers, "I convinced him that him hurting you would make me hurt even more. Now he's just worried about me." His eyes cast down for all he still holds her close to him despite the bluerider's impatient commentary, "We… we should probably get you your things then…" His sad eyes meet hers again, "It's… it's not because of Rubicon, is it? Not because you spent the night away?"
The bluerider's impatient commentary earns a quiet snarl from Phylicia, which the rider himself can't see, though M'nol could quite clearly. "I would've liked it." She says simply, her voice a little forlorn before continuing. "Maybe not the consequences that followed, but I would've liked it." The arm stil around Nol squeezes, before her hand slides down his arm to his hand as she pulls away, turning to face the rider. "Just… go have a drink!" Oops. Phy's mad at the bluerider. "I'll find you once I've found my things!" And with a warning tug, she starts off towards the craft complex, her scowl lifting as she averts her face from the other rider who has begun to unbuckle himself. "C'mon. That'll give us a /little/ bit at least." And she has a fair inkling where she left her books, which are the important things to reclaim today. But she pauses mid-stride, coming to a halt, and she /looks/ at him. "Don't. You. /Even/." For a moment it almost looks like she's going to be truely mad, but she takes a breath, calming herself and managing an authentic smile. "I was /not/ on duty. I was /not/ late to my shift. I was /not/ slacking on lessons." She informs M'nol with a little more passion than might be comfortable. But it doesn't look like it's an angry sort of passion, though she starts back towards the complex again, away from prying healer-rider eyes. "That night was nothing but /wonderful/."
M'nol watches the exchange between Phy and the blue, hiding a smile at her confidence and assertion. Smiling and staying as close to her as possible, he allows himself to be dragged to the craft complex with a minimum of resistance, "I hang on every second I have with you, Phy. He stops when she stops and the look she gives him is enough to make him fear for his life and he sighs gently when she assures him that her reposting wasn't his fault, "I worry… and it was so quick I thought they might be trying to keep us apart." He follows her again, even more willingly if that's possible, "I'd've said amazing, but yeah…"
Xanadu Weyr - Craft Complex
The large area has been separated into a variety of smaller sitting areas, couches and chairs organized into rings and squares, tables set where they can be used easily. A few desks for studying are pushed against one wall, while another has a variety of doors spaced along side it, opening into private quarters for the ranking crafters posted at the weyr. A set of double doors opens to the general apprentice dorms, and a long hallway stretches outwards, providing access to the various workshops.
Phylicia tugs the willing M'nol through the doorway to the complex and shuts the outside door. It's the middle of class time, and the common room is empty and quiet. Without much warning at all, she gives a slightly sharper tug, putting her back against the door and wrapping her arms around him again to hold him firmly as she kisses him on the lips, trembling slightly. "Wonderful. Amazing. Mind-numbingly blissful." She says after letting go completely, though her back is still against the door. "They've no reason to keep us apart. None!" And she exhales, willing her anger to leave, which leaves her looking just a /bit/ tired, like she hasn't been sleeping well either. "I don't understand why they're not letting your messages through."
M'nol kisses her back just as passionately, pushing her against the door as she pulled him into her. He lets out a ragged sigh as they part, "It was. It's a memory I'll carry with me always." Though she lets go, he keeps a hand on either side of her. Her platitudes cause him to lean in and kiss her again, pressing her against the door with his whole body before he pulls back, placing his right hand gently on her left cheek as she had earlier placed hers on his, "Nothing will keep us apart forever. I won't allow it."
Phylicia's back slides down a little ways against the door, as if her knees gave out for a moment, and her arms reach out to gently lay on his shoulders, overlapping her wrists behind his head. And she smiles. "Oh definitely /not/." She agrees, nuzzling her cheek into his hand, closing her eyes. "They can't lock me up in my spare time." Because she still gets precious little of that. And she pauses for a long moment, her opening her eyes which have turned serious. "I /will/ come back to the Weyr."
M'nol moves his other hand to support her back as she begins to slip and smiles, "You'll have to tell me when you have that rare free time. Once I can /between/ I'll come to visit." He strokes her face gently, even as he begins to lead her across the room, "You'll come back to the Weyr if I have to search you myself." His conviction is equal to hers as he holds her to him, clinging as if letting go would cause her to disappear.
