Coastal Road
This coastal road runs parallel with the edge of beach that stretches endlessly beside the Caspian Lake. From coast to inland the dunes of the beach grow smaller and smaller until they eventually peter out into nothing but small moguls in the sand. The path is eventually seen to be blocked by a river that reaches the lake just south of the point where the road turns west and crosses a grassy meadow towards a sturdy wooden bridge that can be seen in the distance.
Late winter is not always the nicest of times. Snow falls one day and thaws the next into a grey slush under leaden skies, exposing bare earth and dead grass. Too early for spring, the trees thrust leafless branches skyward, empty of birdsong, desolate. This kind of grey day usually has folks inside huddling 'round hearths swapping stories and most of the inside places are packed. Which might easily explain why Thea is out here slogging through the soggy snowmelt, hands jammed in pockets with eyes on the far horizon across the lake.
Cold or no, Siebith is lounging just outside his weyr, one side of which has an addition in progress, soaking up what little breaks through the grey day. D'had isn't so far off, he's not lounging today however, rather he's working on that addition, those who would otherwise being working on the construction having the day off.
Hammering and sawing are enough to shake Thea out of any daydreams she might by having and it's with a wince that she notices D'had is working alone on that addition. She turns from the road and steps over, standing off a little ways of a few moments, just watching, a funny sort of smile curving her lips. She waits until he pauses to speak, "How does a seafaring trader pick up carpentry?"
Thea's voice is enough to catch D'had's attention, stepping away from the half built wall to replace hammer into tool box. "Have ta keep a ship in good repair," he replies with a shrug as he straightens. "Might be surprised what a seafaring trader picks up in travels."
Thea picks her way carefully through slush, stacked lumber discarded bits of wood and stone to D'had's side, a laugh in her voice as she replies, "I guess I would be. Perhaps sometime you can tell me more about that." Green eyes flicker up at the wall admiringly, "Nicely done, but," she frowns slightly, "Have you been working all alone today?" She's turning to eye him with some concern.
D'had chuckles. "Today? Yeah," he replies, looping an arm around her shoulders once she's picked her way over. "Bout time for a break though," he adds, leaning to press a kiss to her cheek. "You checkin' up on me or what?"
Thea leans into D'had's side when his arm comes 'round her shoulders. "Something like that," she admits with an attempt to smile that falls somewhere short. She turns to face him, slips her arms around his waist, linking her fingers behind his back and tips her head to see his eyes. "You've been… so busy. Working long hours." Her brow wrinkles just a bit, "Everything okay?"
D'had nods, "Sure," he replies, sounding perhaps not quite so reassuring as he'd like. "Just alot goin' on her lately." A nod towards the addition, "Got this goin' up and meetins with the Weyrleader and things. You know how it goes."
Thea hmms at this, "I do and I don't. I hear bits and pieces." She's studying the features of his face, noting subtle things a woman would when looking for fatigue or stress. "I think you need a break, if Siebith will oblige?" She's stepping backwards, but keeping her arms around him, her attempt is to drag him with her. "Seryth is hugging the hatching sands today and informs me her warm nap is to be left undisturbed."
D'had chuckles, "Well I suppose I could do with a break." He did say something about that already. Didn't he? "Just let me toss these things away so they don't rust?" Must pick up tools. "And then if ya wanna go somewhere…" That's his guess since she mentioned their lifemates.
Thea reluctantly allows D'had his freedom, her arms dropping. "By all means." She steps away, so as to be out of his way. "Yes, somewhere there isn't slush and crowded overheated rooms and grey skies…" She stops, a sly smile on her face, "I have a place in mind." But she doesn't say where.
D'had slips away to toss the remaining tools into the box and shift the box itself under the overhang of the porch. "You're gonna have ta tell me eventually," he replies, particularly since she's relying on Siebith to get them there. The blue stirs, standing as D'had grabs straps and meets him half way to 'saddle up' as it were.
Thea just laughs, "Maybe, maybe not." She follows, reaching a hand in a silent offer to help harness Siebith while the other offers the dragon a pat. She's stepping to the other side of the blue, humming softly. She's innocent. Really.
D'had double checks straps before mounting up and holding a hand down though really given the difference in size between Siebith and Seryth she'd likely not need it. "Someone's happy?"
Siebith
You sit atop Siebith's back. Beneath your legs, you see: Shallow ocean currents race across this dragon's body, streaks of white wakes swirling after some unseen vessel. Dappled shades dot down his neck from his muzzle to pool into a darker blue splotch on his chest. His body is small and compact, perfectly proportioned like a prized racing boat. A thin darker blue streak down both sides of his torso create a stylized marking, as they swirl down to the tip of his tail, chasing each other as if in a never ending quest. His wings are shorter than average, but thicker as well, colored the same pale blue as the rest of his body.
