Eastern Weyr - Garden Terrace
Neat, even planks form a boardwalk set approximately two feet above the ground. Unfolding to either side of the walk-way flourish the lush tropical gardens of Eastern, either brilliant colors and green well kept with Eastern's near eternal spring. Rare trees mingle amongst interestingly formed as well as common yet attractiver trees dot the terraced landscape. Brightly blooming flowers are abundant, their colors ranging from lavender to blue to white and even startingly shades of pink. The large tropical flowers cast their sweet smell over the little alcoves scattered about the garden and heavenly cloying scents waft about. Towards the center of the gardens is a large terrace enclosed with lattice fences, over which blooming vines have been draped. A large dance square and a quiet bar, with a few high tables, have been set up in the gardens as an escape from the hectic rush of the main cavern.
It's one of those simply stunning, pleasant evenings at Eastern. It's not even dark yet, but that doesn't seem to be keeping Mianyi from a drink and some relaxation. She's reclining on a bench with a leg half-on the seat beside her at the very edge of the terrace, in the garden almost. And in one hand she's got a glass of wine, still quite full.
Despite the evening hour at Eastern, Xanadu's still sitting in the mid-afternoon sun, and Niva is glad for any chance to escape. With Kilaueth confined to the Xanadu Sands, Niva is left to find a ride to Eastern, breaking her own - still in effect - quarantine rules. However, after a few questions here and there, she's made her way up to the garden terrace to find a long time friend, Mianyi.
Mianyi is far from drunk, or oblivious. The early hour onset of drinking is more of a relaxing luxury than anything. Niva's presence doesn't go unnoticed by Mianyi at all, after all the terrace is fairly empty at this hour still. Just a few regulars and those who are off work early. She raises her glass in a toast and grins at Niva in greeting when the other happens to look over her way.
Niva nods with a smile to Mianyi, moving to settle down on the bench with her, though, there's no looking for a glass of wine. "They said you'd be up here." She says in greeting, smiling and leaning back a bit, relaxing as she enjoys the change of scenery. "How're you doing?" She asks, though her voice betrays that there's something else she's wanting to ask.
"They did, did they?" Mianyi replies with amusement, shifting to offer up more space on the bench and straighten her posture. "And what else do they say about me?" she asks, just a hint of play in her tone accompanying the sparkle in her eyes. That tone in Niva's voice is ignored in favor of a bit of rambling. "I'm doing very well, thanks for asking! Just doing a bit of relaxing right now," this is accompanied with a light gesture of her glass, "It's a really nice evening to be out, though if you're planning on staying it will get a bit more chilly when the sun is finally gone. And Pagnisath is well and happy. Healthy too, not a hint of this flu. But how about you and yours?"
"That maybe you might be bored, and looking for a change of scenery?" Niva asks with a hopeful grin as she settles back on the bench, glancing around her. "Though, with this here, I'm not sure I'd want to move." The Xanadu Weyrwoman offers thoughtfully with a soft sigh, looking here and there. "Healthy, and as far as we know, not a single dragon ill.." Something that causes the woman to look a bit pleased with herself.
"Is that all the gossip they can come up with? That I might be bored?" Mianyi sounds more amused than disappointed, though 'amused' is apparently the woman's theme for this evening. Her glance follows Niva's briefly, "The view doesn't change, but it's impossible to get sick of it." But then again, this is just the view we're talking about. "Healthy and no one ill? Congratulations." It is an achievement, what with so many others stricken.
"That maybe you'd want to come to Xanadu." Niva comments, glancing at the other woman out of the corner of her eye, before looking back to the view. "We've got a few pretty enough places though, to rival it.." She seems to be bargaining, even if Mianyi's not, as she settles back on the bench. "So far, at least. I'm sure half the Weyr was everywhere but at home half the time." And this causes her to grumble a little bit, with a shake of her head.
Look closely enough and you'd see Mianyi bite the corner of her cheek to keep from outright smirking at Niva's invitation, as it were. "You mean to say you think that you can beat our garden?" she replies slyly. "Maybe your gossip has ours beat, if all 'they' can say about me is that I'm bored and might want to leave for other views, but I'm sure your gardens have nothing on ours." But the Xanadu hayloft has nothing on any other, save High Reaches', but that's besides the point. "I saw a few of them here. Then again, it's not like Eastern's riders are any better at behaving. Seems to run in the blood, eh?"
