Xanadu Weyr - Rustic Treetop Cafe
Perched on the cliff overlooking Xanadu's beach is a gnarled and massive skybroom tree. The bark and outer layers are sturdy enough to support the thriving, brushy top, but the interior, which is hollow, contains a spiral staircase that leads to a cafe built on a high platform amongst the branches. With a panoramic view of lake, sky, Weyr and the mountains beyond, the treetop eatery offers both sheltered seating just inside the trunk and tables on the wide deck that encircles the old tree.
The cafe's decor is comfortable and rustic, but closer inspection shows the smallest embellishments to be artfully combined into one detailed masterpiece. The wood of the doors, floor and walls of the trunk have been stained a dark mahogany that lends the space a sense of intimacy. Tables in various sizes have been carved to mimic driftwood, the chairs and benches padded with oiled sailcloth cushions to provide weather-proof comfort. Each table has an aged brass lantern filled with shells and agates gathered from Xanadu's shores, the sparkling natural mosaics holding tapered candles upright in their embrace. Lamps hang from the ceiling on silver poles, the thick frosted glass carved into intricate pastel shells or swirling white-capped waves. At night the colored glass softens the glowlight to enhance the ambience.
During the day, the retractable doors allow leaf-spattered sunlight to fill both the outer deck and the smaller interior with green and gold light, as well as allowing pleasant breezes to cool the interior. On clear nights, farviewers perch on the elaborately carved railing are free for use to enhance the gorgeous view of the stars over the Caspian Lake, the Sea of Azov beyond and the rock formations of the Weyr.
While it might be an autumn evening in Xanadu, at least things aren't too chilly yet. Winter will come, but for now… most folks are probably safe enough just pusting out a favorite sweater. With the cooling weather has also come crystal clear skies and tonight the stars seem to be out in force. It's really pretty and might be a reason why several folks seem to be crowding the farseers on the railing, but Rhodelia is ignoring all of that. The goldrider has managed to snag an outside table in the furthest corner, with not one but TWO lanterns (she totally commandeered the second from a neighboring table… they weren't using it) and is more focused on her hands. Or rather, the yarn that seems to be attacking them at the moment. "I don't know why I let Ina talk me into this…" and various other comments of similiar nature can be heard muttered from that corner.
“Is the blame all Ina’s, though?” IS IT, RHODY? Ru’ien’s purred inflection suggests plenty, while he says nothing and only grins from where he’s sidled up to her table. How’d he sneak up here? better to not ask questions Whether she was hoping for company or not, he’s going to help himself to a free chair, settling in with eerie but wholly casual finesse. His clothing is as eclectic as ever and despite the sweater weather, still balances between styles; of course, he’s wearing that flannel kilt skirt, with some warmer leggings beneath and heeled boots. His hair is largely unbound, only a few strands braided in an effort to keep the majority of it out of his face. A touch of color and coal eyeliner around his eyes, some simple accessories and voila! Typical Ru’ien, come to ruin join Rhodelia’s evening. The yarn is given a long, long look and from the way his fingers twitch…
"Always," Rhody doesn't even hesitate to answer that as she tosses the knotted mess she's been making on the table in apparent defeat, but also being hurled closer to those twitching fingers. "Unless it's Glorioth's. Or Kihatsuth's… or Leirith's… or Xermiltoth's…" One thing Xanadu is NEVER short on is blame to be passed around. And Dragons that Probably Did It, regardless of what It might have been. "But don't think you came up here to hear me rant about yarn. What's up?"
Unsurprisingly to all, that bundled of yarn is practically snatched before it even gets the chance to tumble past. There’s an unmistakable look of quiet glee on Ru’ien’s face, as fingers bury into the mess of yarn — and no, he’s not going to help untangle it! It’s the beginning edge of his texture fixation, as he goes down the familiar viral takeover stages of proddiness. “Careful,” he sing-songs, lifting his gaze to fix it amusedly on her and complete with a broad smirk. “They’ll hear you~ And then we’ll really be in for it and it’ll be alllll your fault, Rhody!” Why is he here? There’s a shrug, a falsely innocent smile. “Oh, y’know, I felt like a walk and ended up here! Purely by chance were you here too! And maybe I DO want to hear you rant about yarn?”
Somewhere within the pile of yarn there's a crochet hook and the very beginnings of a square of some sort, but Rhodelia's project very quickly went off the rails into 'giant knot and not the useful knots that were intended' territory. She grins over at her clutchmate, definitely spotting the singsong mixed with tactile fascination and giving a little nod, mostly to herself as potential proddiness noted. "Maybe you'll been in for it. There's eggs on the sands so it's easy enough to distract Inasyth, even if it's not her clutch. And there's not much to hear about my yarn rant. Aside from a certain meddling gold thinking I could really use a hobby."
The crochet hook is likely to be found, worked along his fingers and then promptly discarded. Did Rhody want it back? Oops. That big knot is becoming all the more helplessly tangled, only now his fingers are enmeshed in it. How about a game of Cat’s Cradle? It might LOOK like he’s offering, as he gestures with his hands as though they aren’t currently occupied. “Hey!” he feigns shock next and a sprinkle of playful dismay. “Why pin the blame on me?” he laughs quietly under his breath. “So Inasyth’s been interested in them? Kihatsuth was for a bit.” Not so much now, for reasons. “Do you need a hobby, Rhody?” he teases with another grin.
