
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.
It has been a few days since the hatching, and the weyr is still astire with the events the happened. People talk all about the caverns discussing the events that occurred. Sitting near to the fireplace N'talya sips at a mug of Klah a book propped open before her. Ignoring the chatter she appears to be attempting to read.
Kera makes her way into the caverns, not from the infirmary this time, but from the clearing. Two winged critters dart forward over her head and chitter happily to the lizards already present, and a month old bronze clings onto her shoulder and watches everything. Her circuit through the caverns has her passing the buffet tables, a mug and plate of meatrolls finds her hands. "No, you wait Weasty….No." Keeping the food well out of the hungry flitter's reach, Kera spots N'talya by the fire and sidles up next to her friend's chair. Scrutinzing the pages over N'talya's shoulder "Whatcha readin' Nat?"
N'talya jumps a bit and smiles, The page the book is open to shows a diagram of a dolphineers rebreathing unit for deep diving, She turns and smiles, 'Oh Not much really, just studying a bit…." she smile and options to a open chair.
Kera nods and scans the pages once more then flops lazily into the offered chair. "Thanks." A quick sip from her mug before she sets it on a side table and starts tearing a couple of rolls into flitterbites. The young bronze crawls down her arm and scrambles to perch on the armrest to get fed. His little limb batting at the air in order to hurry the food. "How're your studies? Coming along? Or are ya having issues with trying to find more time to get everything done? I know I do something. Have trouble finding time."
N'talya nods and says, "That is one of the reasons I wanted to transfer, working as a wing leader over at ista was taking to much of my time for studies and keeping me from Echo to much." she smiles.
Kera gets two rolls sized for lizard bites and starts giving them to the bronze, and very quickly the brown and queen that break off from the upper rafters and flap in to settle on the back of Kera's chair. She snorts at the both of them but gives over food anyway. Thus begins a vicious cycle of giving each flitter a bite and grabbing a bite off of her own roll, then repeat. "I bet he's glad you are back in more familiar waters. What about Gerazal and little Niki? They missin' Ista?"
N'talya nods and says, "Niki is missing the warm weather a bit but she loves it here with all her animals." she smiles and says, "As for Gera. I think he like making all the new types of clothes for here."
Kera is sitting by one of the fires with N'talya in the poufy comfy seats. Her trio of lizards are arranged on the headrest and an arm of the seat while Kera feeds the flitters meatroll bites. Nat's reading, or was reading before Kera arrived, a dolphincraft techbook on rebreathers. Nodding across to Nat, she reaches for her mug. "I bet all the animals like the weather here better at least." She smirks "Both our places are starting to look like zoos. I know Gerazal got some of those kittens weyrwoman Esiae had. We got two of them ourselves. Plus that canine of C'rus. Half a dozen flitters between us. The rabbits.." Kera pauses as if there were anything else she could add before "And I think that's it." For now at least.
Gerazal comes in from the clearing and he makes his way over to get something to eat. He gets himself a plate of meatrolls and a mug of klah. He spots N'talya and Kera and he heads over towards them, "Good evening ladies can I join you?" He asks as he moves over towards N'talya and he leans over to give her a kiss on the cheek, "I draw the line at ovines, porcines and runners. There is a stable for a reason."
N'talya rolls her eyes, "you know Niki wants a canine now after meeting C'rus." she shakes her head, "And she will just die if we don't get her a Pony." she smiles to Gera and returns the kiss motioning him to sit.
Kera just chuckles and gives an 'apologetic' shrug that isn't that appologetic. "Um, sorry?" A little snicker slips out which she tries to hide behind her mug, not very well though. Gerazal gets a lift mug greeting as he settles near his weyrmate. "Hi Gerazal." A quick wink to Nat before she looks back. "N'talya here was just telling me she wants to get a couple of pups and ponies for Niki." She didn't actually say that, but Gerazal doesn't know that, yet. More food is given to her lizards as every so often a bite manages to find her own mouth.
Gerazal sits down next to N'talya and he starts to eat. "A canine is fine, as long as it's one of the medium to bigger breeds and one pony. I don't think we can handle any more of them. Our weyr's almost bursting."
