Awkward Wisdom
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Xanadu Weyr - Caverns
A massive cavern in its own right, this one has been skillfully adapted for human habitation. The high ceilings have been painted a light, soft ivory, as have walls hung with numerous tapestries that provide brilliant color and insulation from the stone. The floor has been left in its natural state, pale pink granite speckled through with glittering mica and dark flecks of basalt. The stone is carefully leveled but kept sufficiently rough to avoid slips.
The cavern itself is loosely divided into areas, each one set up to be suitable for some segment of the Weyr's population. The most frequently occupied area is the one near the Kitchens, where tables of varying sizes provide a place to sit down and eat or chat and a buffet of consumables is almost always kept stocked. It's plain that on most days, this area wouldn't accommodate anywhere near the full population of the Weyr, instead feeding people in shifts as they come off duty. On occasions when a formal meal is laid out, tables are borrowed from all the other areas.
There's also a big fireplace set into the western wall, several comfortable chairs nearby providing haunts for elderly residents or riders who like a good view of all that happens. Rugs cover the floor in strategic spots, all of them abstract or geometric in design and most in the softly neutral colors of undyed wool.
Exits lead off in all directions, the largest an archway to the northeast that leads outside. Near it there's an alcove with hooks for coats and shelves for muddy boots. A tunnel to the east goes to the infirmary, and a set of stairs just a little south of that lead up to the offices and administration area. To the south, a long and sloping tunnel leads down to the hot springs. The kitchen is off to the southwest, while the residents' quarters are reached by tunnels going west, deeper into the cliff.


Late afternoon. Different place, same motivation, E'tan is still preoccupied by something but sadly, duty has reached for him again. Exiting the kitchens with some kind of list in his hands, the now busy bronzerider gives directives to a small group of weyrfolk. A final nod from him and they scatter in almost every direction. "Your luck won't last forever…." he grumbles aloud, heading towards the nearest table to grab a bite of something. With all of this, he neglected breakfast /and/ lunch.

"Never does," D'had comments towards the younger rider having been in just the right place at the right time to overhear the comment. Stopping in to grab a bite himself it would seem as he rounds a nearby table to take a seat.

E'tan perks at that, raising his gaze from the roll to watch the owner of the voice and wisdom. "I learnt that the hard way myself." He tries for a short yet genuine smile, nibbling some. Without being impolite, he takes advantage of this contemplation moment to search his memories. Hmm. New face here. "Recently transferred?" finally comes out, the roll being replaced in his hand by a pitcher of ale. "Care to join me?"

D'had chuckles quietly in return. "We all do," he replies. Learn it the hard way that is. "Mmm," confirmation of a sorts around a bite of roll. He does have some manners at least. "Transferred back not too long ago," he confirms a moment later after swallowing. "I'll stick to the klah for now," he replies then in answer to the question of ale.

E'tan dips his head once in agreement. Klah it will be then, but for himself and for now, he needs something more refreshing. "Welcome onboard then…" He lets out, falling on a chair, silently inviting the older rider to join if he wants. The short pause could make one wonder if he simply forgot his manners but then, his voice raises again. "I'm E'tan, bronze Saburath's." And that's it. At least for now.

Not, mind you, that D'had couldn't use a good ale. He'll take that invitation all the same, settling into a chair with that mug of klah and a few rolls. "Well met, E'tan," the standard reply followed only by his own introduction. "D'had, blue Siebith's."

Frustration edges every of his words now that he tries to relax in his chair a bit more. Of course, the ale is helping, but the furrows on his forehead keeps betraying E'tan's concern. "Likewise, D'had. Normally I would inquire about your and your lifemate's comfort and all but today I'm just…" And he sighs again. "…out of it? Let's say you don't hesitate to come see me if you have any kind of problems?" Not that he has nothing on his plate right now but hey, duties. Taking another sip of his ale, he allows his lips to curl into a smile. "I happen to help run this Weyr…"

D'had can well understand the inability to relax when there are frustrations on the mind. "We're fine," the bluerider assures. "One of the weyrwomen stopped by with a welcome couple days after we arrived." He chuckles at the last, a lopsided smile quirking his lips, "My sympathies." Helping run the Weyr, that he can understand from the sounds of it.

"Good." Tani replies, raising his glass. "And thank you! I need sympathy these days." A long sip to kill his drink and he puts the glass on the table soundly. "At least one of our weyrwomen did the job." He grins at that. Frustration lingers but for now his mind wanders a bit.