Thea takes that hand up, swinging into place in front of the Weyrsecond, settling into place easily. She turns a glance at him over her shoulder as she buckles herself in, devilment gleaming in the one eye her gets sight of. Her lips twitch, "No reason not to be?" She checks the straps, lifts her arms out of the way so he can check them himself as he's likely going to do.
D'had wraps arms about her waist once she's settled, peering over her shoulder to do just that and check that strap. "Suppose not, but you gonna tell me where we're going now or are we just gonna sit here?"
Thea rolls a side-glance at D'had as he peeks over her shoulder and snickers, "I'll… tell you when we're airborne?" Hey, it's worth a try, no? She reaches for the neckridge in front of her, then thinks again and wraps her arms up over his.
D'had chuckles, "Find fine," he gives in and seconds later the blue is launching to the sky. Rider gives his passenger a light squeeze. "You're bein' awful secretive bout this.. you know how I feel bout surprises…"
Oh, this is news to Thea! She turns to get a good look at the man's face, "No, actually, I don't know. Why don't you enlighten me?" She's playful today, but that request was a serious one. She leans back against him, adding casually, "Seryth will give Siebith the coordinates." And somehow, he may have a hint from last time they went somewhere together that the picture Seryth visualizes will not be shared with the rider.
D'had just shakes his head, Siebith circling up into higher into the sky. "Ain't my favorite thing," he replies of surprises before Siebith receives the coordinates and makes the jump.
At that short statement, Thea looks uncertain now, all her buoyancy drains away. This… could go badly. But they are in the air already and she isn't the type to leave something unfinished, so… She leans back, shuts her eyes and winces, ready for a less-than-favorable response when they get there.
Yokohama - Cargo Bay
Since the gravity units were restored and now are maintained in working order, the cargo deck of the Yokohama is constantly buzzing with activity. With research needing to be done, equipment to be moved, or a plethora of other tasks taking place people are always coming and going, either from the planet 'below' by dragon back, or meandering in and out from other places aboard the ship.
This area is well lit, the floors themselves have had space set aside specifically for 'betweening'. Three large marked off areas remain clutter-free of people, dragons and equipment. With these 'landing pads' clear, dragons avoid the danger of teleporting into an area of space already occupied and causing a tragedy. Several massive sun lamps have been set up over off to the left, in an effort to make the stay of dragon-kind more comfortable.
The jump is as uneventful as any other, except for the arrival into… no gravity. It takes a few minutes for the lack of familiarity to register with D'had. "What the..?" Confused might be the understatement of the day.
Thea turns towards D'had, her hair floating about her head in the weightlessness, an apologetic smile replaces what normally might have been a snickering grin. "Welcome to the Yokohama?" She's watching him carefully, as she adds weakly, "Surprise?" And if Siebith is smart, he's not moving around too much…
D'had clings a bit tighter to her waist as he sends a look around the space of the cargo bay. "The.." he begins to echo the location. "Yeah." Surprise it is it would seem. "And why?" Are they here that is.
Thea quirks a brow at the Weyrsecond's question, "To get away?" Obvious answer, that. She reaches down and unclips herself, reaching past him to undo his clips also, since, well… his hands are busy clinging to her. "Haven't you ever wondered what the stars look like from up here? Or what Pern is like from so far away?" She's watching his face, "You, ah… feeling alight?" Keeping her voice carefully laughter-free.
"Not that I remember…" D'had replies hesitantly. As for 'alright' that's something he hasn't figured out just yet. "Could have gotten away at a beach too." Why outerspace??
"Well… why not outer space?" Thea replies as the last clip is undone, freeing them from the restraints of the harness. She wraps her arms over his where they are wrapped around her waist, draws her legs up slowly, careful not to send them wobbling off anywhere, slides D'had a look from the corner of her eye, and then pushes off the back of Siebith with enough force to send the pair of them moving across the cargo bay, floating yes? But more like flying.
"Cause its not water or land?" D'had replies, keeping his calm best he can as she pushes them into the 'air'.
"Donn, look. You are flying! This is supposed to be fun." Thea chides him gently. They are nearing the far wall. Nowhere near the lift doors that would take them to the bridge for a view of space. She turns to give him a look, "You told me you don't need roads…" She reaches out a hand to gentle the impact with the far wall, pushing to send them back across the room, this time at a bit of a spin, "There aren't any up here."
