Xanadu Weyr - Thea's Weyr
This clearing is sheltered by a thick canopy of trees, which seems supported at its centre by an immense, wild-growing fellis tree. Hanging from one of its high branches is a swing, made up of two ropes and a seat of softwood and leather. The grass is tall here and interrupted in places by clusters of white and blue alyssum. Alyssum covers the indentation of the wallow, remaining hardy despite being continually crushed. The constant sound of herdbeast in their pens can be heard close-by, though its source is invisible through the foliage.
The cottage itself is made of white softwood, like birch, though creeping vines cover all four of its walls from the outside and even encircle the brown-shuttered windows and matching door. The interior floor and walls are raw wood that has been sanded and lacquered to make them smooth and, for the most part, the inside is quite spacious. The bedroom area is plain, an ornately carved wardrobe providing the only real decoration, and at the rear of the cottage a brown lattice has been built into the doorway to a makeshift kitchen, where a breakfast nook has been carved into the wall, along with short counters. On one counter, a circle has been cut out and fixed with a clay-fired bowl with a nearby matching pitcher.
Early evening and the Weyr is settling down. Many folks are at dinner, while others are drifting weyr-wards to rest and unwind. There is snow in the air, coming down in one of those late winter falls that floats in large sticky clumps to cover the ground quickly. In Thea's cottage there is a fire burning in the fireplace and the place is warm. But the Junior is pulling a coat on.
While Thea's slipping into that coat there's a knock at the door the quick tap tap of knuckle on the frame that's signature of one Xanadu Weyrsecond.
Thea's door opens and it is a surprised weyrwoman who stands there, clearly not expecting to see anyone at her doorstep. There's a ready smile for the man, however and she steps aside for him to come in if that's what he's there for. "Hi?" She's unsure and there aren't many folks who can get her in that state of mind.
D'had chuckles for that surprised look that meets him. A light knock of boots, one against the other to make sure the majority of what snow might have stuck to his boots is gone before he steps through the door. "Hey there sugar," he greets, leaning to press a kiss to her cheek. "Goin' somewhere?"
Thea turns as D'had steps past her into the room. She flickers an inquisitive glance into his eyes as he leans in to kiss her, her head turns to brush her lips against his cheek in return. For a moment she hesitates, casting one last look outside, then closes the door against the winter chill and leans back on it. "Was just thinking of taking a walk in the snow. All this resting… I lie there with nothing to do but be bored."
"Nice night for a walk if ya don't mind the snow," D'had agrees. "You mind some company on that walk of yours or is this one of those solo things?" the question formed as a combination between teasing and serious.
Thea's lips twitch at the question, her head tilts as she considers. "Hmm, walk in the near-dark woods alone with the felines prowling about or with the Weyrsecond as a human shield between them and me." A slow smile spreads itself across her mouth. "I could put up with you for awhile."
D'had chuckles. "Well I'm glad you think so highly of me," he teases. At least he's good for a human meat shield, hmm. "So then you got anywhere to walk to in mind? Or just a walk."
"Oh, I do, you have no idea." Thea laughs quietly adding, "But most of the things I think I'd-" She hastily bites that off, turns quickly and opens the door with a deliberately casual shrug and answers him as she faces the night, "Anywhere there is snow?" And since there isn't any inside her cottage… She steps out, with a peek over her shoulder.
"You'd what?" D'had questions, thrown off by her quick end to the comment. He follows however, stepping out after her and pulling the door shut. An arm loops over her shoulders and he waits for her to decide which direction this walk will go.
The snow is coming down heavier now. It sticks where in lands in hair and on eyelashes. Thea blinks to dislodge them. "I'd… be too embarrassed to say aloud?" She finishes as she leans into D'had with a shoulder-nudge and a short laugh. There's enough light left in the purpling dusk for him to see her cheeks have turned pink. That's just the cold though, right? "For a man of few words, you sure seem to be interested in them at times." She ducks her head just a bit as she steps deeper into the forest.
D'had smirks, "Well you got me interested is all," he replies, giving her shoulder a light squeeze as his steps fall in with hers. "Just cause I ain't got nothin' to say don't mean I don't like hearin your voice."
"Is that so?" Thea asks, a sly smile upon her lips as she glances at him out of the corner of her eyes. She's steering them under a heavily snow-laden fir tree, but that is simply coincidence, right? One hand reaches suddenly to grasp the end of a branch overhead and she gives it a strong jerk, tumbling the snow down on top of them both. Then she is off and running, heedless of the snow, floundering in the increasing depth that slows her flight as she dodges between the tree trunks laughing like a child.
D'had isn't even paying attention to that snow laden branch until the snow is on him. Then he's jumping trying to get the snow out of his collar before it can drip too far in. "Damn you woman!" he calls after her, though its far more in jest than anger as he takes off after her.
Thea's laughter floats back between snowflakes at the cussing as she runs, her steps faltering as she re-negotiates her path of retreat. There's a quick backwards look over her shoulder and oops! He's gaining. She pauses to scoop up a double-handful of the snow and lobs it back his way.
D'had's path weaves around a tree, sidestepping a rougher looking patch and in doing so managing to avoid that snowball that flies in his direction. "Ha!" he laughs, realization that that was meant for him as he grins. "Better have some good apologies in mind." Teasing.
Thea blinks as D'had appears on the other side of the tree, her focus having been on rearming. She appears to give this some serious thought, although it is hard to stop the dance in her eyes. "Um, nope!" Grin. Her hand swings out from behind her back with another handful of snow that she tosses his way as she whirls to run in another direction, her hair swirls behind her as she turns.
D'had chuckles. That latest glob of snow hits its mark, catching him in the shoulder which only pushes him on. Her pauses to arm herself with snow and his longer stride helping him catch up faster.
Perhaps most girls run away squealing when chased by a man with a handful of snow. But Thea… is a mountain gal with a brother who taught her well the skills of snow fights. That whirl of hers turns her right around with a spring at his legs. But he's closer than she thought he'd be.
D'had might not be a mountain boy, but then he's not worried about tossing snow back at her, he's set on catching even if it means he's going down into the wet snow too. "You're gonna wish you'd thought about those apologies," he taunts.
"Oh, am I?" Thea's words come as she's overshot her tackle and lands with a roll to her feet. She uses one hand to push up from the ground, her boots scrabbling to get a foothold so she can flee. She's snickering as she gains her feet and starts off, "How so?" Though. Really. It's not hard to imagine what he's got in mind nor what her 'apology' will be once he catches her.