N'talya laughs at that and just shakes her head and says, "I think she is a bit young yet really, though I think I might want her to start listening in with the beast crafters before much longer.
Kera grins and pops a few more bites in her mouth between the lizard rounds and watches the pair across from her. Her head cants to N'talya's worry about Niki being too young. "I think Gerazal is right Nat. She's big enough for a medium sized dog. Maybe a smidge larger. She takes good care of her rabbits. And I've seen how she tries to help with my flitters when she visits the cottage."
Gerazal pops a meatroll into his mouth and he takes a long drink of klah. "It's ultimately up to N'talya it's her weyr. I'm just a polite guest most nights, but I'd be happy to help her pick out ones. I'd love to get one of those black retriever types."
N'talya smiles, 'I tjhink we should try to get a bit more settled first." she smiles being the bad guy tonight it seems.
Kera finishes off the last bite of her roll, but gives more bits to her trio of lizards while chatting. Gerazal suggestion of a canine breed is mentally noted and filed away as she pokes a bit of fun at the weaver. "I thought we were talking about a pup for Nikita. Starting to sound more like you'll need to get a couple of pups. That is if Nikita is to have one of her own when Daddy is off doing whatever with his dog gone with him." Kera smirks over the mug she picks up and flashes a quick wink to N'talya. Her friend's gonna have to work very hard to stay the bad guy in this. "What do ya say Nat? Two little pups? One lone pup can cause quite a bit of damage if they don't have another pup to play with. And I just happen to know a Journeybeaster who always has at least one canine litter." N'talya may or may not recall Kera's father is a Beastcrafter.
Gerazal nods, "I would have to agree with N'talya. We are still settling in and trust me I have no place to keep a pet. I'm lucky N'talya allows me to stay with her. If we did get a pup eventually it'd have to stay at N'talya's all the time. I only have a cot in my part of the craft complex so that I can take the occasional nap."
N'talya laughs and says, "Its ok Gera, I just mean, until we are completely settled, and until I get my Journeyman knot well…." she shrugs.
Kera smiles at the couple and giving Polgara the last bit of food while the young bronze flitter inspects the empty plate for scraps. "Alright, I get it." mention of journeyknots has her glancing to her own healer app. and new Pulsar wingknots. "Turns ago I would have thought I would have earned mine by now. A certain hatchling had other plans though. And well, wing duties." Brushing crumbs from her hands and then rubbing Weasty's neck from he snuffs fingers for another treat, she nods to Gerazal. "I don't miss those cramped days. Busy dorms and barracks. Small uncomfortable cots with a tiny trunk for storage." A little headshake to backup her not missing that at all.
Gerazal smiles, "Well my cot is much nicer and bigger than the one I had as an apprentice. N'talya and I could barely fit on that one. I don't miss those days although it was kinda fun to sneak around." He smiles at N'talya, "If I can do you it you can do it. Good luck with those weyrlings. Didn't their robes look nice. I tried to help as many as I could, but even I can only do so much."
N'talya laughs and nods, "I know what you mean, I am happier now with Alamith and our weyr." she smiles and says, "But really I want to work with Alamith to help with search and rescue out to see."
Kera 's gaze flickers between the couple grinning at their interaction before nodding to Gerazal "What quick glances of them I could see. I'm pretty sure they're all gonna need a few repairs after the other day." Her expression sombers a bit at the memory. Shaking it off quickly, her head cants to N'talya thoughtfully. "Perhaps you should look into transferring to Galaxy Wing. And you'ld get on the job experiance for your craft while helping people." Pushing to her feet, she pauses and offers N'tayla a hug. "I should get going, things to do still." A quick smile flashes as she gathers her dishes and lets Weasty scramble up her arm. "I'll catch up with both of ya again soon. Later!" A wiggle of fingers as she holds dishes, Kera whistles for the older lizard pair to flap along with her as she heads out.
Gerazal sighs dramatically as he finishes off his meatrolls and takes a sip of klah, "I know I know. I'll do my best with them but don't expect much." He gives her a wave, "See you later Kera it was good seeing you again."
N'talya nods and says, "I will think about it." she smiles, "Maybe they will let me transfer over, but until I finish my journeyman….." she leaves it hanging, "I will see you later Kera."