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.
Early afternoon and the lunch rush is beginning to drift away — plates are being cleared, people are moving off to their various duties, and one ex-candidate is sitting at a table industriously working away at something. Beside her on the table sits a cloth bag, a coil of thin black cord, a sharp knife, and a plate of rapidly cooling mashed tubers. As for Perri herself she's concentrating so intently that her tongue sticks out a little from her mouth, lips pressing down tight on it as she tries to slip a bead onto a piece of cord.
Kera comes from the springs, her hair towel dried but the slim braids still drip down her back. A half stuffed satchel slung over her neck as she makes quick steps towards the food tables. Tugging out a container, she starts stuffing it with meatrolls and other drier food stuff. Slipping a glance around as she stuffs it as full a she can and then slips it back in her satchel. When food for her and some other candidates for later is dealth with, she grabs up a meatroll and mug of something hot and heads towards the fireside tables. And There's Perri. Sidling up to the table, and eyeing the objects settled around, Kera cants her head curiously as she steps closer, quietly tryin to peek over the young healer's shoulder.
Sleep times are rather… irregular for Kairoikyriath, which means that Innes has to take advantage of them when she can. She appears from the entry to the hot springs, her ginger hair still damp from a fresh washing and hanging limply around her face. Her head cants, listening for any telltale signs that the gold might be close to waking. A miracle! She's still fast asleep, which means that Innes might get the chance to eat a full meal in the caverns for once. She heads over to the food, loading up a plate full of pretty much everything the table has to offer. Her eyes are probably bigger than her stomach, but she hasn't gotten enough to eat lately. This is just making up for lost time. She surveys the cavern, grinning when she spots a couple of familiar faces. "Perri! And here's Kera again!" Seeing as they both just came from the hot springs, and all. She plops herself down across from her former fellow candidates. "What're you working on, Perri?"
Perri barely registers Kera arriving at the table, so intent is she on her task. Certainly had she been paying less attention there would have been no squeak as Innes speaks, nor would there have been a large orange bead going pinging off across the table and off the other side to freedom. "Hi!" And then to the other side and kera, "Hi!" In the bag, ocnce the others are close enough to see are more beads of all colours, the piece in her hand consisting now merely of a beadless 3-strand braid. "How're you? They let you out then? Have you been having fun? Is it the best thing ever? Where're the babies?" She actually looks around as if expecting the young dragons to be there in the cavern. "Are the girls all okay and happy and… HI!" Pleased to see them? Oh yes.
Kera observes what Perri is doing, glancing around as Innes speaks up and flashes a quick wave before peering back down to what Perri works on. Then the orange bead is making a mad dasha nd she slaps at the table tryin to catch it. *SMACK* *SMACK* She tries twice to catch the wayward bead, but it still goes right over the edge and tries bouncing to freedom. Seeing her chance to stop the escape, Kera sidesteps then stomps on the bead. "Gotcha!" Crouching down, she grabs of the bead, brushing it off her shirt before handing it back over "Hiya Perri. I think I scratch it, sorry." Looking at it a moment, she shrugs and sets it on the table near Perri, grinning at the string of questions that fly out of the apprentice healer. Big bite of meatroll is taken, letting Innes answer most of the questions.
Innes also makes an attempt to catch the flying orange bead, but alas, her reflexes aren't that quick. Instead, she's just left leaning awkwardly as she watches Kera capture the thing. With a shrug, she sits back up and goes straight for her food. She smirks at Perri between bites, trying to catch all of the questions being thrown her way. "Well," she begins after the first few bites have been swallowed, "We're not really out. But they're asleep for the moment, so we're making a break for bathing and food while we can." Because once they're awake, Innes doesn't dare to leave Kairoikyriath's side for more than a few moments. She grins, and lifts another forkfull of food toward her mouth, pausing before she takes her next bite. "It's a lot of work, but so far it's pretty good."
"Oh it's okay, I've got plenty more." Perri replies, taking the wayward bead back and giving it a stern look for a minute. "IU don't think this one's right anyway, it doesn't want to go on and I'm fed up trying to force it. I'll just use a different one and it can sulk in the bag." Sulk? Bead? She doesn't seem to dwell on the idea, pushing both bead and braid into the bag and tugging it closed. "Sit! Are you allowed to sit? Just for a minute? I've missed you!" And is apparently about to make up for the time apart all in one breath. "They still haven't told me I can defintiely stay, well the weyr have but the Hall need to decide, but hopefully I'll still be here when you can actually come out and about properly. I can't wait to meet Monnnstarath and Kyrokrith." She stumbles over the dragon names, very uncertain how to pronounce them but making a vague attempt at least.
Kera chuckles as Perri deals with her wayward bead and plops down in the next seat "I think it will be alright for a few minutes. Moncerath is still out, so…" She shrugs quickly and takes small sips from her steaming mug, but soon starts chuckling a bit and flashing a smug grin to Innes "I told you Big K needed a nametag." Winking to Perri "Don't worry, none of us can say Inne's dragonmate's name either." A quick glance around before she goes on "Don't even think the Weyrlingmaster could say it. But don't worry, I'm horrible with names myself." Nodding agreeably with Innes, she considers perri "You should speak with Journeyman Cyrus or A'ven. I've been posted here for…" she seems to be calculting in her mind "Very close to three turns now, and it was to only be a temperary posting."