Want is a strong word. Eventually Rhody will surely go looking for the crochet hook, but it's location is a problem for future-her. Current-Rhody just puts her elbows on the table and props her chin on her hands, starting back at Ru'ien and his faux-shock. "Because it's easy?" She grins before giving a little nod. "She always has been. Even creeping out onto the sands to visit eggs when she was still a weyrling. Honestly, kinda surprised that she's only had the one clutch so far and…" She winces and lets it go unsaid that there were only the three eggs in said first clutch. "But uhhh, maybe? Cause I don't really think Booze counts as a hobby. At least not a healthy one. And if I were to take up travel, that gets awkward and quickly ends up being more work usually… So thinking, yarn looks easy? But it's not. Don't let it deceive you!"
“Harsh.” Ru’ien pouts with his quipped answer and all for the effect of it and not actual stung feelings. He won’t be so wrapped up in his own (proddy) head as to miss that wince from her and while there’s a flicker of understanding, he won’t press much further on that conversation. “Crazy, isn’t it? To think how long it’s been since they, or all of us, technically, were weyrlings…” There’s a low laugh this time, as he begins to meticulously untangle his fingers — or is he wrapping them up more? His gaze drifts upwards to fix her with a look and roguish smirk. “If pole dancing can be my hobby, then booze can be yours — who said it had to be unhealthy? Learn how to mix ‘em! I’ll be your tester.” And terrible enabler, obviously. He blinks and looks down at his ensnared hands, as if surprised how that even happened. “Oh, I think it’s too late for that… But it feels marvellous?”
Rhodelia bobbles her head in agreement. "It really is crazy. Seems like it was just yesterday, but then get a look at the current batch of weyrlings and some of them look like babies!" She still hasn't come to terms with the idea that she's closer to thirty than twenty turns old. She gives a brief eyeroll towards the suggestion to learn how to mix booze, but there is a smile so the annoyance might just be for show. "I was a bartender for a couple turns, you know? And a vintner apprentice before that… think I got the mixing down."
“Well? There you go! A hobby!” Of the past, but Ru’ien’s still counting it. There’s a little wrinkle of his nose and a playful disgusted noise made in the back of his throat. “Thanks, Rhody, I needed the reminder that we’re getting older too!” With a long suffering sigh that is all lighthearted dramatics, he’ll slip his hands from the yarn and promptly lob it back at her. “Seriously though, are you really wanting to discover a new hobby or …?” he muses, while restlessly tap-tapping his fingers against the surface of the table top.
"It's not a hobby if it was something you got paid for," Rhody objects with a laugh. Although since bartending wouldn't be her job now, that doesn't rule out taking it up for a hobby now. There's a snicker at his sound of disgust. "Hey, if I'm having to face it, gonna make others face it too." As for the hobby-quest, she gives a bit of a shrug. "Don't know… felt like I should do something, you know? Can't spend all my time working. And I got that huge barn to fill up with stuff that I haven't been making any progress on and it's starting to feel a bit empty."
Ru’ien waves a hand in flippant dismissal to Rhody’s objection, but is unable to keep from grinning himself. Details! “Can’t we just all be in denial though? It’s so much more fun that way! Let’s just be in our mid-twenties forever, alright?” Deal? He shifts a little in his seat, smoothing out that skirt and not at all fidgeting (he’s totally fidgeting). “Mhm, yeah, that is understandable.” Potentially relatable, but his tone has sobered for that one breath before his mouth quirks wryly and mischievous. “A barn weyr to fill, eh? Y’know, I could always go for finding something more for my place. Why don’t we go hunting sometime, hmm? Who knows,” That smirk broadens. “Maybe we’ll plan the next party while at it.” A wink. How’s that for something to do?
"Deal," Rhody gives a very firm nod at the suggestion to just not get older. "Like a modified-version of dragon memory. Just don't remember getting older, even if we are." Her head tilts at the suggestion. "Hunting for what? I might be looking for hobbies but don't think hunting-hunting is gonna really be on it. Always was a bit squeamish when I had to clean stuff the hunters brought in as a candidate. And since there's not the necessity of a hungry dragon pushing me through that squeamishness now…"
Ru’ien will tip a finger-pointed gesture at Rhody, along with a lopsided grin, pleased as anything that she ‘got it’. Exactly! He laughs, low and throaty for the next. “Oh Rhody,” Darling. “Do I look like I can hunt? Or would ever want to? Ugh,” There’s a shudder that might not all be feigned, as his features shift expressively to a sultrier edge. “I mean, I sometimes “hunt” people but that’s something else entirely,” he muses, with a little flash of teeth and a poke of tongue. IF YOU GET WHAT HE MEANS? More amusement then, tempered to chuckling as he adds in genuine seriousness: “Hunting as in… hunting for decor! Sometimes finding the just right piece takes a bit of sleuthing, y’know?” Or maybe he doesn’t.
Rhodelia tilts her head as she considers Ru'ien. "Well, I know enough to know that you are always full of surprises. And hunting for decor sounds like an adventure! I'm in. Whenever." Provided she doesn't have her own proddy dragon soon. And the eggs that come after. "But as delightful as this has been… I have a very large dragon that is begging for yet another coat of oil. See you around, Ru? We gotta go hunting after all!"
“Of course I am!” Ru’ien preens for effect, along with his smug expression that might be more true than not, if the press of one hand to his chest has any say in the matter. He beams when Rhody agrees to meeting up again for adventure decor hunting, delighted despite it coming on the heels of her farewell. “Don’t let me keep you! And I’ll get in touch,” Somehow. “Once the dust has settled~” Because even he’s no fool and has enough understanding to know that the next days will be all in Kiha’s favour if the green has any say (and she does)! “We’ll catch up more next time!” Ru’ien doesn’t seem as inclined to leave quite yet and maybe it’s because of the yarn, if it’s left behind. If not, perhaps the view while his mind can focus on it.