Chatter in the Caverns
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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.


Niva is up early, and sitting in the caverns bundled up in multiple layers, drinking steaming hot klah to prepare herself. The ice outside caught her offguard - its going to make landings and take-offs interesting, that's for sure! However, she's content to read through a stack of reports infront of her, for the time being, between sips of liquid.

I'ven is nestled in a few layers of clothing, tugging a hat over his ears in an attempt to warm them up. "No, we're not going up north, we've got plenty of white stuff here." Iv snorts quietly, to no one in particular. He's quick to march over to the serving tables to get some warm cider, nice stuff, that.

Niva pauses as she goes through all her papers, glancing up at I'ven as he's there early, too. "Morning, rider!" She offers, forcefully cheerful. A page is turned, and she sips at her klah. "Is Khriseth enjoying the weather, then?"

I'ven rolls his eyes, "He /loves/ this stuff." I'ven grumbles quietly as he grabs a cup, moving to sit infront of the weyrwoman, "He purposely drags me up to High Reaches, full knowing that Jule's up there just so he can play in the snow they have. He's taking advantage of me, I'm telling you."

Niva laughs softly. "Better that then him refusing to do anything, if there's snow. Getting Kilaueth moving when its cold is a pain in the neck - I'm thankful this isn't High Reaches or Telgar! We'd never get anything done!" She finishes off her mug of klah. "Ya don't mind going up there, do you?"

I'ven simply shrugs, "Jule's up there, so I don't mind. He just takes advantage of that fact and tries to convince me to go see her so he can play in the snow." He just shakes his head slowly, "It's too cold up there for my tastes, though, I've never been fond of cold weather to tell you the truth."

Niva moves to get more hot klah, putting sweetener and mixing it in before she returns to her seat. "I'd much rather be warm then cold. Putting on so many clothes, just to keep warm, makes me feel like a giant redfruit. Like, if you knocked me over, I'd just keep rolling." A wink, and she sips at her klah.

I'ven chuckles quietly, nodding in greeting. "Mmm, I feel the same way every time I go up to Reaches to visit jule in layers and layers of clothing." He rolls his eyes slightly, "I don't know what I'm going to do when the baby is born," He shivers a little, rubbing his arms.

Niva shakes her head slightly, with a smile. "I must say, I don't envy you.." Pause, and she inclines her head. "I've been meaning to congratulate you! You must be so happy!" A wiggle of her fingers and a wink, "You should just convince her and the baby to come down here, where its warm!"

I'ven laughs quietly, shaking his head, "She just moved into a bigger weyr so Khri and I have more space to move around in, I don't know if I should tell her to move everything down here. And even if she did agree to it, we'd have to wait until after the baby was born." He gets a slightly goofy grin to his face, "We're very excited, the both of us."

Niva ahs softly, nodding. "That's a lot of moving, certainly! Though, you should at least have her bring the baby, once its born - I'd love to meet her, and the baby.." Pause, "Its going to be your first, right? I mean, if its not, I'm sorry I haven't kept up with it.."

I'ven nods absently, "It'll be my first kid, ma'am. I never had a kid by Casi, and my previous relationship before her…there'd need to be some kind of odd thing with the guy I was with for him to have a kid." He chuckles quietly in amusement, "I'll make sure to have her visit Xanadu if I don't manage to convince her to move in with me, you can be sure of that."

Aeris shifts where she was settled in at a table. A slight mumble and a yawn, and the woman blinks. Ah, well, this is interesting. Plump woman brushes a hand through her hair and peers about briefly. Well, at least there doesn't seem to be too many people in the caverns, she's safe.

Niva laughs softly. "I think Casp will be thankful, that you aren't responsible for making him a grandfather. I must say, he's rather distraught by the news - it makes him feel so old. Not that he doesn't want you related, I think he'd be happier with no grandchild at all." A wink, and she nods her head to Aeris, a smile greeting the older weyrwoman.

I'ven frowns slightly as he lets his attention drift to his mug, a distant look coming to his eyes. Ah, yes, Casi is a fragile subject for the brownrider. "They're happy, that's all that matters." He murmers quietly, "She never really liked me anyway, as far as I know, she could have been using me."

Aeris tries to wake herself up further. Niva's smile earns a response smile and Aeris gets to her feet to see about some klah to help her. The woman moves slowly, and instead of heading back to her table, she moves over towards Niva and I'ven. "Hmm, what're we talking about?" She'll just butt in, don't mind her.

Niva reaches a hand out to give his arm a brief squeeze, with a smile. "You've got Jule, now, though. And, I think its better for you both, this way. Don't get caught up on her…" Glancing up at Aeris, she pushes a chair out for her. "Did you hear, I'ven's going to be a father!"

I'ven offers a slight smile, "we're very happy, I don't think I would have been happy with Casi, anyway. She took a lot of energy out of me." He closes his eyes, rubbing at his face with his hand just thinking about it. "I truely love Jule, with all my heart. I just wish we could come to an agreement on who moves in with who so I'm not constantly going back and forth, and she coming down here." He gets a slight blush to his cheeks, "I found out a few sevendays ago."