"I'm sure they'll let you stay. Just tell them Xanadu needs you," Innes responds around a mouthful of food. At least she lifts a hand to cover her mouth and make it slightly less gross. "It's Kairoikyriath," she says slowly, enunciating each syllable. "But you can just go with Kairo, at least when you're speaking to me. She might prefer the whole thing." It's hard to tell, considering how few people they've been exposed to so far. She sticks her tongue out at Kera with a bit of a scowl. "She doesn't need a nametag, you just need to work harder at memorization." So there. Her scowl doesn't last long, however, because there's still a large plate of food in front of her and she's determined to finish it all.
Perri looks a little sheepish as she mutters a quiet, "Sorry, Innes." But as with most things she does that sad expression doesn't last too long, and she's nodding to kera. "Cyrus or A'ven, I'll definitely look for them. I mean we need to replace you anyway. Not that anyone can replace you because you're you and you're awesome, but there needs to be another healer to do… things… and ooooh what were you working on when you were Searched maybe I can finish it and then they'd see that I can't leave because I'm needed here."
Kera sends a too innocent look to Innes, grinning behind her mug. Then she blinks over to Perri, replaced? Finishing her mouthfull she sighs "I guess I have been a bit scarce in the infirmary over the last couple of months. Even though I was checking in and helping out as I could." She considers a moment and taps the handle of her mug absentmindedly. "I'ld been treating patients, non serious cases obviously, since I'ld been promoted to Sr. Apprentice and assisting the Journeyman on duty with serious procedures at times. And of coarse, I always have…had my head in one of my manuals." A little head dip to Innes "I doubt she will be reposted. I mean, if I've not been sent packing yet…" One could wonder just /what/ would be on Kera's file in the Steward's office "…then they most likely won't be packing you off either Perri." A little smirk over that for some reason before she's shoving more food in her mouth in a hurry.
Innes waves her hand, dismissing Perri's apology with a grin. "It's okay. It doesn't bother me. Everyone's doing it." Only Kairoikyriath would offer up such a difficult name and then expect everyone to just know it. Her rider, on the other hand, is perfectly content with the nickname. "Well, I don't think Kera will be replaced," she chimes in, grinning over at her fellow weyrling. "Plus, doesn't she still get to study if she wants? After we graduate, I guess." Since the dragons are a rather large time consumer. She nods in agreement with Kera's statement, glancing back to Perri as she adds, "I'm pretty sure the Weyr always needs more healers. Some of us are particularly accident-prone. Or inclined to make others seem accident-prone." She still has her eye on punching Praela. "So I'm sure there's an argument for needing you."
Perri wafts a hand, "You've been busy I don't think anyone will mind that you've not been in the infirmary, I mean they probably mind a little because they miss you too, but they won't want you there if it meant your dragon wasn't being looked after properly when you're supposed to be doing… things. What do you do other than play with them?" She glances between the other two, and then a memory hits and elicits another long "Ooooh." A breath follows then, "The names! How did you know? Did they say? Were they told it by their parents? did they make it up? Can you spell it yet or are you making it up? Tell. Me. Everything."
Kera nods to Innes "I'm not replaced, just, ….detoured for a bit. I'm a healer, tis what I do. I think Moncerath was/is aware of that to a point. Everything will work out." Nodding as if she's pretty sure of her words. Then laughs and gives an amused eye roll to Perri cause of something Innes makes her remember "Most definately accident prone..which reminds me, have you met rider Idrissa yet?" A little smirk given over her non present friend "Perhaps you might find it useful to sorta read through some of the patient files. They can be a bit eye opening." Kera flashes a wink "Start with Idrissa, then some of the old aunties and uncles." Her fellow healer's questions about names merely draws an clueless chuckle "I've no idea, Innes?"
Innes grins at Perri's questions, which call to mind a certain conversation they had what now seems like forever ago. But as for answers, well, she shrugs and says, "I don't know." Not a very satisfying answer. "I don't think she was told anything by her parents, I think it's just hers alone. She told me her name, I guess." Another shrug. "It was all kind of a blur, honestly. It's still kind of a blur. There was nothing, and then there was her, and it's kind of hard to separate whether she really told me or whether I already knew and she was just reminding me." Her nose wrinkles up as she pulls a face, giving up on any sort of explanation. This is getting a little too touchy-feely for her. "I don't know how else to explain it. I'm just spelling it the way I think is best."
"Of /course/ it'll work out, how could it not?" Perri nods, completely sure of that fact. "But until then you can think of me as a temporary you. Just wait, you'll see. And when you get back it'll be just like you never left only you've got another mind in your mind." To Innes, when she finally remembers she's there too, she nods, "I should write up alist of questions or something and get you all to ask your dragons. We could add it to the dragancestry things, and cross reference it and…" her hands flap as she talks, thinking things through and moving little bits of information around in space before her. "… make it all pretty."