"Don't," D'had replies, "But I do like knowin' which way is down or up or…" Which ever way is supposed to be whichever way. Flying or not he doesn't exactly seem comfortable with doing it alone.
These one-word answers are a little less than Thea is used to, even from D'had. She reaches out a hand to snag at Siebith's harness as they near the blue. She's able to stop their forward movement. "Then… let's go back." She leans to peer into his eyes, "I'm… sorry." She pulls them closer to Siebith's back. "You know the way to that island. We can go there if you want?"
"Hey, hey," D'had returns, pulling himself, and her in the process, back into place on Siebith. "Can stay if ya like.." he replies, though the sound of it he'd rather have feet back on the ground.
Thea shakes her head quickly, chagrined, "No, no… I just… No." She clips herself back in, waiting for him to do the same. She sighs, leans her head back against the shoulder behind her. "Let's go where you are comfortable. I just… didn't think-" She waves a hand towards 'out there'. "Lets go somewhere. You decide."
D'had nods and in a blink they're back above that beach he took her to once before, Siebith circling to land and soon enough D'had is back on the ground offering a hand up to her. "Just.. well it don't feel natural up there." he offers apologetically.
Lost Island - Sugar Beach
Palm trees shade the fine-grained, pristine white sand, making them cool to the touch even when Rukbat is at its peak. Gentle waves from the sheltered bay lap the sand at water's edge. Crystal clear at the shoreline, the waters deepen to aqua then a rich azure in the cove's center. Further out, rolling billows break with a muted roar upon a reef of smooth volcanic rock that protects the cove, keeping the waters of the cove tranquil.
On either side the sand stretches to curve out of sight, flanked on one side by thick jungle, the other by the sea. Someone has tied a woven rope hammock wide enough for two in the shade of the palm trees and just a few steps from a rock fire pit. Nearby there is a path that disappears into the undergrowth.
Thea kicks a leg over Siebith and slides down into that offered hand. She is silent, simply nodding to his explanation, eyes searching his face for a moment before she turns her head to gaze down the beach with a troubled expression.
D'had frowns for her silence, curling arms about her as if it might help. "What's wrong?" he questions after leaving the silence hang for a long while. "Sorry if I ruined your surprise…" It must have been something he did.
Thea blinks, startled, then leans into D'had, sliding her own arms 'round him as she turns her head to him. "You didn't… I mean… please don't say sorry?" Her eyes search his as she explains, "I just… sometimes get it into my head to do things." Like dragonsurf and leap up into outer space. "And I wonder if…" She swallows hard, "If I will annoy you with some of it. And…" She drops her head against his chest, muttering, "…you'll send me away because…"
D'had rubs her back affectionately. "Hey now," he consoles, resting his chin atop her head. "Why would I do that? Hmm?" Really he sounds like he doesn't know. "Just cause I like you don't mean I gotta like everything you do. Right? Faranth knows you don't like everythin' I do."
Thea lifts her head, "I might wear you out? And you and I will do nothing together? And you and I will grow distant…" She does smile when she says it, but it's more of a troubled one, "No no, you don't have to like the things I do, of course not, but…" Still troubled, "Sometimes a little stretching beyond what you are comfortable is a good thing for a person. Helps you grow." She tilts her head peering at him curiously, "Unless… You are done with all that and just ready to sit with the old uncles."
D'had chuckles softly. "Ain't ready for that just yet," he replies, "But don't think I'm ready for," he gives a nod towards where the Yokohama might well be, "That just yet either."
Thea shakes her head, "So not ready to fly in space yet?" She shrugs in unconcern about that leaning close to be very sure he knows she means it, "I have plenty more ideas to try out on ya." And she smirks, "Unless you have of your own, you'd better be ready to try some of them." Her arms tighten just a bit around him, "Because I am not the sitting still type."
"Lets just stick ta Pern," D'had comments, "And I'm willin' ta try anythin' ya like at least once." There's a wink for that then and he grins in that lopsided smirking way he has, "Might have an idea or two." particularly now that he knows she's open.
"Pern's big enough, I guess," Thea concedes this with a shrug, one hand lifts, negligent fingers flick the idea of space away. Her attention is now on the man in front of her and she tilts her chin, "Ah do you then?" So not afraid! Or so says her posture, though likely she'd never admit to any misgivings, either. "And what might they be?"
D'had chuckles, "Well now sugar, you're just gonna have to wait and find out." Any other questions of the sort to follow will likely be met only with a grin. "You leave that planing ta me."