Wanted: Forgiveness
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Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.


Sunset over Xanadu's beach casts the sky and late waters in blues, reds, and purples. The beach itself is cast in half-light except where the soft glow of a fire brightens the clean sand. Around it sit one young if muscular lad, a giant dragon, and nine lumps that seem to be firelizards. On a spit over the fire are two fish filets crisping in the fire's heat. The lad's silhouette looks calm and clean, hair nicely combed and shirt tucked in against the last of spring's evening chill.

The sunset and slightly warmer weather of spring is what has Phylicia outdoors, though due to Healer-esque duties she still has to preform without actually having a mentor has her back at Weyr for the moment being. She's in her 'normal' Weyr-bound outfit, but with her shoes dangling in her hand as she walks where the lapping of the waves soaks the bottom few inches of her pants. If she was watching where she was going, she might have turned back. But not watching her surroundings this once, that person sitting by the fire - and even the large dragon near it - are overlooked. The light is bad enough where she can't entirely make them out, and she doesn't strain herself to try as she keeps walking, nearing the person, fire and small draconic crowd yet not actively approaching them as she keeps on her coast-bound course.

There's a quiet cheep from one of the little draconic lumps and a pair of blue-green pinpoints open to stare at Phy, then another pair follows, on down the line of lumps like a wave of draconic eyes until finally the eyes of the dragon open, turning to see her. They start blue-green, but reds and oranges start to shade the edges of the whirling eyes and he rumbles softly at the healer-girl. The lad doesn't turn, but his back seems to stiffen some, then he reaches out, testing the fish with his knife.

Phylicia lacks her own pair this evening, so as something cheeps on the beach, it carries across the silent air, accompanied by the crackling of the fire. The cheep is enough to divert her attention back towards the fire. M'nol's isn't the only form stiffening on the beach. As Faraeth rumbles, accompanied by the red-orange eyes, Phy's formerly soothing footsteps come to a sloshing halt, followed by slightly noisier splashing as she takes a few startled backsteps. "Oh…" She's not afraid of dragons, but having one looking at you in such a fashion is a bit more than unnerving. But she takes in the scene at hand now, her fingers gripping her shoes tighter. She might just resemble a herdbeast pondering if its better to stay still or run as she starts slowly sinking into the moist sand, rooted.

M'nol takes a deep breath, leaning back from the fish and sliding his knife back into its sheath before he murmurs, "Down, Farry." The brown rumbles a little, but the red fades back from his eyes, lingering just around the edges. M'nol's voice is calm and clear. He grabs something and tips his head back, which is accompanied by the sound of liquid flowing and him swallowing it. Then he sets the invisible object back near the fire, "It's just klah…" He sighs a little, stealing himself as he turns, "Evening, Phy… would you like some fish?" He's clearly much calmer now than he was the nearly two months before when they had last spoken, "It's fresh… Bloodstone and Jasper caught them for dinner."

"I… just ate a little while ago. Thank you." Phylicia says hesitantly at first, which lifts the temporary paralysis. She lifts her feet and moves out of the extremely moist said, on to the slightly firmer portion. He may be a bit calmer since their last meeting, but apparently something is still rubbing the wrong way for her. At his mention of 'just klah' her startled expression gives way to annoyance, though no words escape her mouth as badly as she would like to take him down a peg for that. "If they caught it, I'm sure they'd like some of it, anyhow." Is finally what manages to pass through her lips, her tone controlled.

M'nol manages a smile and another sip of the klah, "They caught four. They already ate the other two." He reaches out again to test the white fish-flesh. Faraeth rumbles at Phy again and M'nol turns back to him, speaking allowed for Phy's benefit, "Lay off, Faraeth. I owe her an apology and I should treat /everyone/ civil enough to offer them some of my food."

Phylicia rolls her shoulders, partially in a shrug and partially to loosen her frame back up, though Faraeth's rumbles have her side stepping away from the brown and the fire. In her side-stepping she almost misses M'nol's first few words. "It's pleanty for you and them, then." She insists, her tone softening minutely. "I really did eat just a short while ago…" In fact, this is probably the post-dinner-stroll.

