Xanadu Weyr - Weyrsecond and Jr Weyrwomans' Office
Office or study? Perhaps this room is a little of both. It is spacious and airy with the big windows opposite the door looking northwards, a perfect aspect when one is this far south. Those windows are framed by dark forest green drapes, soft ribbons and braid in dark, rich gold sewn along the edges to give them a sumptuous look. The back wall is covered by shelves that hold a variety of things - mostly records and reference material as well as writing tools and sheets of hide and paper. Tapestries, including several lovely scenes of the terrain around Xanadu Weyr, cover the rest of the wall-space while a soft, plain off-white rug hides the stone floor. A small, low table sits by the door and usually has some refreshment set out on it.
Several broad desks are arranged around the room, each one set so someone sitting at it doesn't look directly at any of the others. Small screens can be set up on each desk to give a little more privacy and each has one comfortable chair that goes with it. So far, it looks like one desk has a permanent claimant. There are also several other chairs, which can be used by visitors.
It's been a busy day in the office, lots of work finished - at least from Thea's desk. It's nearly dinnertime, time to finish, clear up and head out. The junior is, as always dressed neatly for the office, but today instead of a skirt and blouse, she's wearing a sundress of some lightweight, loose material and hasn't bothered to put her hair up. It's just too hot and humid for that. As her pen makes the last notations in that ledger, she flips the cover closed with a relieved sigh, opens a drawer and places it inside, sliding the drawer shut. "I am out of here." She's already pushing back her chair and rising as she says it.
There's a thunk-tap-ta-thunk on the door to the office, not the sound of knuckles on wood, but something more hollow and somewhat… sloshy.
D'had is doing work. Or not… He's at his desk at least. That's a start and maybe, just maybe, he has actually finished his end of the paperwork already. Chair leaned back, his feet are kicked up on the desk. Go figure. "That time already?" he asks, attempting to sound surprised, though in all reality its more like a 'thank Faranth!' But then there's that knock and his feet drop to the floor with a thud. "What now?"
That knock on the door has Thea freezing in the middle of rising from her chair. She utters a small groan. This can't be good. Not this late in the day. "Shards." It's muttered before she sinks back into her seat calling, "Come on in." There's a side-glance towards the Weyrsecond's desk and a small, knowing smile as she sees him with his feet up. "And what have you been doing the last hour or so?" And why is he still here if he's finished might be a more interesting one to ask. She eyes that door with some trepidation. Usually only problems walk in at this time of day.
The door opens slowly, sounds of fumbling from behind it before it is nudged wide enough for a gardener girl to slip through with the items she's carrying. Turns out, there was a Cenlia waiting behind the door. Does a Cenlia count as a problem? Looking slightly nervous, the girl is carrying a klah pot in one hand and large, cloth-covered basket under the opposite arm. She's dressed in her usual garden attire, minus the toolbelt, and there are one or two faint, powdery white smudges on her shirt. A hatchling gold flit peeks out from behind the girl's ear, giving a little chirp at Thea and D'had before disappearing again beneath Cen's runnertail. Cenlia swallows, glancing at the weyrsecond and junior weyrwoman, possibly even peeking at Thea's face for an instant before the girl is dropping her gaze to the floor with a mumbled, "Weyrwoman Niva told me t' go see ya," this addressed to Thea.
"Watching you work…" D'had replies, the words said with a hint of question before the gardener makes her way through the door. He starts to say something else, a greeting of sorts, but as the girl is addressing Thea right off he's not going to interrupt.
Thea blinks, clearly not expecting to see Cenlia, of all people. She offers an intelligent, "Uh, she did?" There's a side-glance towards the Weyrsecond's desk. Of course, watching her work. That must be thrilling. Back to the gardener. "Well, um. Come sit down?" She rises, walks around her desk and sinks into one of the three chairs in front of D'had's desk. "Why did she send you to me?" A peek at the basket. "Looks like you came armed." There's a faint smile. Not doing very well at putting the girl at ease and she knows it.
Cenlia's shoulders hunch a little but the gardener girl does move to take a seat, still mumbling as she speaks, "Said I should go talk to ya… said I should bring klah 'n cupcakes." And as the girl sits down, she sets the klah pot on the nearest table, the liquid inside sloshing a little. Moving the basket to her lap, the girl slides off the cloth. Inside the basket is a ceramic bowl, filled with cupcakes. Cheerful yellow and pink frosting tops the cupcakes, which themselves look drenched in some sort of syrup which has begun to pool slightly at the bottom of the bowl. Cen glances up at Thea, then D'had, the girl chewing her bottom lip distractedly.
