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 and southwest is a wide tunnel, carefully roped off to avoid accidents.
Faulk, hair askew and face propped saggily on his left hand, is eating wherry and tubers with slow, indifferent bites. His eyes are half closed and he must pause every so often to stifle a yawn against his shoulder. Late dinner, really. Long day.
Warm fires lie in each hearth, as if warding off the foul whether outside, despite the heat pumped into the cavern. And, it is near one of these fires that Niva sits, sipping at juice, going slowly through papers. Everyone needs a change from the empty office, once in a while.
"Camping." P'aolo mumbles as he walks into the cavern. "I'm in charge here." He seems to be informing his lifemate though doesn't sound too convinced himself. "You can't just /do/ that. And look. Now we have to spend our day off with you resting because you couldn't take the pressure. You're a piece of work." Snuff. But now it's time to stuff his face and display his complete lack of etiquette. So off to the serving table he goes.
Senkyou walks in, rolling her eyes and mumbling, "..why in the world? No, no I don't want that." Her eyes are on the ground and she almost bumps into a few people as she walks in saying a small, "Sorry, pardon me." Before continuing as she has memeorized where she usually sits, sitting down she props her feet on the table and leans back in the chair. The comfortable position now achieved she asks the nearest kitchen assitant if they can bring her some wine, or if not juice.
Faulk lifts his head off his hand to give the caverns a distracted flick-over with his eyes. Considering that his eyes linger a bit longer on P'aolo and Senkyou (as they speak) than the quieter occupants, he's probably reacting to voices. He clears his throat and picks up his plate. And, actually, just stands there.
Niva allows herself to be distracted as people come and go, papers flipped and set upside down on the tabletop infront of her, sipping at her juice thoughtfully. Though P'aolo's mumbling has her interest caught, its Senkyou's feet that really have her reacting. "Feet, woman! Tables are for eating at, not standing on!"
P'aolo fills a plate with.. some of everything really. In no particular order or placement, just a heap on the middle. And a mug of juice to aid in the not choking effort. And since Niva is here and making herself known.. that's where PJ is headed. "Is it a usual thing for golds to lure unsuspecting bronzes away from planned camping activities or is Ersieth just a pain in my hindquarters?" Loaded question. Man, PJ is smooth with the ladies isn't he? "Mind if I sit with you? Um.. Ma'am. Missus. Weyrwoman." Surely one of those is right.
Senkyou is startled a little bit, looking over and nodding. "Yes ma'am, I wasn't meanin' to cause any problems." Her feet are now on the floor, but she continues to lean. The assitant returns with her wine, and she sips in while leaning in the chair and every now and then she moves to put her feet back on the table, having to correct the behaviour.
Faulk, after hovering in that stand for a moment, moves toward Senkyou. "Are you causing problems by having your feet up like that?" he asks quietly and genuously once he's close enough.
Niva stifles a laugh at Senkyou's behavior, hurriedly shaking her head. She tips herself - But who wants to eat off of feet? Glancing up at P'aolo, she grins somewhat sympathetically, pushing a nearby chair out towards him. "Sit, sit.. Golds will do that to everyone, though some are more… susceptible the others.."
P'aolo sits down, carefully avoiding spilling his food and drink in the process. "I had a perfectly nice trip planned out for my day off and he had to ruin it by wing strain. I mean yeah.. that junior was pretty.. but we were going to rough it over night. It was going to be great. And then he didn't even catch. Does he -have- to be so hormonal. Really." He shoives a bite of food in his mouth chewing and swallowing before continuing, "What about you? All happy bunnies and rainbows now that Casi's out of your hair for a while?" Tact is not a skill PJ has.
"Yes'm I'm causing a wee bit a trouble, nothin' not easily fixed." Faulk is allowed a small grin from Senkyou, before she looks towards Niva, "My question is, is it normal for a brown to wan' to chase every green he finds, that an' are they always so polite an uptight? I never know if Dulacth is right, yu know in the head." Senkyou smiles, muttering. "No offense."
"Why should that cause any trouble?" Faulk asks with the pure neutrality of theoretics, but diverts his attention elsewhere as the conversation drifts. "I wonder if those kinds of dragons bond to riders who /also/ are that hormonal?"