"Seems like ya have somethin' on your mind," D'had comments. Yes, its that obvious. "Good one at that," he notes with a wink at the comment on the weyrwoman. "Anyway, if ya feel like ventin', got two good ears," he offers.

Is he sure about that offer? Because right now, right here, Tani could use good ears. Looking right at him, the bronzerider silently considers the generous offer, but then decides to slightly change subject. "Good one? Esiae. You met Esiae." His smile widens as he nods firmly. "One of Xanadu's pride for sure." The diversion doesn't last long as another deep sigh comes out of E'tan. "D'had…my life is a mess. I don't seem to be able to catch a single brat, I drown myself in work too easily and…." *siiigh* "…My love life is a wreck…." Okay, he let that slip out. By accident? Or is he reassured by D'had's older and wiser presence?

If he's listening, he doesn't have to be the one talking and D'had certainly isn't known to be one to talk your ear off. "Musta been," he nods as the name of the goldrider is supplied. "Helping to run the Weyr will do that to a man," he offers sympathetically. "Been there." He knows all to well those hardships. Pausing, he takes time for a bite of roll that's washed down with a swig of klah. "Word of advice, fix love first. There's others to help with the Weyr."

Putting ale aside with one sweep of his arm, E'tan goes thoughtful even though looking in D'had's direction. "An advice I'd gladly follow if there was something worth to fix. I'm not at all the fickle type of man but I happen to become one without me noticing." Blame the stress and all here, Tani has never been that chatty before. At least not with someone he just met.

D'had ahs, nodding around a drink of klah. "That I'm afraid I can't help ya with so much," he replies, a tinge of understanding in his voice. "But it'll work out eventually." Of that he'll at least try to sound confident.

E'tan's attempts to smile turns into a grimace. That's what he thought. No one can help him, but there is hope? "I'm sorry, I shouldn't babble out like that anyway." Here. Time to cheer up or at least to try. "Tell me about you, D'had. Been here at Xanadu already? You seem to understand the burden of responsibilities, in what Weyr did you…serve?" Maybe not the best choice of word but then, he's trying not to sink in self commiseration for now.

There's always hope, or at least the hope for hope. "Egh, don't worry about it," D'had replies with a wave of a had to brush it off as he reaches for one of those rolls. For some that talking thing helps. "I have," he confirms of being at Xanadu before. As the conversation turns to him however there are perhaps fewer words, though he does answer the question at had. "Here."

E'tan perks. He's been here for some time now but, obviously, Xanadu's history did not start with him. D'had's short answers tickle his interest now. "Oh." That was short either but the smile on his face announces more to come. "Welcome back then. It's always nice to return to home, right?" Right? As for being here home it's, of course, due to all of those years of duty.

Xanadu's history didn't start with D'had either, but he was around before E'tan yes. "Yeah…" the reply perhaps a bit uncertain before he drowns in in the last swallow of his drink. Home, something like that. "Sometimes comin' home ain't so easy," he adds after a long moment.

E'tan raises both of his brows. "No?" Well of course, it sometimes can be hard for whatever reasons, but here, the bronzerider is, if awkwardly, offering ears in return. "I mean, it sometimes can be, I guess…yes. I just hope it's not too painful?" Well, yeah. Very awkward.

D'had shrugs, shaking his head. "It'll work out how it should." Doesn't mean they have to like how it does always. "Made some bad choices before I left," he explains, "But mending fences and all that." One can only do what they can after all.

E'tan's face darkens slightly. Choices. Everything is a matter of choices and he's beginning to realize that. "One just can't forever blame the past. I've been told Time is an efficient healer." And he actually did learn that as well but doesn't feel like sharing right now. "I'm sure things will settle down." Here, forever optimistic.

"So they say," D'had agrees with the statement at least if perhaps uncertain of its truth himself. "Was Weyrsecond," he offers a moment later, adding clarification to earlier conversation if only in attempt to chance the course of the present discussion.

Another nod welcomes D'had's revelation and E'tan straightens in his chair a bit. Professional reflex here. "So you already know all of the arcane of power then. I really hope you will go through whatever make your return not that easy. And I truly thank you for lending me your ear earlier. For now…" And he raises to his feet, "I still have a brat to catch. See you around D'had."


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