D'had is utterly amused, except that is when Thea happens to look his way. Yes, best not to laugh at the awkwardness there seems to be between the junior weyrwoman and the gardener. "Look good enough ta eat," he comments as the cupcakes are reveled. "Can't say I was lookin' forward to the line for klah either," he adds, rising to his feet to search out a set of mugs across the room.
Thea's gaze takes in Cenlia's posture, noting that hunching in the girl's shoulders with a small wince, regret shading the pale green of her eyes. She's got her mouth open to say something, but the gardener says the word 'cupcakes' causing the junior's mouth to hang open for a moment before she just loses it. A rich peal of laughter rings out as she throws her head back and just lets loose before she drops her head, snickering and giggling and trying for some semblance of control. When she can speak again she lifts her head and there's that uncovered bowl, which sends her into fits again. Finally, "This was Niva's idea?" She slides a look towards the Weyrsecond. Big mistake. That sets her off again. It's a few more moments before she can speak. When she does, it's after another peek at that bowl, then up at Cenlia. "Very pretty. You made these?" Then she's blinking at the things. Is that… liquid? Squint. Uh, oh. "Might need some plates too D'had." You know. Since he's over there with the mugs.
When the weyrsecond speaks, Cenlia's shoulders start to relax a little, the girl looking up and grinning just slightly. She's not particularly terrified of him, after all. Plus, he knows how to booze. But Thea's laughter catches the girl by surprise. Cenlia starts, blinking and looking somewhat baffled. "Um, she said I should bring 'em, said I should prolly explain 'bout X'hil…" she mumbles, looking completely lost as to what's so funny, glancing at the weyrsecond with some confusion, and then looking back at the goldrider, possibly wondering if the woman has lost her mind or something.
D'had even pauses to turn a look back towards Thea at that outburst, raising a brow in question. Right… He turns back to the table on which the mugs are kept, picking three into one hand "Sure, sure," he comments and adds plates to the other when the suggestion is given.
"That sly fox." There's nothing but admiration in Thea's tone for the Weyrwoman's suggestion. The sight of that liquid in the bottom of the bowl has sobered Thea (but not for long!) enough to explain to Cenlia. With a thumb over her shoulder towards the Weyrsecond, "He called Niva cupcake once… er, twice." Her eyes are dancing as she says it and it's pretty clear this junior was pretty amused by it all and still is. For the time being she doesn't ask about X'hil. "So… what's that… juicy-looking stuff?" Is that… apprehension in her voice?
Cenlia starts to grin a little, though it's more out of relief than anything else. At the explanation, the gardener girl can't help but snicker, "Shards," glancing over at D'had, "That how ya got yer knot?" She forgets the sir, there, but look, she has cupcakes. At Thea's question, Cenlia fairly beams, "Brandysyrup. Got the recipe from Jeffin," and here the girl blushes juust slightly, "He works in the kitchens." Just so they know who to blame for this. She neglects to mention that they're triple proof brandycakes, with rum frosting. After all, they should be able to taste it, right? And so the gardener girl holds forth the offering, saying hesitantly, "Made 'em special for ya." Yep, all for Thea.
D'had returns across the room during this exchange between the women. "Somethin like that," he replies to Cenlia, not seeming to mind nor notice the lack of sir there. "Come on now sugar," he not quite chides Thea for her questions, "Is just cake." And if she's not going to eat it he will by the sounds of it. "Klah?" he questions them both, setting down both plates and mugs on his desk.
Thea 's nodding about the knot, her eyes glimmering with amusement, but then there's that word. Brandy. It has Thea swallowing hard. "Brandy syrup." Stated flatly, not a question. She misses Cenlia's blush, likely didn't even hear Jeffin's name mentioned, for she is trying to control a sudden foreboding and hide it from showing on her face. She totally misses the opportunity to tease the Weyrsecond and it's a lamb-to-the-slaughter look in her eyes that she slides towards D'had, a 'help me' look. It's a peace offering, made specially for her. How can she say no? Forced gaiety in her voice, "I'd love one." One is all she'll have to eat, right? Right? She takes a plate, holds it out to Cenlia, but shakes her head no about the klah.
Cenlia grins at D'had, the girl's nervousness apparently dissipating completely as she snickers some more, "Well 'least ya didn't get her drunk?" Cenlia might be missing the irony here. The girl nods about the klah, and then starts filling the plate Thea holds out. "They're really good," Cenlia promises cheerfully, having missed the look in Thea's eyes while snickering at the weyrsecond. The girl seems intent on filling the plate completely, stacking the cupcakes a bit.
D'had chuckles, "Might not have been such a bad thing," he comments. No one heard that! No intentions of getting the Weyrwoman drunk. For that look Thea gives him, and he happens to catch even, there's confusion. What? He did nothing!? "Certainly look good," he agrees with the gardener, pouring a mug and holding it out for her.
