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.
Airk is settled at a table in a corner, a plate of something breakfasty in front of her. The girl is staring at the book she holds in her fingers, idly eating with the other hand. Munch, munch. A bite here, a sit of klah, and then she stops all food activities to flip the page, and back to the eating. Silly girl, I swear she only eats so she can go back to her library to read. Heh, but its kinda cute.
V'dim calls a curt command over his shoulder at a young man wearing a weyrling knot, the boy disappearing with a quick salute before V'dim continues towards the breakfast foods, collecting his own. And then, glancing around at the busy caverns, he spots a rather unassuming girl in the corner, heading that way. At least breakfast should be calmer, with her as a tablemate. "This seat taken?" He asks rather gruffly, staring down at the girl and the book.
Airk blinks slightly at the man, as if not used to having folks drop in on her like this. "Oh, no! Feel free to sit there, I'm not using it and most folks like talkative breakfast companions…" she giggles softly and nods."Uhm, meaning that that seat is free, that is." She comments, her voice never breaking its soft murmurs. But she does offer a shy smile to the man.
V'dim sits down with simply a nod of acknowledgement, sliding his plate onto the table, depositing a napkin on his lap, and taking hurried bites, as if someone will pull the plate out from beneath him. Its only after a dozen hurried bites that his pace begins to slow, and he studies the girls face curiously. "What you reading, kid?" He asks around a mouthful of fried tubers.
Airk is in the middle of taking a bite and she eyes him a moment, holding up a finger and finishing the bite, chewing, and swallowing before answering. "I'm reading a book about the legends and tales of dragons. Aka, stories that some harper has expanded upon until they're stories based on truth." she comments idly.
"At least you can read. Surprising." He mutters more to himself than anything, busying himself with a few more mouthfuls. And then V'dim narrows his gaze at her once more. "What's your name, girl?" And a hand reaches across the table to turn the book towards him, should she allow it.
Airk pouts at the rider, almost a bit sulkily. "Of course I can read, and write, and do durn near anything else. In theory." She notes, arching a brow at him. "I am a librarian, you know." she adds, setting the book down just in time for him to reach out for it. She just watches him turn it towards him and tsks, "You ought not judge people so quietly you know, most would have exploded at you." And still, her voice never rose from that murmur. "I'm Airk, sir, if it pleases ye…" Her pleasant smile returns.
Shuffle shuffle…SNIFFLE shuffle. Yes, there's a little thing wandering right inside the caverns. Ryski it is, letting out something of a wail only /after/ he gets inside. Well..hey. There's /people/ in here, after all. Someone to complain to about the fact that his knee is scraped. "My legs' /broken!/" Such a feat that he can stand on it.
"In theory. Saucy for a girl." V'dim comments idly. Don't worry too much about him - he's just one of those old-fashioned military types. "And she fancies herself a librarian." A shake of his head and he flips through the pages of the book with interest, disrupted by the cry that erupts from Ryski. "Shuddup, will ya?" He calls, obviously not overly concerned, given he's still standing. And then, staring back at Airk. "That ain't a girl's name."
Airk snorts faintly and offers the man a full out grin. Aw, she likes the crusty military type. And he's endeared himself to her already. She simply looks confusedly at Ryski…no, she really dosen't know a thing about little kinds, especially broken ones. "Uhm…" and she glances at V'dim, "Its short of Airka." the girl notes, still boggling at the midget. "What should I do…?"
Ryski blinks for a moment when he's told to shut up. Well…well how /rude/. The boy just pouts at the rider for a moment, then stomps forward..but over to Airk instead. Hmph. Pouting, he looks up at the librarian lady, reaching up. Reach reach. "Take care of me!" Somehow, anyway.
V'dim stares at Ryski as he just inserts himself, shaking his head and muttering about loose kids, heavily closing the book and pushing it back at Airk with a snort. "If you're done eating, pick him up already. Maybe if we dump him in the infirmary he'll stay there."
Airk moves her plate aside, nodding as the rider slips her book back towards her. Then she stands and, unsteadily she picks the boy up. "Alright. We'll ake you to the healer then." she comments, looking rather unsure of ehrself as she settles teh kid naturally on her hip. "I'm done, sir…" she notes towards teh rider.
Ryski latches on once he's picked up, and just /eyes/ the lady holding him. "I don' wanna go to the healer. They're stupid. You're fine." As for V'dim..well now. Glare. "You're stupid too. Oldy." He rubs the back of his arm a bit against his nose then, wriggling to get more comfortable.
V'dim glares at Ryski, raising a hand. "You be lucky you're in the company of a lady, or you would be feeling my hand this instant." And then dropping said hand, he shakes his head and turns, grabbing Arik's book off the table, and then heading out towards the clearing, and eventually the infirmary. "Come on."
Airk squeaks as the child latches onto her and she frowns faintly before just sighing, readjusting the little thing, and shrugging helplessly at V'dim. She just follows placidly, smiling a bit at teh little guy, and then at the older rider. "Okay, we'll go back outside, eh?" She suggests to the child.
Ryski promptly wriggles to try and get down. "Leggo! I don't wanna go with Oldy!" And that raised hand just gets a glare from that fiesty boy. "Mommy will be angry if you do it!" Nope, not afraid of smackings, is he. "Leggo, I'm not goin'!"
"By Faranth's Egg, you're going to the infirmary." V'dim glares at the young boy, before looking at Airk. "Girl, you take his arms. Just don't let go." And so V'dim ducks, snagging Ryski's legs, digging fingers into each ankle. "Now, come on." And so he continues the march towards the outdoors.