Niva shakes her head slightly. "It happens, from time to time.. I have to say, I have it easier with Kilaueth then the rest of you do - There's only one of her." A wink, and she sits back in her chair. "You'll get a day off, soon enough. Perhaps in the future, he'll be less… excited." If that's the right word. "And, Casiella has returned, though it was nice while it lasted." Yeah, that. Glancing sidelong at Senkyou, and she winks. "Wouldn't you chase after any pretty thing you saw? But be careful enough to not get smacked in the process? Though, sometimes they're thee same to start, sometimes one may turn the other that way."
P'aolo nods a little, still somewhat dejected. "I guess. He just doesn't get that way over greens. Well not to the same extent. Anyway!" Snack break. Gobble gobble. Swallow. Sip. "I don't want to think about it any more. Anything else exciting happen come lately? I don't really keep up with much of anything. Guess it just doesn't stick." He knocks on his head lightly before dropping his hand back to the table.
Senkyou looks at Faulk, shaking her head "Well, I guess it jus' ain't somethin' I'm sure of. He is always so proper, and there's no fun, he can'r play with other dragons, it's worrisome." With Niva's comments Senkyou chuckles, one that is almost a snort, definetly not one for showing her femine side. "Well he avoids it, an's do I he gets a nice response from most greens, they always find him so charmin'. I find it funny." Sip, Sip, small sips of wine and a tilt of the head as she listens.
"Why do they chase greens, actually?" Faulk appears determined to keep this particular bent. Any philosopher's air he might be trying to cultivate is ruined by his scratching through his hopeless hair, however. "Why should they feel like they /have/ to play with other dragons or go chasing after them, one way or another?"
"Golds are rarer - How many little greens are there, hm?" And Niva leans back in her chair, shaking her head. "Rumors, rumors, that's all. Though, they can be sort of exciting.." Chuckling softly at Senkyou, she shakes her head. "I suppose it'll keep you out of trouble, all things considered. Maybe ya'll even get lucky." The chuckling gains volume at Faulk's question, "Why do you enjoy talking to others, or spending time with that special boy or girl? Same thing, really.."
P'aolo shrugs loosely, "Why not. I mean they're smaller.. but there's way less work involved. No blood.. just business.. well.. and some uh." he makes some strange twirling gestures with his hands, "The greens are more acrobatic. But it's a lot less intense." And easier to get over. "I just.. not that I'm complaining about when he wins.. I just wish he wouldn't chase all the time. Sometime si have things I need to do. You know.. other than get all worked up and not necessarily get anything out of it." How romantic.
"Dulacth says, he doesn't understand how to play, an' that he needs a love life jus' like you and I do." Senkyou takes a moment, laughs and stands. "I need to go oil Dulacth, he's complaining about a patch on his tail." With a wave she is out the door, and only half finished her wine.
"No one special to me. And I mostly talk to hear myself talk." Faulk glances at Senkyou's newly vacated chair and takes it, crossing his legs. "I guess I'd make a bad dragon. Can't you just not have him chase?"
Niva waggles a finger. "Thrill of the chase, thrill of the chase, P'aolo. You'll both work it out soon." And she smiles, glancing sidelong at Faulk, shaking her head. "C'ian's Alhenaeth only chases Kilaueth, now. Its just takes time for them to accept it, sometimes."
P'aolo shrugs. "I don't know much about that. I'd just rather he not chase if he isn't going to win. If my day is going to be interrupted I'd like to get something out of it." Blink.. "Man I sound like an ass." He shrugs and shovels some more food in his mouth. "I blame Ilanith. Lost flights make for raw tempers."
"More reason to shove your dragon toward finding a nice, sedate monogamous relationship!" is Faulk's suggestion. Borne, of course, on much experience. "Like, uh, Alhananyth?" Well.
Niva laughs softly at Faulk. "Not all of 'em are willing to settle for it - and for some, its a recent development." A shake of her head at P'aolo and she winks. "I'm not sure why you didn't just find someone else - I'm there were willing ones."
P'aolo shakes his head. "Not to say I haven't. But it's not an every day sort of thing." The suggestion of monogomous dragons earns a snort. "Ersieth is -way- too self-centered for that. He thinks as many females should have the opportunity to.. uh.. feel his embrace." Liberla use of air quites, "As possible. Not that I don't think he's special.. but he's completely insane." chuckle.
Faulk kicks himself lightly standing. "Well, as long as it isn't every /day/. Even the best lovers of, uh, ballads aren't quite that busy. I should get back to my dorms," he excuses himself, and trots out.
Niva waggles her fingers after Faulk, finishing her juice, and pushing herself to her feet, with an inclination of her head to P'aolo. "G'luck with your, uh, problem.. I should get back to things."