/Filling/ the plate? Wait, wait. One! Alas, there are more that she'd thought would be on her plate. Thea snags another plate, hoping to divert some of those cupcakes, "Here ya go, Cenlia. I'm willing to share. The Weyrsecond worked hard today." (lies) She withdraws her stacked plate if she can safely do so. "I'm sure they are… good." They're something anyway. She notes the girl's relaxed manner with relief. "Thank you for making them," she adds sincerely; she really does mean it. There's another helpless look at D'had. Silent pleading, likely useless at that. And is that… amusement on his face? Her eyes narrow just a tiny bit as she lifts one of the sweets and sniffs it. Cue grateful smile towards the gardener as she opens her mouth to take a bite.
Cenlia accepts the mug of klah with a thanks, holding up the rest of the basket for D'had, "Want some?" She's offering him cupcakes too. Might as well, though Thea's offer of sharing has Cenlia nodding and taking out more cupcakes, aiming for that second plate Thea snags. The brandycake cupcakes smell like normal cupcakes, with a very strong accompanying scent of alcohol. Bad enough the cakes are drenched in the stuff, but the frosting has enough rum in it to smell over the brandy. On the other hand, at least they're not too sweet. They'll prectically melt in one's mouth, a mixture of sweetening and savory cake. And booze. Cenlia balances the basket in her lap, the cupcakes practically dripping with the thin syrup as she lifts them.
D'had works hard! He just has different standards on what hard is when it comes to paperwork. "Love one," he replies when offered, reaching across to snag that second plate once one's been piled onto it. Might as well, "Not every day some a pretty girl brings me goodies," he tosses back with a smirk of a smile that's oh so typical of him. Well that and no one's there to tell him he'll spoil his dinner.
It's that dripping liquid that has Thea's gaze as she lifts that cupcake to her mouth. She knows the gardener's fixation with booze, but is doing a good job (she hopes) of keeping suspicion from her face. She bites and just pauses for a moment, one eye twitches juuuust a little bit and she sort of rolls that bite around in her mouth before swallowing it without chewing. She coughs slightly, "Mmm, nice." She nods with a weak smile towards the girl. "So, uh. What were you going to tell me about X'hil?" There's only curiosity, rather than suspicion in her voice regarding the Istan Weyrleader now. The Weyrsecond gets an unreadable look that might mean, well, anything. She's dutifully working on that cupcake all the while as it drips silently on her plate. Dinner. Empty stomach. Lovely.
Cenlia grins at D'had good-naturedly, taking a sip of klah once he's got his plate. The gardener girl even gives Thea an amiable smile - possibly the first such expression she's aimed at the woman in… well, ages. Although the smile vanishes immediately when X'hil is brought up. Right. It's the reason Cenlia's here, after all, and the girl quickly drops her gaze to her klah mug, shoulders hunching once again as she bites her lip, quiet for a while before she goes back to mumbling, "Weyrwoman Niva said I should explain…"
D'had munches quite contentedly on that sweet treat, mug of klah set on the desk beside him as he leans against the piece of furniture while the other two talk. No one's asked him to leave yet, so why not.
The faster you eat something, the less time there is to taste it, right? Thea seems to think so, managing not to wince or grimace each time she swallows. The second cupcake is lifted and by now her taste buds are numb. And some of that brandy is hitting her stomach. Enough that the junior nods easily to Cenlia, actually smiles back, "Ah, just spit it out and be done with it so you don't have to look like I'm gonna shoot…" She stops before she can say crossbow, which is noticeably absent from her desk, should one look. She laughs quietly, "I'm not really worried about it, if Niva's handled it already, Cenlia." Is she relaxing? Just a bit.
Cenlia actually cringes at the word 'shoot', eyes darting to Thea's desk, the gardener girl not relaxing in the slightest when she notes the infamous crossbow is no longer there. That just means it could be /anywhere/. Her gaze flickers momentarily to D'had. Well, if he's not fleeing for his life, it must be okay, right? Right… Thea's words don't seem to be putting Cenlia any more at ease. The girl takes a breath, "She said I should prolly explain, said 'cause you weren't moren' a kid yerself an'… stuff." The girl chews her lips, and then raises her head to stare right at Thea, "Ya asked me why I was at Xanadu if I didn't trust the weyrstaff. Well I do. I trust Weyrwoman Niva." It sounds somewhat rehearsed, though the next part is rambled rather quickly, "An' I didn't wanna tell ya 'bout X'hil 'cause.. 'cause… ya act all shardin' crazy sometimes. An' went after him with a /crossbow/." Sulky glaaaare.