Phylicia giggles, her mood lifting finally as somehow she's being led without putting a whole lot of space between them. "You can just bet Ciaran will be here in the morning saying exactly when I have my free time." No, she won't chance him being in the middle of some chore or duty, to be unable to come. She leans in a little closer, kissing him lightly. "I wouldn't want to waste a second waiting."
M'nol smiles, kissing her back, "I'll send a reply back with him. So you know I got it." Too many things weren't adding up, but surely they couldn't stop her own flit from reaching her. That line had to be open… right? He strokes her face again, still supporting her with one hand, "Now where were those items you left? I'd hate for you to be put on probation as it would certainly cause them to keep us apart." He pats her rear gently, then moves his arm back up, leading her gently towards the dorms where he assumed her belongings must be.
Phylicia squeaks - in quite a cute manner - as he pats her rear, scuttling forward a few steps as her cheeks flush, and she looks over her shoulder at him with a grin, continuing on into the dorms. "We should have a /little/ time yet." She protests a bit weakly. "They're in here, though." She motions to the dorms. "I left them sitting on the trunk, silly enough." Well, she had just a few other things on her mind, y'know?
M'nol chuckles, enjoying her squeak quite a bit, "Just want to gather things first so that when the rider comes looking for you you're ready to go." He steps forward, opening the door for her and bowing slightly, "M'lady?"
Xanadu Weyr - Craft Apprentice Dorms
A long, low ceiling room opens from the seating area, the walls straight and even. Cots are set evenly the length of the room, in two rows, each with its own small press at the foot, for personal belongings. Wide windows are spaced along the outside wall, letting sunlight in, while other lights are available for the night time hours.
"First?" Phylicia's repetition is half-statement, half-querry as she walks through the door, still looking at him over her shoulder. Thankfully, due to it being the middle of the day, the dorms are also empty. She scoops up the books that somehow after the few days she's been gone, have not been moved. She also opens up the trunk, pulling out a few other small books. The ones she gets as turnday presents. "Did you have something else in mind, sir?" Her tone is pure innocence, though her smile is not quite so much.
M'nol chuckles, following her, "Not particularly. Maybe some snuggling and talking. I still have lessons in the morning so I can't stay up too late…" He sneaks across the thankfully empty room and lowers himself onto what was once her cot, then pats it, indicating that she should join him, "I'm going to take advantage of every second I can get with you, my dear."
Phylicia places the books back on the trunk and laughs. "It's not even dark outside yet, and you're worried how late you'll be up?" She teases as she eases herself onto the cot, laying on her side. Since she's wearing leather pants instead of her normal skirts, she easily hooks a leg over one of his. "Well, take advantage then." She giggles softly as she pillows her head on one of her folded-up arms.
M'nol smiles softly, just looking at her for a moment, stroking her hair. After a few more moments he sighs, somewhere between happy and sad, "Do you… do you think they'll let you come to graduation? I won't ask anyone else either way, but… I'd be so much happier if you could be there."
Phylicia puts her other arm around him, squeezing lightly as her face sobers a little bit as well. "I'll try, I really will M'nol…" She starts off, but the sentance trails. "But I… just can't promise anything. If it wasn't for the fact they don't like to re-issue books, I probably wouldn't be here /now/." Her hand trails down his back, and she smiles a little. "I hope I can. I would love to see you get your new knot."
M'nol's back archs slightly under her touch and he continues to gently stroke her hair, "I know. But it was worth asking, if for nothing else than to hear your voice." His grin is downright silly, "Just trying means everything to me." He sighs, watching her for a few more moments before he broaches the next subject on his mind, "I'll… I'll be picking a Weyr soon… do you have any particular preference as to where? I was thinking the forest since Farry likes it there so much."
Phylicia seems to be growing a bit more serene as time passes, and she chuckles. "Well, I certainly don't mind the forest." She says. "I mean, just as long as it isn't one of the cliff-face Weyrs, I'm good." Cliff-face would be interesting to get to. "And since Faraeth likes the forest, and you two will have to live there…" She smiles. "I think its a good place." What's downright silly on Phy is the grin on her face. It's a little frightening to her, that he's asking her opinion on a Weyr, but then again, it also appeals to a certain side of her.
