Xanadu Weyr - Stables
The Stables of Xanadu Weyr are composed of one long building, lined with box and standing stalls that are kept thoroughly clean by the resident grooms and stablehands. Runners nicker and neigh at everyone who enters, save for the obstinate ones that just flicker their ears in indignant curiousity that they dare not make visible. The foremost stalls near the door to the Barn Yard are the grand box stalls which are home to the prized runners of Xanadu, as well as the most pregnant, those which are so far along that they require constant observation by the Herders, so as to ensure easy foaling.
However, the primary design of stall which lines the broad pathway that is covered in saw dust which is the main avenue of the Stables, is that of the Standing Stall. Many runners are in the standing stalls, with ropes strung across the front so as to keep the runners from leaving their designated containers. A few hay bales sit here and there along the avenue, some of which act as seats for the stablehands and grooms on their breaks, others as snacks for those runners who can reach out their necks far enough. Buckets and baskets of grooming supplies, brushes and combs, and the like also sit here and there, occassionally knocked over by a wayward hoof or inquiring muzzle.
It is late afternoon, most have come back from lunch and been sent homewards as there isn't a lot left to do seeing how there is a bunch of snow and ice found all around the stables. Most of it has been cleared out to make sure nothing happens to the runners when they are getting brought in and out. Idrissa is one of the few that has stayed, she is in RedFeathers stall working on getting a special set of clip on type shoes upon his hooves to make it easier for the runner to walk across the cold ground so hopfully he won't go sliding. Cause /that/ would be bad! She has on a thick coat, her gloves off while she works, scarf wrapped around her neck and other warm clothing items on. Ripley is there, sitting upon the runners back, the blue firelizard is curled up onto the blanket that is covering the runner.
Being outside is a hazard. So much so that most of the smith apprentice's outdoor jobs have been rescheduled to be inside ones. ka-el is glad for that. He obviously loses the ability to walk when things get icy, and the forges are nice and hot. He actually forgot about the freeze situation until now that he ventures outside and towards the nearby stables. He wears his riding jacket and gloves on his hands which he holds over his ears to keep them warm. He enters the stables quickly, pushing the wide door closed once inside. Brrr! He shivers a bit before looking around, not even knowing if she'd be here. He moves further in, glancing into stalls as he passes them by, searching with glances for the familiar apprentice's face. And, after passing a handful of stalls, he soon pauses at RedFeathers', glancing in to see Idrissa there. He lingers to watch her, coughing slightly after a while to get her attention.
Idrissa is of course at the stables, in fact she has been sleeping there all bundled up in the loft with a few other hands incase anything happens during the night with the runners. It is rather toasty up here actually with how they have it set up. The door is heard being closed but she doesn't look up until hearing the person stop and cough. Her gaze drifts upwards an she curiously looks at Kale. "Hey." Is offerd softly, a faint smile seen so that should be a good thing right?
A smile? Totally a good thing, as the last encounter he had with her definitely wasn't filled with smiles and sunshine. "Hey," he says in return, leaning against the stable door to watch her. But his eyes don't linger there long and instead lift to the runner and Ripley. "He's lookin' good," he comments, eyeing the runnerbeast appreciatively for a while before his eyes sweep back to her.
Idrissa nods while she looks to Red. "Ya, his doing great. The scars are still seeable but that's about it. There all healed up." She gives the runners head a petting before she moves over to where Kale is. "I hope you've been staying warm during all this mess outside."
The runner stuff is idle talk. He does sort of care about its welfare, but not as much as he cares about how she may be feeling about him. But, she's talking as if nothing is wrong. Another good thing, right? Her last statement has him vaguely smirking at her. "You really mean that, or do you really want to say you hope I've been left in the cold to freeze my arse off?"
Idrissa peers at him curiously, a faint smirk is seen. "Of course I mean that… Why wouldn't I mean that?" She questions with a unsure tone over how he questioned that. Ripley is awake, the blue firelizard lifts his head, a faint hiss escaping him while he eyes Kale a few moments.
"Because," Kale answers, pausing at Ripley's hiss. His usual greeting from the grumpy blue. "I figured you felt a bit like he does towards me," he answers, gesturing to Rip. "I mean … you weren't happy with anything I said or did last I saw you," he reminds as an explanation, leaving out the fact that he wasn't all too happy with her either. But at least that seems to be on the mend. He did come here, seeking her.
Idrissa is quiet for a few moments and soon leans back against the stall door next to Kale, her gaze turning towards Ripley an she eyes the blue lizard a few moments. "I was just upset with you Kale." This said softly. Do they really have to talk about this now? "You just kept talking about everything that happened, and no matter what I said to try and calm you down it just made things worse." They did get rather mad at one another after all.
Yes, this needs to be addressed now! For if not, when will it ever be? See, Kale is mature now. … Or something. "Look, I didn't mean to upset you. Really," he insists. "This whole flight thing .. Soriana says it has an effect on people that are sensitive. I wasn't feeling … like myself. But I'm better now," he assures, patting his chest as if to prove, yes, he is cured. "I didn't come to piss you off any more. I won't even stay long. I just wanted to say … y'know. Sorry."
Idrissa peers at Kale a few moments, she chews on her lip and leans out with a hand to touch his arm. "No… No don't go. I don't want you to leave." This is said first so he doesn't try to run off it seems. Didn't she basicly try to explain the same think to him? Why… Why does he not listen to her? Not that she is bring that /up/. "I'm sorry too. I know I made you mad and I didn't mean too." She is quiet for a moment. "It just seems like we manage to do this a lot." SO a lot would be like what, three or four times max? "I just don't like doing that."