D'had remains quiet. More or less. Mind that cough as he swallows wrong midway through that conversation of their's. He holds up a hand to indicate he's fine however. Ignore him. Shoot. Crazy. …
Thea sighs and nods to Cenlia. "Glad you trust her, Cen." She's still working on those cupcakes and relaxing more by the minute. "Yeah I'm not really all that much older than you, if you think about it." She's agreeing with the girl, "Twenty one turns in less than a month from now." She pauses mid-bite at the crazy accusation. "Well it was X'hil." That explains it, doesn't it? But she's smirks when she says it. "Was proddy, Cen. I wouldn't have shot him, really. And I know you couldn't know." She leans forward just a bit, "I'm sorry I scared you, but you've lived here how long and haven't you seen proddy riders?" She shoots D'had a warning glare. Watch it. She seems to wrack her mind for an example the girl will understand. "It's sort of like… being drunk."
That cough from the weyrsecond has Cenlia glancing his way for a moment. Then her eyes flicker back to Thea, "Yeah, I seen proddy riders. But Rei an' B'miel never tried t' shoot nobody! They just… get all… stuff." She looks away. Although the girl does deflate a bit at 'drunk' - she's seen enough drunkards to know what that's like. The girl wrinkles her nose, "Well it weren't like ya had t' try t' send me home just 'cause I wouldn't tell ya about X'hil. Weren't even nothin' important." Sulky sulk sulk.
Thea swallows a mouthful of boozecake and nods, "Yeah I see your point. And y'know? I was wrong to do that. Still learning, hmm? Niva knows? You don't have to tell me." She lifts a cupcake and takes a huge bite, not really thinking about it, chews and swallows. "While you've been running off and having fun getting boozed, I've been dealing with stuff like the dragon plague, looking for a missing goldrider, a missing weyrmate, hanging in Ista's prison. So… serious sort of took over." She waves that away. "Just… yeah. I need a vacation and some fun." Like the kind she's having now? "I am sorry, but hey, these cupcakes are great." She lifts one in a sort of toast to Cenlia. Grin.
Cenlia looks more than a little surprised, "Okay," and just sort of stares at Thea. Blink blink. She opens her mouth to say more, closes it again, runs a hand through her hair and finally comes up with, "Um, yeah." The girl hesitates, then mumbles a sheepish, "Glad ya like 'em." There's a slight grin at the toast, the gardener girl glancing at the door and saying, "Should prolly back to the garden before m' flits wake up."
D'had nods, "Very good," he agrees around a mouthful. Apparently he hasn't had that 'no talking with your mouth full' lesson for the day. "You leaving the rest of 'em?" No, he's not hoping for that or anything. Not at all.
"Unless it's a funny story, then I wanna hear it." Thea isn't at all as observant as she might be without the brandy and rum in her system. She misses the blink and surprise on Cenlia's face. "To tell you the truth, they make me feel funny and… you're fuzzy." She swivels her head to squint at D'had, "Here." Her plate still has a few on it and she pushes the plate, perhaps a little too hard, sending it sliding across his desk. "Forgot to leave your daily cupcake there this morning anyway." Oops. Did she say that out loud?
Cenlia grins at the weyrsecond, placing the rest of that basket of boozecakes on the table with a, "Yeah." And then watching Thea's plate slide past with a curious, "Daily cupcake?" The girl is already rising from her seat, however, glancing back at Thea with an, "Um… mebbe you should lie down or somethin'." Cue lip chewing. Might have added a bit more brandy than the recipe called for… whoops?
D'had can hold his own as a drunk and for that reason that one… okay two cupcakes haven't fazed him all that much. He doesn't manage to catch the plate, but then neither does Thea manage to push it quite hard enough that flies past him and onto the floor. "So that is you," he comments with a chuckle. "Someone," he continues after a short pause, to explain to Cenlia, "'s been leavin' a cupcake there every day since I got the job." Weyrsecond that is.
Thea hasn't kept track of how many cupcakes she's eaten in trying to show goodwill to Cenlia. "No… story?" Now might be a good time. But Thea doesn't press. As Cenlia rises, she also stands, wobbling just a bit as she gains her feet. "So thanks for the cupcakes. Are we good now?" Ignore that squint, she's trying to merge the two Cenlia's. She grabs the desk with one hand, her head turns the Weyrsecond's way, a smirky-smile on her lips as she starts to say, "Was a joke-" But she stops and sits rather suddenly, announcing, "I'm dizzy."