Airk giggles faintly. "Sorry littel one, I'm only a librarian, the rider outranks me…" she comments and follows orders, walking outdoors with her hands firmly attached to Ryski's wrists and hands. march! MarcH!
..Well. That certainly sets the boy off writhing and squirming. But it's not as though there's a lot he can do being held as he is, except for glaring and making all sorts of very loud protests. "Leggooo! Leggo /now/ stupid! Stupid Oldy! Stupid..stupid dummy!"
Xanadu Weyr - Clearing(#9292RJs)
A large, flat clearing stretches out in three directions, the ground packed tightly, though there are manicured areas of grass and flowers interspersed within the center point, raised beds containing various colored blooms throughout the warmer times of the year. Trees, however, are strictly absent, and even with the landscaping, there are plenty of open spaces for the constant draconic traffic which passes through this clearing.
The tall cliff housing the center point of the Weyr looms up in the west, pale stone stretching out to the north and south, visible as a light backdrop to the other buildings of the Weyr, while to the south, in the distance, a bit of sparkling water can be seen on a reasonably clear day. Scattered along the outskirts of this clearing are carefully built complexes, utilizing the new technology available. It is here that the crafters and residents are housed and work, though the hatching arena is certainly the center point, the large round complex taking up a large portion of the perimeter, a line of trees visible beyond it.
Large, lightweight shelters have been set up over the strategically laid-out walkways of Xanadu's clearing in an attempt to protect those at the gather from the beating rays of the sun. It is underneath these canvas shields that booths have been set up - bakers, harpers, smiths, and woodcrafters alike, side by side, with other crafts are well represented as well. Powered lights are spaced along the paths, in celebration of the return of full power, lighting up the shade.
V'dim continues the march through the clearing, though his step hesitates as he stares at Isobeth, the green dragon snorting in greeting, and passing something along silently. A glance at the other members of the trio, and he stares back at her. "What are ya talking about Isobeth? Ya can't have this boy, he's much too young." And, while he's distracted, the grip he has on said boy begins to loosen.
Airk just follows along, doing her best to cling to the boys wrists. She slips, and he gets a wrist free, adn then she attempts to get it back. "Sorry, little one…" she talking to the boy.
Ryski kicks harder as he feels that grip loosen..then lets out a shriek as one arm gets free briefly. Okay, the end holding his /arms/ would be bad to drop first. That wouldn't be pleasant. Then he /would/ need to go to the infirmary. He swats though when the attempt is made to recapture the limb. "Put me /down/ stupid! You..you should go do other stuff! Like grow boobs!" HA. Ahem.
V'dim snorts, staring in disbelief at Isobeth, and then simply letting go of Ryski's legs and letting him drop to the ground, at least from his side, instead reaching to grab Airk's upper arm. "You. /Boy/." And he glares at Airk with a suspect expression. "Isobeth says you would make a good candidate for Kilaueth's clutch. What do you say, boy?" And he seems to stress the revelation of his lifemate, curious as to the "girl's" reaction.
Airk looks terribly unsettled and just glances at Ryski. "What do you mean, boy? The little one?" she attempts to struggle, pointing towards Ryski as she getnly lowers him to the ground and lets him go. And Airk glances towards the ground, the sky. Everything but the dragon and rider.
Ryski huffs softly as he lands on the ground..finally, and just gets up, moving awau from the two with a glare. "You're both stupid." So /there/. Although he does watch once a few feet away from them, looking somewhat curious about things. "He's talkin' to /you/, dummy."
V'dim reaches to snag Airk's chin, forcing it up to look at him. "You, boy. Isobeth wouldn't lie." A quick glare is spared for Ryski, and then he's staring back down at Airk. "What do you say - you going to be a candidate?"
Airk shrugs faintly. "I dunn where she got her information, but I'm no boy." she comments, calm, steady. And she stares straight through the rider. "I'll stand if thats what the dragon wants. I wouldn't mind one bit." she adds, offering a bit of a pensive look.
Well now it's just time to be indignant. Ryski glares a little bit. "How come she don' want /me/?" What's so great about Airk, anyway? Hmph. Not that he really knows just /what/ all the comotion is about anyway, or what sort of thing the dragon wants the girl..boy..for. But someone's getting picked for something and he's not.
V'dim turns Airk around, towards the direction of the candidate barracks. "You're going to the barracks. In /boy/ clothes. And sleeping on the boy side. I don't have liars in my barracks." Looking over his shoulder at Ryski, he shakes his head. "Maybe when you're older, if you're not such a brat. Unlikely, though."
Airk looks stubbornly at the man. "I'm not a liar! Not a boy!" she notes, still attempting to keep up the charade. "Why should I wear boy clothes if I'm no boy, and why sleep on the boy side, eh?" And the 'girl' glares at the man and marches off towards teh barracks, stubborn to the end.
Ryski pouts a bit longer, stomping on the ground. "What's wrong with bein' a boy?" He finally blurts out as Airk starts to march off. Nothing wrong with it in /his/ opinion, after all. "Girls are stupid!"
V'dim glances over his shoulder at Ryski. "Stay out of trouble." It seems the earlier trip to the infirmary has been forgotten, and off after Airk he trails. "Because of what's under your girl clothes, that's why." V'dim offers bluntly, refusing to be swayed.
Airk shakes his head. "I'm not a boy!" And he dissappears into the barracks, all grumpy like.