Of Cookies and Cots
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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.


Scene already in progress - feel free to add poses here.

Flustered would be something of a large understatement. This will be forever known as the night that C'rus went a bit wibbly. Though he seems to have managed to have shaken off most of the ill effects. There will be more to work out later. Much more, but for now there are other things to focus his attention on, "You really should try the cookies you will like them." he says with a smile to the guest. He takes another bite of another cookie as Kera speaks up about him getting Giroux set up, "I can do that. Shouldn't be too hard." He stands up to offer her a departing hug, "I'll see you there in a little while. I'll get him set up and finish some food and be over." he says lovingly.

Giroux and C'rus are seated at a table. C'rus has flight leather's slung over his shoulders and Giroux could pass for a moth in a cocoon, with the way a blanket is wrapped around his smallish form. When he speaks, however it's with a deep resonante baritone. "Maybe once you two finish with them. I don't wish to press myself on your hospitality." he counters, sipping some more klah. "But I believe that yes, not sleeping on the couches and getting into trouble would be best."

Kera grins back to the young man, who still doesn't seem to want to partake of the cookies. "She sends me enough so that if I don't share them out, they go stale. So you're doing me a favor by gobbling some of them down." Nodding after making her point she finishes gathering her stuff and shrugging into her jacket again. C'rus's being on the back of his chair. "Just make sure he gets something warm to wear first." Those fancy duds, don't look to warm to her, but she won't voice that. Gathering the last of her packages, She leans into the hug C'rus gives and even pecks a smooch on the bluerider's cheeck before heading off after a quick wave. "See ya at the cottage." Then she's gone, and a gruff voice grating out once more 'Shut the door!' can be heard.

As things wind down in the kitchens and the latest of diners trickle off to parts elsewhere, the caverns become less populated. The offices in the administration wing - at least the headwoman's - have been abandoned somewhere around dinnertime. So what is Darsce doing here when she should be home in the comfort of her own cottage with her family? It's anyone's guess but the silvery-blonde strides in, still dressed in the uptown suit she'd worn for work. She passes Kera on the way across the room and oh yes, she saw the smooching. She…says nothing but there's a smirk on her mouth as her steps take her in the direction of the two males. "C'rus," she drawls by way of greeting, sounding amused. The teen is nodded to and she's aimed for the kitchens.

C'rus just blinks as he is smooched. To anyone on the outside it might look as if something like this hasn't happened before, and thats because well…it hasn't. So he just stands there in silence as he watches her go. It's a few long moments before he speaks up, "I love that girl…" Mostly to himself but if anyone else hears he couldn't care less. The day has gone from good, to strange, to wibbly, to strange and back to good…and now awesome! And just when life is at its most awesome who should appear…Darsce. He turns quickly to face the sound of that voice that he knows oh so well, and sure enough there she is, "Hello Darsce. It's a pleasure seeing you this evening. I hope the night finds you well." he says with genuine politeness. His mood is far too good to shift now.

Giroux tilts his head to the side as he turns and looks towards the woman striding in. "Hello." He gives a greeting with a left handed wave. "I'm Giroux. I was.." A pause there, wry smile of his own on his face. "Sort of abandoned here, and with the weather outside I can't get back to where my last stop was. Thankfully I know C'rus here from Fort." He motions to the man seated nearby. He reaches out and takes a cookie on Kera's prompting. He looks at C'rus and sort of whispers. "She doesn't look mean."

Wibbly? How's that defined now? The smooching could have happened on a regular basis for all Darsce knows, she just hasn't seen it before. To the flowery greeting she pauses and with an eyeroll pivots on one high heeled foot to face him. Her voice is pleasant enough when she answers the healer-rider sweetly, "Finally found one that could stand you, eh C'rus? That or you missed your cell. Shall I get the keys and open the clink for you?" Iceblue eyes flick to Giroux when he whispers to C'rus and she snorts quietly, "Looks can be deceiving." Her lips twitch, perhaps she's trying not to smile? That or getting ready to bite. But he's mentioned being stranded and shapely brows lift. "Are the dragons grounded then?"