"Hunh," Cenlia says, "'s pretty funny." And she grins slightly. The girl just watches the plate take a floor-dive, and then raises an eyebrow, glancing from the weyrsecond to the goldrider. The rather wobbly goldrider, apparently. "Um, sure," Cenlia mumbles, looking just the tiniest bit concerned. The gardener girl is just going to start edging toward the door now…
D'had just blinks at the plate for a moment. … That wasn't supposed to happen. Oops? But then there's Thea and he turns to blink at her. More confusion. … "Thanks," he offers his own towards the retreating Cenlia though his focus remains for the most part on the goldrider. Stare.
Thea is just nodding to Cenlia as she is in the process of folding her arms on D'had's desk and lowering her head on it. "Sometime, maybe you can tell me and we can laugh about it." Her eyes are closed. Not sleepy, no. "Room is spinning," she explains faintly. "Good cupcakes, Cen." She says it like she means it. Really.
And Cenlia is out the door, with a brief nod to D'had and another glance at Thea, and then the gardener is escaping with an awfully sheepish look on her face. And leaving the door helpfully open in her haste.
D'had leans down to peer a bit closer at Thea, giving only a half wave in the form of a raised hand after Cenlia. He chuckles then, drawing back up to pour that third mug of klah before hunkering down beside the junior weyrwoman, "Drink this," he says, free hand resting on her shoulder nearest him.
Thea opens her eyes, peering at the mug. "Uh uh," she waves it away, closing her eyes again. "Sorry, no room. I'll be sick." Indeed her stomach is full of cupcakes. "Besides," her eyes open and she's pushing to get up, "I need to get out of here." Right. Before any of the other juniors stop in and find her and the Weyrsecond in here and the room full of rum and brandy fumes.
"Suit yourself," D'had replies with a shrug, leaving the mug to set on the corner of the desk. He stands as she does, watching with curious amusement. "Where ya goin?" Full of rum and brandy fumes perhaps, but no rum or brandy or even bottles to pin it on them even.
Unless they come in and find Thea wobbling dizzily. The junior looks up at the Weyrsecond with a frown of concentration. "Home?" She's leaning as she's answering. A lean that increases slowly and steadily to one side. She tries to correct it, wavering to the other. "Something's not right." She takes a step and her arms waver as she tries to keep her balance.
D'had chuckles. It really is far too amusing for him not to keep a straight face through it all. "Oh, no? Everything seems right to me," he comments, shoving off his desk with his hands and striding up beside the wobbling weyrwoman.
Thea turns her head, her neck moving rather fluidly to see his face. His amused smirk has her grinning right back, although later? She may bite him for it. "I feel like… I did when Shelly shot my butt with that needle full of fellis." At least until it knocked her out. She wobbles back and forth just a bit, enough that she's grabbing out at him to keep from toppling at the same time her legs decide they cannot keep her standing any longer.
D'had catches, barely, stepping forward to lift her back to her feet still chuckling. "The word you're looking for is drunk," he comments, wrapping one arm around the small of her back before ducking to catch her behind the knees and heft her up. This should be interesting. The drunk carrying the drunk? At least Donn has a higher tolerance for the stuff.
Thea squeaks as she is swept up by the Weyrsecond, her head easily rolling to his shoulder. She giggles up at him, "I am not drunk!" She's totally pliant in his arms, perhaps a bit more than relaxed, even. For a moment she looks as if she's going to argue more. Instead, her head lolls, rolling down his arm a bit, spilling her hair across it. "I don't think I can get there from here." Whatever that means.
D'had smirks all the more for that commentary. "I think ya are," he grins, pushing the door open a bit more. Hopefully it will be enough for them to pass without incident. "And that's why I gotcha."
Thea isn't worrying about such trivial things as doors, no. Her head rolls back to his shoulder and she's lifting a hand to run a light finger down his jawline, before poking his cheek giggling. "So not. And, you have a cute dimple right there." As they enter the hallway, she snickers, adding "You got me because I let you." Woman's logic.
Xanadu Weyr – Caverns
A massive cavern in it's own right, this one has been skillfully adapted for human habitation. The high ceilings have been painted a light, soft ivory, as are the walls where numerous tapestries hang to 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, leveled carefully 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, however, 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. Its plain that on most days, this area wouldn't accommodate anywhere near the full population of the Weyr and equally plain that on such occasions when a formal meal is laid out, tables are appropriated from all the other areas.
A big fireplace is set into the wall near the Kitchens as well, 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, a big archway the largest and that leading outside. Shallow stairs to the west lead to the offices and administration area while tunnels to the east lead to the infirmary, kitchen and resident's quarters. Southwards, a sloping tunnel leads down to the hot springs and southwest is a wide tunnel, carefully roped off to avoid accidents.
Down the hall and through the caverns. This just might turn out to be the most interesting part of the walk from the office. D'had carrying Thea, one arm across her lower back, the other hooked under her knees. "That so?" he comments, amusement clearly evident in his tone.