M'nol continues to gently stroke her hair, her silly grin only causing a similar one to manifest on his own face. He chuckles, "Couldn't do a cliff-face weyr… I wouldn't be able to find Faraeth in it if he was asleep." He chuckles again, smiling down at her, "I thought maybe a tree house… and I was hoping…" he pauses, then continues, "I was hoping that once you returned you might join me in it."
Phylicia would cant her head to the side if it wouldn't be totally akward, but instead an eyebrow shoots up, looking slightly confused. "A tree house?" She's obviously trying to work her head around how that would work with a dragon. And at his last half-question, she starts a little bit but calms herself fairly quickly. "You're a fast one." She teases lightly, leaning forward to kiss the tip of his nose, her eyes thinking. "I think… I think I might enjoy that." She answers him after a few moments. Well, at least she's not just blindly saying yes. That could be bad. Outside, in the common room, they can both hear the door open, and shut. "Lass?"
M'nol smiles at her surprise, "A big one with a natural hollow for Faraeth… I think I saw one right after the storm, but I haven't had a chance to go back and look." He leans forward, snuggling her to him, "What can I say, you've captured me and made me yours. And I'd be worried if you didn't want to think about it. I just want you to know the option is there for you." He had just leaned in to kiss her again when the bluerider's voice echoes from the main room and he nearly jumps out of his skin then mutters something about sharding impatient people.
Phylicia jumps when M'nol does, merely because he did, and it's an easy thing to chain-react to. "Well, I'll just have to see it when I get back, hmm?" She says lightly, trying to keep this happy as she starts to detangle herself. But not before she gives him one last kiss, her hand lingering on his neck for a moment. "You take care of yourself, right?" She sounds a little worried, since she won't be here to do it herself. And she steps away to gather the books from the trunk-top, looking for a bag to put them into. "LASS! Time t'go!"
M'nol glances around and finds a bag that doesn't have anyone's name on it and slides it across the floor to her as he stands. Ignoring the pushy bluerider for one last moment he wraps his arms around her and pulls her into one last, deep kiss before reluctantly releasing her and opening the door to the common room, "Faraeth will if I don't. He already stopped me from risking my life /between/ to find you. We'll be as good as we can without you here."
Phylicia scoops up the bag only to be scooped into his arms which she returns the kiss gladly, and she smiles after being released. "Well, at least you know how to say 'good-bye' well." She chortles, resting against the wall for a moment after shoving the books into the bag before she drops them. "You be well, M'nol." She warns, her eyes sparkling as she reaches for the door. "If I'm called back to be your nursemaid, I will be /very/ unpleased." She chuckles, opening the door and stepping out. "I'm here, dimglow. Shards, show some patience." M'nol can hear her say, and the dragonrider's response. "Did ya actually have books, 'r did ya jus' come t'make smoochy faces with th'lad?" To that, there is no response, but M'nol might be able to picture the glare on her face.
M'nol feels an ire growing in him at the man's comment. How dare he insult her. His hands begin to form fists at his side, then suddenly Agate and Bloodstone both burst from /between/ above his head, chittering madly to stop him from doing something he'd regret. Instead, he steps out behind Phy, one hand resting gently on her shoulder, "The books are in the bag, bluerider." his weyrling knot doing little to keep his temper in line, "And if you woke up one day to find the woman you loved simply missing, you'd be overjoyed to see her, too. If I could I'd keep her here with me, but I can't. You could at least have given us a moment's peace to say goodbye."
The bluerider looks a little disgruntled at having this … boy call him out on picking on Phylicia. Phylicia just grins, putting a hand on the hand on her shoulder, before she turns slowly, and kisses him on the cheek, grinning. She approves, but what comes out of her mouth is not obvious cheering. "Behave yourself." She says simply with that mischevious smile. The bluerider has gone to the outer door without a word, holding it open. "I'll see you soon." Is her parting farewell, as she moves out the door in to the clearing. Well, the bluerider has a small point. She doesn't have all day.
M'nol smiles, blushing slightly, and waves to Phy, "Safe skies. Study hard so you can hurry back." The pit in his stomach was returning, but at least it wasn't encompassing his entire soul anymore.