Wibbly shall remain undefined…forever. And C'rus will certainly /never/ be disclosing the events of earlier this evening to Darsce. Noooooo sirreeeee. Not if he has any sort of choice. C'rus smiles just as sweetly in return, "I did." he affirms before continuing, "…we became weyrmates a few days ago, so you will be just oh so pleased to be seeing my face around here more often." His head gives a slight shake back and forth, "Ahhh…the old cell. How I miss it…" he says with a chuckle in his voice, "I'll pass for the evening thanks." He turns a sharp glance to Giroux. Not in anger, but in warning, "Giroux here is stuck with me until I can take him home. I'm not going to try betweening tonight. Jaicoureth is too tired and so am I. There might be a few that are willing to fly." Though the dilemma of Giroux is still present, "He's going to need a nice place to stay tonight. His trip here was unexpected and he was unprepared." he says as he glances over to the young man, "Darsce here is the headwoman. She rules with an iron fist." That is a compliment. Sorta.

"A pleasure Headwoman." Giroux says, grinning a bit more broadly than before. "Yes, looks can be deceiving." He munches on another bit of cookie and then breaks off a piece to hand towards Darsce. "Would you like some?" He asks, aimiably. "It's pretty good." His eyes flick over Darsce as he thinks. "I'm from Nerat, thus the blanket and the klah. Never seen snow before. Pretty neat. Cold." He shivers at the thought.

"Darsce," the headwoman corrects them both mildly. And if she really wanted to know about the private life of C'rus and Kera, she could likely find out more than he'll tell her simply by listening to the gossips of assistants she has. But her interest lies more with needling the poor man. "Weyrmated, hm?" One lacquered fingernail lifts to tap tinted lips while regarding him, then she drawls, "Does that mean you're transferring from Fort then?" The rest of what the rider says on behalf of Giroux has her biting her tongue - she can do that occasionally! So he doesn't get asked if he can speak for himself. The bit of cookie he offers her is stared at. Does she look like a puppy? "No th-" The brownish-colored firelizard on her shoulder, however, is another story. The little female flows down Darsce's arm and opens her little maw wide, chirruping sweetly - giving Giroux permission to toss it in while she flutters several of her lids at the teen. Darsce ignores her but eyes the blanket now. "So. Where are you sleeping then? I don't recommend the floors. They're both hard and cold."

"Yes weyrmated." C'rus says with a big old wide goofy grin. Impervious to needleing today. Or so it would seem at any rate, "It just so happens that I won't be transferring." he says with some certainty given the conversation the pair had recently, "And Kera won't be moving from here. We are going to work out something else. Both of us are comfortable where we are." Eh. Details. Love is what is most important. So saith Jaicoureth, "I trust that Xanadu's hospitality has not diminished since I lived here." he says pointedly to her. He gives a glance over to Giroux. His look says, 'Now is the time to speak up and get a nice room.'

OOC note: We lost Giroux at this point

Darsce asked mostly out of idle curiosity and the news is received with a bored shrug. That and a bit of relief that's voiced with a small smile, "So you won't be working in Xanadu's infirmary then. Good." Another eyeroll accompanies both his pointed remark to her and his prodding of Giroux. What are they Penn and Teller? Of course the hospitality hasn't changed! But the lad hasn't asked for a room, now has he? With sweet sarcasm, she asks C'rus, "So… how about you just do my job for me why don't you?" Rooms? Are for adults. She points down the hall and says to the teen, "The bathing caverns, latrines and dorms are down that way. Take any empty cot. Towels, bathing supplies are in the hot springs. C'rus can show you, since he's being oh so helpful tonight. Meals three times a day right here. And… I need to go. Seeya." Over her shoulder the little gold firelizard chirps a sad farewell. She would have loved to stay, lavish affection and eat more cookies, but she's being carried off. Woe!


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