From the storage room, a figure emerges, and stops just outside of the portal. Tenebrous looks around, his eyes snapping into focus on the commotion. Firelizards, a man, a woman…wait…a girl…THAT girl. "God hates me," he whispers to himself. Please let there be a shadow he can skulk into… He moves over to one wall, casually pulling the hood on the back of his coat up, and slinks. Slink..slink…If only the doorway out would accomodate him and move closer…
Sigam doesn't /do/ 'don't ask.' "Cenlia's," he says flatly, one eyebrow sneaking up as he finally spies the gardener in question. "And yours." Again, he's on the verge of laughter, lip gripped tightly between his teeth before finally, the Sig-cano explodes. "You know… it's… a good idea to… put those back on after you… You know," the Dragonhealer waves his hand vaguely, coughing to hide his chuckles. "Just a suggestion." Koenig is happy to join in the fun, whirling up into the air in an attempt to snag a bit of cloth. He's game! AND, as if this business couldn't get any weirder, there came D'had and, "Thea?" Sig looks as if he'd like to draw that name back in before he's even said it, but somehow, he can't manage to control the big fat grin on his face. "I'm surprised she's not beating the shit outta you." Oh, little does he know."
Cenlia just /stares/ at Jeffin, the gardener girl's face going red enough to match the little heart design on, apparently, /her/ underpants that are flying about the caverns. "Yea, I noticed," the girl grumbles at the Jeffin, and then scowls up at her own brown firelizard with a, "Trouble, ya sharding nuisance!" She completely misses Tenebrous skulking over there as Sigam speaks, Cenlia sputtering, "W- we- we /would/ have. 'Cept they weren't /there/!" And following Sigam's saying the goldrider's name, Cen glances over that way looking mildly horrified. And as she spots D'had carrying Thea, Cenlia goes even redder, if possible. "'S 'cause she's boozed," Cen snaps at Sigam, and then makes a quick lunge as a pair of boxers go flying past. But no, she misses, and instead Trouble and Sigam's firelizard end up with separate ends of the underpants. Tog-of-war anyone?
Oh, and now *Thea* is here. Skulk. Skulkslink…Wait. Drunk? And apparantly Cenlia's panties taste like a meatroll or something, because the firelizard clearly has no intention on letting them go. Ever. "Maybe God doesn't hate me," he whispers, slowly picking his pace up. Just a few more steps…
Thea is being carted through the Wyer again. She has one arm draped loosely around the Weyrsecond's neck, her head lolls on D'had's shoulder and it's apparent she is VERY relaxed at the moment. She is mid-giggle as the pair step into the Caverns and fairly oblivious to the current mayhem they've stepped into. "Yeah, it is so. I'd never have let you kiss me otherwise." She's smirking up at the man, taking his 'I gotcha' statement in another way, perhaps than he meant it. Oh, people! Her head rolls down the Weyrsecond's arm to peer at the room, "Hi everyone." She smiles widely. Her greeting is all she gets out before the pair are moving outside. In their wake unmistakable fumes of brandy and rum.
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.
D'had passes through the caverns easily enough thankfully. There's a smirk on his lips as he steps outside, hefting her up to re-situate the arm behind her back. "So now…" he starts, drawing out the last of those two words as he sends a glance across the clearing. "Where are we going?"
Thea reluctantly lifts her head from the Wyersecond's shoulder, squinting towards the meadow, "That way?" She blinks a few times. "Wait, wait." Her head swivels towards the direction of the beach, "Uh, maybe that way." For a minute she just stares in the direction her hand is pointing before her arm drops and swings limply and her head is once again back on his shoulder. "Somewhere around here." She snuggles her face up against his neck. "You smell nice." Giggle.
D'had starts in 'that way' only to stop when she changes her mind and peer in the other direction point. "That's the beach…" That might be the one direction he knows what's there. "Thought you said home?" And last time he checked he didn't think she lived on the beach… He chuckles, turning his head for that nuzzle. "So do you." Now let’s please not do this in public.
Ah, Sigam, ever the interloper. Taking advantage of D'had's pause, the Dragonhealer leaves the panty-flinging party behind and jogs to catch up, curiosity blazing in his eyes. And maybe a bit of mischievousness that promises a good heckling. Maybe. Snort. "Is she really-," he begins, stepping off to one side, all the better to eye Thea as her arm swings in two very different directions. "She is. You are," he amends, barely-contained glee evident as he shifts his attention from bluerider to gold. "Have you been drinking, young lady?," he asks in mock sternness, a smirk flicking up onto his features even as he glances back to D'had. "Sorry, I'll let you guys, er, go. You're obviously… busy. I just… well, you know how she is." And with that, he's back to prompting Thea with a pair of raised eyebrows and a wicked grin.