Kale was going to leave, as he said he would, but pauses at her touch. No leave? Ok, he shall stay! He turns to fully face her, though his brows begin to knit as she speaks. "…Really?" he says, tone laced with doubt. "A lot?" He shakes his head slowly, thinking. Before now, when have they been upset with one another? "No…it doesn't happen a lot," he corrects. "It's happened … maybe twice. You were mad on the beach with Soriana. And now. That's not a lot. Shards and shells, how long have I known you and I can count on one hand the times we haven't gotten along. I'd say that's probably a Xanadu record for anyone."
Idrissa shifts and scratches at her neck a few moments. "Well ya, when you put it like that I suppose now." She offers softly, a soft breath escaping her while she glances towards her runner and firelizard a few moments. "So, you and Soriana are a cute couple huh?" This questioned with a teasing tone, a faint glance sent towards him. Oh ya she remembers what was said by the drunken Thea.
Of course he's right. See, she can't be mad at him. He has a good track record! He leans away from the stall door and sits on a nearby haybale, huffing out a breath. It's warm here, but not as warm as the forges! "Huh?" He blinks at the question, eyeing her uncomprehendingly for a second. "Oh. Oh! Heh, yeah I guess," he says with a smirk and shrug, apparently not having given it as much thought as Idrissa. "So Thea says, though I don't think she'd even think of saying that if it wasn't for.. .y'know. The flight stuff."
Idrissa peers after him and soon follows along, sitting down next to him. "I suppose so." She gives him a curious look. "Are, you still ok being with Soriana an I? Or would your prefer to just be with her?" Leave it to Rissa to bring up questions like these. Its been bothering her lately so she's had to ask at some point.
Woah, wait. That's a total left field question. Where'd that come from? Kale sputters a little, caught in a cough of surprise as he eyes her, brows raised. "What kind of thing is that to ask?" he asks incredulously. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't've bothered goin' out in the shardin' cold looking for you to apologize." Now it's his turn to look at her curiously, formerly raised brows furrowed. "You're not ok with it?"
Idrissa shakes her head slightly. "No I'm fine with it. I… I just worry that we could have a fight at some point and then you might not want to even be friends with me." It was sort of a risk to take, all three of them friends and now in his triangle thingy as it were.
"…Fights happen," says Kale after a moment of thought. "We sort've had one over this and we're still friends, aren't we? I mean … I guess, that's just something that…we've got to …uh." Yeah. Kale is not filled with sage wisdom of relationship advice, multiple or not. And so he trails off without finishing the statement, not sure just what he intended to end it with anyway. Silence follows and he looks ahead to an opposite stall. "If you're scared about it, I could back off, you know. If you wanted," he offers, though sounding as if it's an offer he'd rather not have to hold his end of the deal on.
"Well, ya we are still friends in my book." Idrissa pauses and glances over to him. "I'm not scared, I just don't want to lose you guys as friends either." Kale and Soriana are more then jus friends to her after all. A shake of her head is seen and she shifts to lean closer to Kale, a hand moving to rest it against his arm. "Don't have to back off." All they do is kiss and cuddle what could they possible back off on? They could just practice staring at one another, that wouldn't be boring at all.
Staring at a person is an art form! Kale could certainly perfect it before it became too boring. But, luckily for him, it doesn't seem as if he needs to restrict himself. "You're not going to lose anybody, Idrissa," he assures, leaning in to brush his lips against her cheek in a kiss. "Alright? Don't worry about it. We'll be fine." They have been thus far, mostly! He moves an arm to wrap it around her waist, holding her lightly against his side.
Idrissa is rather sure it is a art form out there somewhere! A soft breath escapes her and she shifts leaning close to Kale and into the kiss, which she does give him one back. "Alright." Is said after a moment while she hugs him back and stays close to him for the moment. Well it is cold outside so there is plenty of reasoning for the closeness.
Crisis avoided. Life is so much simpler when things like relationships and status aren't questioned! Kale isn't quite sure if this is the last he'll hear of this, but for now, it's enough to know that the issue is no longer one. He'll stay with her a while, arm curled around her and sharing warmth, but he can't stay forever. Eventually, he has to head back. With all apprentices forge-bound, a prolonged absence is sure to be noticed. "We'll do something when the ice melts. All've us," he decides. "Dunno what, but … it'll be something!" He grins, his arm slipping from around her and another kiss pressed to her cheek, then a gentle one to her lips, before he stands. "Stay warm, huh?"
It is for sure to be brought up again, let's face it this is Idrissa and she does have problems letting things go. Some things always just seem to nag at her for whatever reason. She is rather happy that he is able to stay for a short while at least, content to just sit there wit him and snuggle. Taw how cuteness! Once he goes about moving to leave she frowns and wishes he could stay longer and she slowly lets go of him. The kiss is offered back before he can slip away to far. "Sure. Sounds like a great idea to me." She stands as well and gives his hair a playful ruffle, a slight smile seen. "I will, you as well." Though he has it a little easier when it comes to staying warm with the forges right there after all.
"Hey, hey!" he protest at the hair ruffle. "I spent a lot of time this morning getting it to look acceptably messy." Kale grins, combing his fingers through his hair. "Now it's just ridiculous, I'm sure." He moves to go, but hesitates a little as he watches her. Instead he swoops down for another kiss, this one a bit more heated than his former light touches to the cheek and lips. Something to help the cold night seem a little warmer one could assume. He pulls back with a wordless grin, and only then does he turn to depart.
Idrissa chuckles and grins at him. "Please, I think it looks better." She says with a firm tone and nods even while eyeing his hair. There is even a thought for her to go back and 'mess' it up a bit more before she is kissed. Her eyes close slightly and she leans into the kiss, her fingers grip at his coat just a moment and then he is pulling back. Brat… is about all she is thinking while she is left blushing. "I'll see you at dinner." They still have to let them all out to eat after all!