M'nol nods slowly, "I believe you, I'm eating late. But it was polite to offer. Would you… sit with me for a minute? I know it's a lot to ask." Faraeth pointedly looks away from them both, resting his craggy head on his far leg in an attempt to avoid them. From the sand the flits cheep again in an odd chorus. Sit! Sit!

Phylicia's chocolate eyes swivel to the brown as he arranges his head away from the pair of humans, and she pauses a moment longer before approaching the fire. Whatever side Faraeth is on, she sits opposite, though also managing to keep a few hands worth of space between her and M'nol. She seems to survey the fire before she sits, dry sand clinging to her feet and the wet portion of her pants as her knees get tucked up to her chest, shoes laid to the side. Cautious would be a very good word to describe her current behavior.

M'nol pokes the fish again, making sure it's still not done before turning to face Phy more fully, "I do owe you an apology. I said some things last time we saw eachother that I dreadfully regret." His eyes are honest and earnest, for all this conversation wasn't expected. "I… I was hurt and speaking from my injured heart, not my head. You're a good healer… I should never have said otherwise." Faraeth snorts and M'nol nudges him with a quiet hisst.

Phylicia is just watching him poke at the fish, not offering anything else up than she has to. After all, the last time they had a converstation, she got rather verbally beaten. Her eyes are on him, though they stay mainly on his face they occasionally do flicker down towards the ground. Faraeth's snort brings her up a little short as her back straightens out slightly. "I … can accept that." She says to M'nol, though Faraeth finally gets a look back from her, her mouth turning slightly downwards. "He doesn't agree?"

M'nol sighs, blinking a few times while he organizes his thoughts, "All he understands is that I still hurt… and that it's somehow linked to you. So he doesn't understand why I'm trying to be nice. But I… I know I said some very hurtful things even if I wasn't trying to hurt you. And I wasn't lying when I said I still wanted you in my life… I just… I needed more time than I took. It was too soon then. I'm not sure I'm entirely better, but I don't blame you anymore."

Phylicia's lips purse together a little bit as she looks at Faraeth for awhile longer, then turns to look back at M'nol. "I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to still be your friend." She returns after a few long and quiet moments. Asking 'why's' about two months ago wouldn't prove to do anything except to dredge up the memories, and it's not something she cares to do, so she doesn't, though the slightly perplexed look on her face argues for her asking them anyways. "I.. suppose that's an improvement. Though it doesn't make the statements any less painful than they were."

M'nol nods slowly, "I know… I can't unsay them… and at the time that was how I felt my missing you turned to anger and lashing out, and for that I'm most sorry. But I think… I think it helped me break out and get back to myself." He casts his eyes back to the fish for a moment, then back to her, "I changed wings… that helped, too… I'm in Comet now, though I'm trying to become an assistant weyrling master, but that's pending V'dim. But I needed a break from saving people, and I took all that stress out on you, too. Which also wasn't fair."

Phylicia pauses for a moment as she reflects on what M'nol has said, her her lips tighten in a sort of grimace before she's standing. "I took the brunt of a lot of bad timing, then." She summarizes, not so much in a question as a statement. She brushes the sand off of her rear, her shoes in one hand again. This time she doesn't skirt M'nol as she passes him, but lightly grips a shoulder if he doesn't pull away. "Consider the appology under consideration." Her tone isn't harsh or neutral, but instead more a reflection of her normal voice. "I just wanted a relaxing walk tonight, so I'll continue that, if you don't mind?"

M'nol nods, not pulling away from her hand, "Yes… and thank you. I hope you enjoy your walk and… well, you know where to find me…" He reaches out, deftly flicking the two roast fish fillets off the fire and onto a think wooden plate, then he turns his eyes back to her, "Please, stay safe."

Phylicia manages a small smile as she returns his gaze, her hand squeezing just slightly before she pulls it away. "You too, 'Nol." She echo's his sentiment. "Keep yourself safe and well." Her lips quirk up into a little bit more of a smile as she starts a few paces back down the beach. "I don't ever want to be treating you, alright?" And her tone isn't serious, but instead a touch lighter as she continues on her way.

M'nol nods, managing something that resembles his old smile, "Same here. I like being healthy. Good luck in your studies."

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