More giggling. "I do?" Thea's sidetracked easily. The question has her frowning briefly, lifting her head, "Home. Yeah." She dismisses it airily with an uncoordinated wave of her hand, "It's around here somewhere." Back onto the Weyrsecond's shoulder flops her head. The fingers of the hand she has around his neck begin playing with the hair at the back of his neck. Sigam's arrival has her head rolling down D'had's arm to see him, her hair hangs across the man's arm like a cape and she's blinking at Sigam, before a huge smile of welcome spreads itself across her mouth, "Oh, heyyyy Sigam! Did you come to dance with me?" She frowns, adding, "Why're you upside down?" His question has her rolling her head back to D'had's shoulder, "We been drinkin?" She shakes her head, answering herself, "No, no. We ate cupcakes." Yes because THAT makes sense, right?
"Yes," D'had replies to Sigam, "Yes," he replies to Thea, though that one takes moment longer after a look of confusion for that question she poses to the dragonhealer. In answer, yes she's drunk and yes they ate cupcakes. "And stop that," he all but hisses at the woman. He might have the reputation of manwhore, but really woman.
Sigam looks as though he's about to go volcano and explode again - you can practically /see/ the magma coming to a boil. "Hiiii, Thea," he drawls back. "I didn't, but tell you what, come find me tomorrow and ask me that again." The Dragonhealer pauses at her second question, eyebrow ticking up even as he tilts his head very far to one side. "I'm not upside-down, you are." Straightening up, Sig nods to D'had before smirking. "Good luck," he offers towards the bluerider before shaking his head and laughing. "Cupcakes. Riiight, so that's what they're calling it these days. Well. Enjoy your-" chuckle, snicker "-cupcakes." He begins to back a way with a noise that can only be described as a cackle, along with a surprised, "Drunk! Shards…" Poor Thea. She'll never hear the end of it.
"Stop what?" Thea asks with the complete confusion of the, well… inebriated as her fingers continue playing with the Weyrsecond’s hair. "You have nice hair. Messy though. And it's too short. Can ya let it grow a little?" Sigam's denial about coming to dance has her pouting just a bit. "Forget it. Promised me once and ran off. 'Sides, I’d rather dance with D'had." She smirks up at the Weyrsecond, "Can we dance?" Somehow the words drunk are being bandied about. Imagine! "I'm NOT drunk! Was Cenlia's cupcakes. Made me dizzy, that's all." Meanwhile her fingers have been running through the hair at the back of the Weyrsecond's head.
D'had closes his eyes while the two talk and he attempts to figure out which way they're going here. Deep breathes D'had, deep breaths. "Cupcakes," he mutters. Damn the cupcakes! When his eyes open its to peer down at Thea, "Dance?" … ??? Blink. "You," yes Sigam, that'd be you he's talking to. "You know where her weyr is?"
Sig bites down on his lip, merely watching as the goldrider plays with D'had's hair, as if logging all the evidence away for a court case later. Hoboy. "I didn't run off, I went on vacation." Under any other circumstance, the man might have lost his patience at that, but he's too busy fighting off a fit of laughter to take her seriously. "Yeah, sure, dizzy. In Sigam-land, we call that 'boozed.' Cenlia-made cupcakes mean /nothing/. You could lick that girl and get buzzed." As for D'had's question, Sig bounces his shoulders helplessly and shakes his head. "Nah, man, sorry. They don't pay me enough to do house-calls."
Voices from the direction of the clearing herald the arrival of several folk, all chattering noisily. Thea doesn't pay any heed to them, "It's around here… somewhere," she repeats vaguely as she lifts her other hand to trace the Weyrsecond's lower lip with one finger. "Hmm, like your smile, too." Lick Cenlia?! Sigam has her attention with that one, her finger stops mid-trace and her head lifts from D'had's shoulder. "Whyon Pern would I wanna do that?" Not snapped, really, just said in the manner of one who is… confused and indignant. "Besides, I'd rather…" No no she doesn't say it. Instead she snuggles her head back onto that shoulder. The voices come closer.
D'had looks almost as confused as Thea for the comment about licking the gardener. His is for a rather different reason however. "Well.. thanks," he calls after Sigam. Thanks for nothing. Finger on lips gets trapped lightly between them as he picks a direction. At least that way they're going somewhere and he's not just standing there holding her.