Aeris ohs, smiling at the bownrider as she slips into the chair. "Well, congratulations I'ven. I noticed you and Jule were spending extra time together. Must be lovely to be an expectant parent." Or frustrating, one or the other. "She seems like a sweet girl, and her scented oils are very nice."

Niva stiffles a snort at the comment about Casi. "She takes a lot of energy out of everyone, you know. I'm much happier that you're with Jule, in the end! And you'll have to have the most adorable baby!" Pause. "Do you know if you want a son, or a daughter?"

I'ven smiles happily at Aeris, "She's a wonderful person, and she looks really nice in dresses." He smiles happily, "We like a lot of the same things, and we really understand each others needs, I think she knows me better than anyone else on Pern." He grins, "I'm happier with her, too, I don't think I could have handled J'ymi. Just…I don't know, my feelings were hurt. I'm not sure if we want a girl or a boy, I think either would be great, but a little girl would definitely be cute."

Aeris smiles softly, "Well, you two are very cute together." A grin. "Someday I'll find someone, then Ael will stop trying to find someone for me." She smirks a bit. "I'm rather glad she's lazy with eggs right now." Such a bad rider, happy her dragon's grounded and constantly asleep.

Niva grins broadly - it may be early, but I'ven's enthusiasm has made the morning manageable. "If you ever want practice with kids, I'm sure Nicca'd love to play with you, even if she is almost 3…" A wink at Aeris, "You're always welcome to borrow one of mine, if you want.."

I'ven laughs quietly, offering a wink to Niv, "What, all of a sudden it's "Lets give I'ven all our kids because he's gonna be a daddy, and we'll use that as an excuse for him to babysit?" Hmmm?" I'ven asks, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'd appreciate the offer, but I think it's something that Jule and I should learn together, if at all." He shakes his head slowly, "That's one thing I like about being a brownrider, I don't get stuck on the sands."

Aeris chuckles quietly at the enthusiasm. "Well, I'm sure you'll make a very good daddy, I'ven. It's a natural thing, afterall, I think. AT least it seems to be for women, not sure about men. Guess we'll all find out soon enough." Well, something like that anyway. She stifles a yawn behind her hand, shaking her head, "I think Aelith's sleepiness keeps rubbing off on me, though, my apologies for that." The yawn, she means, of course.

Niva bites her lip, beaming at him, and attempting to look 'innocent'. "Oh, we don't /need/ you to babysit.. she's pretty good about keeping herself out of trouble.." Except for when she's not. "I'm sure you and Jule'll be fine - You're both suited for it, at least from what you've said about her." A grin at Aeris, and she shakes her head slightly. "Kilaueth does the same to me, though she's grumpier, I fear."

I'ven sighs quietly, letting his shoulders droop ever so slightly. "I hope so." He says softly, "I hope I'm a good father, I hate feeling so…helpless when she has to go through everything. I've been stopping by and offering massages. I used to work with a lot of pregnant patients in physical theropy, you know? So I'm trying to help offer my experience to her." He frowns, "It's different when it's someone you love. Khriseth….Khriseth makes me feel different sometimes. When he's out having a good time, I'm in a good mood too, I can't help it."

Aeris smiles softly, "Aelith loves being pregnant, I think she's happiest when she's cooking up eggs and watching over them. She's such a mommy." The woman laughs a bit. "I don't mind, though, well, except for the sands-sitting, that gets rather old quickly." As for the comment about Khriseth, she grins, "Well, good moods aren't horrible nasty things, y'know." She's trying to tease the young brownrider.

Niva gives I'ven's arm another soft pat, while she smiles at him. "C'ian and I managed, you two will too. You guys are already off to a better start, you know. You should have a good time, and enjoy the experience!" A wink and she smiles. "It certainly does get old, but the hatching is worth it in the end."

I'ven pokes at the table, "I love Khriseth, I'd be lost without him, I'd probably still be wasting away at the hall if I hadn't been searched." He shrugs simply, "I hope we do, raising kids is hard enough, hopefully we'll be okay together."

Niva finishes off her 2nd mug of klah, smiling at I'ven. "Khriseth was meant for you, so that you could be here with Jule now.. You'll both do an awesome job. I certainly look forward to seeing the little girl!" A smile at both of them, and she inclines her head. "But I should get out to directing people.. have a good day, both of you!"

Aeris waves after Niva, watching the senior leave. "Well, at least she took some time off of work, huh?" She smiles a bit, taking a sip of her klah. "How far along is Jule, anyway?" She's just curious.

I'ven taps his lips thoughtfully, "At least a few weeks now, not even a month, however. She's still got quite a way to go." He gives a slight shrug, wiggling his fingers when Niva leaves. "She's still having morning sickness."

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