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 colour 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 colours 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.
Niva comes into the caverns, an empty skin of what was probably wine in hand, though she'll certainly deny it being anything other then water if asked. A jacket is thrown over her jackets, bare arms shielded for the short walk through the misty cold outside, coming from the Sands. The skin is deposited with no move to get another, at least not yet, instead shrugging off the jacket, throwing it over the back of a chair as she gets herself a mug of juice.
Asiree is being a good candidate, really. Ok, so maybe not perfectly good. After all, she is not doing a chore or three at the moment. She's sitting off somewhere eating food from a plate, but at least she's not pranking or causing mischief like some of the other candidates are given to.
And if she's not pranking, its less reason for Niva to flip out. Even if she is eating and not choring. But the girl needs to eat, right? Carefully grabbing her mug, taking a long drink from the overfilled vessel before moving, she grabs her jacket and heads in the general direction of the candidate, having noticed her because of the lack of candidate-actions. "Enjoying your break, hm?" The jacket is redeposited and Niva leans against a nearby table, mug remaining in her hand.
Asiree should probably have been blowing up the kitchens or involved in smuggling laundry into the soup or something like that. Then maybe Ree wouldn't have stood out to attract the attention of the junior weyrwoman. For a moment the girl looks slightly shocked, maybe a bit guilty even, and then she nods. This nod is then followed by, "Yes, enjoying a break before more chores, ma'am."
Niva watches the girl for just a moment before shaking her head and taking another sip as she glances over her shoulder, gaze searching for any candidates using her distraction as a means to complete some prank or other. Despite her being usually absent anyway, so they'd have plenty of time to do what they wanted later. And she flicks her fingers as her gaze turns back to Asiree. "What type of chores do you have?"
Candidates are an odd bunch, no? And yes, there are some conniving at this moment to cause mischief. Or maybe not. Asiree takes the bit of silence as the Niva searches for folks causing trouble to eat some more of the food she got, so that it doesn't look like she is taking an extended break, which she might just very well be doing. "Mmm… I think I'm supposed to help with laundry duty after lunch."
Candidates are always conniving, come on now. Just because Niva doesn't see them specifically doing so, doesn't mean they aren't. And so she takes another sip of klah as she ponders it. "Have you noticed anything… odd… about the power while you've been doing various chores?"
Asiree continues to oh-so-slowly munch at her food. At least she has the excuse of the delay caused by chatting with someone, no? The question of the Niva gets a head-tilt as she ponders, "I don't /think/ so…" Ponder. Perhaps. But usually Ree is focused on something else, like getting it done so she can do something else, or there's some cute person to distract her, or there's something else going on.
Niva hms slightly at the answer, rather distractedly muttering to herself about perhaps it just being isolated, and having to talk to Lahela about that at some point before she shakes her head and looks back to Asiree. "If you do notice anything, please make sure somehow or other you get a message to me or Wingleader Lahela?"
Asiree would offer to help fix it, or at least investigate it, but she's got enough chores as is that doing anything more would just be mean. At the goldrider's request, Asiree nods, "I'll do that." And maybe she'll stop looking at cute people long enough to pay some attention to her environment. Maybe.
Although, looking at cute people is a good distraction. After all, what else does Niva have to do all day while she's stuck on the Sands other then look at the people who come in and out, and decide who's cute and not. Because that's so what she should be doing, really. Taking another sip, she sets the mug down behind her, before gaze goes back to Asiree. "Is the candidacy progressing well for you?" Just small talk, certainly, but she doesn't necessarily want to go back to the Sands just yet.
Cute people are a lot more interesting than laundry. A lot more interesting. "Oh yes, it's going quite well." Not that Asiree really had any preconceived notions about how a candidacy was supposed to go. Nor does she have anything to really compare this experience to. As far as she is concerned, despite the overload of chores, things are quite well.
Niva doesn't do laundry. At least not for others anymore… She did her fair share during candidacy. "Everything going alright with the other candidates? Adjusting to the restrictions okay?" After all, Niva has noticed a few slight problems between some of the candidates, and everyone's that its hard to go without alcohol. And the fun that can result from too much of it.
Oh yes, the lack of alcohol is incredibly trying… for the first sevenday or two. "Well, it was rough at first… but I think everyone's getting along." It's hard to tell, really. Either they were all that crazy to begin with or the restrictions have triggered mass insanity. Asiree nods again, "Everyone seems to be happy." Seems to be. Although if some weren't that would probably be apparent given the close living arrangements. Ree shrugs. She hasn't really noticed. Maybe because she's not terribly attracted to most of them.
Well, alcohol is something with substitutes, after all. And if you keep yourself busy enough, then its not too bad. "Am glad…" And she taps her fingers together as she continues to lean against the table, idly reaching for her mug to take another sip of juice. "Well, either way, I would wager you don't have to much time left together."
Asiree freezes at the mention of time running out. Oh, and let's not forget the food in her mouth, something has to be done with that. And something is done, for the Ree swallows it rather hardly. "Er… you mean it's going to be time soon?" Well, Ree always knew that at some point the eggs would hatch, but she never quite imagined it, or envisioned it happening so soon.
Niva arches an eyebrow at the candidate's reaction, managing to hide a grin as she does so, shaking her head. "Relatively.. Tis getting a lot closer, and the eggs are hardening. I'd say a 3 more sevendays at the most. If not less…" And she takes another sip of her juice, before straightening. "Speaking of eggs… The beast calls." A roll of her eyes and she grabs her jacket, inclining her head to Asiree before she goes. "Enjoy the rest of your candidacy. And let me know if you notice anything with the power." And she deposits her now empty mug, grabbing a new skin as she heads out.