Kera finishes her roll and wraps both hands around the still mostly warm mug. An amused snort to Innes "Blur seems like a bit of an understatement. One moment, I was jumping out of the way of a gawky brown, then I was giving Moncerath small chunks of meat and looking her over repeatedly to make sure she hadn't hurt herself when she fell." Smiling from Innes to Perri, "That's a good idea. I'll try to answer what I can later. And one day Innes will be able to research dragoncestry with ya to her heart's content!" To Perri she smirks "Alright temp' me, you just keep Journeyman Cyrus on his toes. He /never/ puts the files away and when he does, well, no doubt you'll constantly be finding files out of place and refiling them properly."
Innes laughs at Perri's explanation of how Kera's absence will go. And with the younger healer's attention off of her, Innes takes the moment to shovel some more food into her mouth. She definitely needs to work on the eating regularly thing. "You should definitely do that," she agrees around her mouthful. "I'll talk to Soriana about Dragancestry, too. Maybe we can both keep working on that even though we're not candidates anymore. And, you know, since I'm busy with all these weyrling lessons, maybe they'd need someone else to take over for a while if she wanted to project to continue…" Hint, hint.
"Done. Deal." Perri's hands slap down onto the table, and it seems agreement has been reached even before anyone manages to talk to anyone else. "In fact, I'm going to go and get started now because if I don't then I'm going to forget and then things will never get done. And I'll get your filing done because it's probably been piling up. See we'll all be back together soon enough, and everything will work out perfectly." Bead bag, cord, knife, all are collected quickly, hugged to her chest as she says, "Say hi to the girls for me. G'bye!" and then scurries off.
Kera looks between her table companions as Perri gathers up her beads and cording. A quick nod offered as she wags fingers towards the younger healer when she rushes off to start working right now. Watching curiously she swings back around to Innes "You /did/ mention there was no rush on that project, right? Cause I don't think she got that memo." Gesturing the way Perri rushed off with a smirk, Kera lets her gaze drift around the cavern and starts getting to her feet, patting her shoulder satchel with a grin "Got us some snacks for later." Reaching up, she ruffles her braids about, drying more by the fire nearby.
Innes watches with both brows raised as the flurry that is Perri departs. She barely even has time to wave before the girl disappears. "Eh, it'll keep her busy," she says with a wave of her hand, grinning. "Besides, she can't do too much on her own without going through a few more channels, so I'm not too worried. She can make her list of questions and then go talk to the healers in charge around here about filing." They're just helping to keep a friend busy, right? Just to be safe, though, she makes a mental note to talk to Soriana sooner rather than later. She glances toward Kera's satchel, looking thrilled in spite of the plate of food that's already in front of her. "Good, because I haven't been eating too much. I need some solid snacks."
Kera nods to Innes "Yea, well, it's not 'my' filing. But when files are just laying around stacking up on desks, they need to be put up." Lowering her voice a bit Cyrus is notorious for not putting files away. He just reads through them, all." A smirk and amused eyeroll before giving her head a quick few shakes to let warmer air work on drying her hair. "Hopefully, she won't crack under the pressure of all the tasks she has on her plate." Cutting her gaze to Innes with a slittle smile "And oddly enough, you'll even be having to slow down a bit. Well, not slow down so much as refocus your energies for now."
"Well, it's someone's filing," Innes says with a shrug. That's all the information she needs, really. "Either way, it'll give Perri something to do to make her feel like she's being useful enough to be kept around. She already is, but…" She trails off, waving her hand as though to say 'who knows?' Drying her hair might be a bright idea, especially with the chill outside, but Innes doesn't seem inclined to follow Kera's example. Instead, she works on shoveling down some more food. "Just for now," she replies with a smirk after she's put down her fork again for the moment. "And I'll make sure Soriana knows what's going on so Perri doesn't end up with too much to do."
Kera turns a bit, head tilting towards the heat as Innes finishes her meal, remaining quiet a few minutes before speaking up again. "Hard to believe it's been over a month since they were shoving us onto the sands huh?" Another few seconds of quiet before Kera snaps out of her thoughts and glancing back to Innes "And how big they are already." A silly little grin slips over her face and she gestures towards her friend's plate. "Well, hurry YUuuup" she most definately does /not/ whine when saying that. "I'm gonna head back and start cutting up some meat since I doubt she'll be sleeping that much longer." Patting her satchel again, "I got a bunch of dry meatrolls. You grab whatever you can manage." A flash of her thumb towards the food tables before waving "See ya back at the barracks Innes."
Innes sticks out her tongue in Kera's direction. "I'll take just as much time as I want, thank you," she declares stubbornly. That's right, now she's going to take ages to finish. Well. Ages, unless Kairoikyriath shows signs of waking. "I'll try to steal my own supply before I head back." She gestures to her plate, and adds, "I shouldn't be long. Kairo doesn't like to sleep too much, so I'll just finish this and be back, too. See you soon."