Right. So. This is Sigam's cue to exit, stage left. "I don't know, why would you?," the man retorts through a chuckle even as he backs away, eyes twinkling. "I was just saying, unless you wash it, chances are anything Cenlia has is alcoholic. Socks, boots, runnertail ties." One hand waves away the possibilities. "Anyways. Yeah, sure, sorry I couldn't be more helpful," Sig offers towards D'had with a smirk, waving him off even as the Dragonhealer pivots on one heel and all but skips back into the Caverns. Ohhh, Thea. You joke about that transfer to High Reaches, but the meddling look in Sig's eyes says it might be a /really good/ idea.
Thea's not looking unpleased to have fingers trapped either. Sigam's parting words have her lifting her head briefly, "Was a peace offering! Had to eat 'em." Back down goes her head with a giggle, "I am gonna have a word with her about those cupcakes. Tomorrow." Her fingers still play with the hair at the nape of the Weyrsecond's neck, "Where're we goin'?" Not like she really cares at the moment.
"Home," D'had comments shortly to her question of where. That's where she said she wanted, but given that he has no idea as to just where that is… they might well end up at his home rather than hers. "Babe.." he breaths, "Just.. go to sleep?" it comes out as partly question however.
Thea nods from where her head is snuggled, "Yeah, home is what I said before." So clear was she, so what's the holdup here anyway? Her fingers dance at the back of his neck, "Sleep? Why sleep? I'm not sleepy at all." She giggles softly as her fingers wriggle playfully from where they are nipped between his lips. Her head rolls back down his arm, tips back to peer at the, well, trees.
His home, her home, what's the difference? Particularly being that he doesn't know where her's is, she's not doing a very good job of telling him, and he's just fuzzy enough in his own mind to not realize that they could just ask Seryth. And so it is that eventually he's pushing through the door. As for her playfulness… willpower man, willpower. All of it!
Siebith’s Weyrbarn
The space over all is well lacking in decor. There's the standard kitchenette, table and chairs, couch and that sharding other table and well.. that's about it other than the ladder like stairs that lead to a curtained off loft over the human sized living portion. There is however, a feminine touch found in a vase of flowers on the table.
They enter a weyr, that's all Thea is really noticing for the moment. It's dark right? Besides, she's busy playing with the Weyrsecond's hair, tracing her fingers along the back of his scalp, lifting it to mussed spikes. She's snickering at something. "Took you long enough to get here." Here, meaning her weyr. "You want to stay for awhile? I have cupcakes."
Dark. … At least he knows his own place well enough to navigate it in the dark. Well… Mostly. There's that table in front of the couch. Yes, it's kicked in the process of getting her too it. Mutter mutter. But putting her down.. well she's set down, but he doesn't let go right off. What follows, might well be an answer to that question of staying as he dips his head to press lips to hers. 100% completely Thea's fault that.
Thea teeters a bit, sags against the Weyrsecond when she is set down, but he's still got her and that arm she had around his neck is still there, her other arm slides up his shoulder to meet the other hand behind his neck. She is mid-giggle after saying the word cupcakes when her lips are found by his and she just melts into that, returning his kiss with, well, an abandon she hasn't shown before.
Lets just put it plain, simple and to the point. Willpower? With that kiss… Gone. See ya later. Sianara. Goodbye. Thea, meet D'had. Handsy? Very. The one from behind her back, reaching up to push hair back from her face, thumb caressing her cheek while the one that was behind her knees slides slowly up her thigh.
Thea is fairly boneless at this point so the hand on her cheek, pushing her hair from her face has her head just going with it, tipping back as the rest of her seems to want to follow the motion. Her arms loose their strength, slipping from around his neck, her legs never had any to begin with. If he doesn't catch her? She's going to collide with his couch in an ungraceful flop.
D'had is catching. More or less. But then that's just where he's going with her anyway. The ungraceful, if at least somewhat controlled, flop back to the couch. Barely intelligible murmurs passing his lips as he resumes, no continues, his attentions.
Thea is responding without thought, not that she's been doing any thinking since biting into that first cupcake. If asked to stop and think now? No, she couldn't do it. Think before speaking right now? Also an impossibility. Gone is the guard on her tongue at the moment. He's murmuring? She speaks with a soft sigh, "I love you, D'had." Uh oh. Tell her she said that tomorrow and she'll deny it. Might be a clue for her behavior once that brandy hit her bloodstream. Not screeching and clawing? Anyone else would have been wounded in the attempt to touch her. No sooner than the words pass her lips, her body goes limp. She's out.
What was that? Blink. He pulls back ever so slightly to peer down at her face through the darkness only to have her pass out on him. Well damn! D'had sighs, as he collects some semblance of remaining willpower. One last kiss brushes her cheek, "Love you too," he whispers before he finds his feet. She'll deny it, he'll deny it, and likely they'll both have forgotten come morning anyway. The blanket hanging on the back of the couch is pulled down to cover her. As for him, Siebith makes a pretty good makeshift bed.