"I don't know if I can beat your garden, but I bet our theater can beat yours." Does Eastern even *have* a theater? And Niva grins at Mianyi, shaking her head. "Unless you have fiery sheep running through your Weyr took, I'm fairly certain I have you beat." And the Xanadu Weyrwoman is relaxing more, chuckling and shaking her head. "Bloody idiots. I'm not sure why they think its worth it."
Alas, Eastern doesn't have a theater. Thus, it's no contest there. Mianyi lifts a brow at the challenge. "Fiery sheep, eh? Can't say we have anything so… dangerous or combustible running around here." Save for some of the dragons and some of the weyrwomen. "Mostly just naked riders and candidates chasing after escaped wherries." You know, the staples. "It must be the beach and the ocean air that keeps them calm. And which lures yours away from their homes."
"My marks would be on the naked riders." Niva counters with a wink, shaking her head. "R'sul has a sheep. Oh, I'm sorry, a lamb. Flossie. Living under his desk." Her words are broken up by her giggles as she counters odd situation for odd situation, shaking her head a bit, taking a moment to regain some of her composure. "I'd really prefer things to not be on fire, but apparently I have no luck."
Mianyi can't help but giggle too. "What, does he feed it…" Mia starts, but can't quite not giggle long enough to get the whole sentence out, "Feed it his paperwork?" Cute cuddly pet that serves as a flammable nuisance for your weyrwoman, a pet for the kids, and a convenient trash receptacle.
"You laugh, but half his reports have little… nibbles out of the corner of them. That sharding animal.." Niva grumps a bit, shaking her head, and then looking sidelong at Mianyi. "You really want a change, don't you? Some cool weather.." Just ignore those ice storms, you know. "I could always use someone else on my side."
Much like a kid, Mianyi has a little snickerfit at that tidbit of information. So many sidelong looks, you'd think Niva was up to something! Or just really into Mianyi. "Cool weather? If sheep are spontaneously catching on fire, it can't be /that/ cold at Xanadu," Mianyi says easily, trying to slink out of this latest attempt. "And don't you have other juniors out there to catch the flaming sheep for you?" You know, shields.
Of course Niva's up to something! That's the whole reason she's come to Xanadu. "It wasn't so much spontaneous as… an unfortunate incident with the Smith's Forge.." Niva comments slowly, dragging out the explanation, shaking her head as Mianyi sidesteps her latest attempt. "They're useless, though. The lot of them. I.. I'm certain they're going to try something."
It takes Mianyi a moment, but finally she comes up with it. A thought of her own, that is. "Well, I suppose if you have enough of 'em, they could possibly get a single thought conjured up between them. Then again, two times nothing is still nothing."
We'll just ignore that, ya know? Wouldn't want any embarrassing stories to get around. "They group up, together, and all start acting like they know better." A pause, and she's turning took look at Mianyi. "Please?" She says, a little hopeful, but then there's a touch of the whiny voice that her daughter Nicca seems to employ so well.
Awww. Niva is so cute when she begs. Where's the paparazzi when you need them? Mianyi lifts a brow at that plea before she grins. "How ever have you managed all these Turns without me?" she teases, dragging out an answer.
"Why don't you tell me, Mianyi.. Come on, show me what I've been missing." Niva's eyes widen a bit and.. is that even a bit of a pout on the aging woman's face? Yes it is. "I think I could arrange for some good wine, to make it worth your while.. A home on the beach.." And the offer lingers.
Mianyi can't help but laugh at that, and shake her head. Though not in the declining sort of way. "I've always liked you, Niva. You're one of the few that's got their head on ride. And you're /shrewd/." It's a compliment, really. There's another laugh. "Come to steal me off to Xanadu, soon as I'm free, have you?" She's still looking amused, though anyone that knows her wouldn't find that out of the ordinary. It's Mianyi. She's easily amused, or lighthearted, or… something. "I suppose a home on the beach is a tempting offer. Better than what I've got here," she jokes. After all, she's not got a lot directly /on/ the beach, here at Eastern.
"Now now, I waited long enough, I think. Surely, you must be getting tired of listening to that woman." Niva refers to the new Senior at Eastern, before nodding. "Its a real nice home on the beach. What do you say?" And the Xanadu Weyrwoman is turning to extend her hand to the othe goldrider, waiting for her reaction.
"I'd say that, as long as there's wine and a beach involved, you've got me… for a few turns." And finally there's a straight answer from Mianyi, who offers her own hand in return to Niva, though it's up to the other woman to seal that deal with the shake if she agrees to Mianyi's terms.
"Wine and a beach, I think we can manage that." And Niva is grinning, shaking the other woman's hand with an excited smile, moving to stand up, hands brushing over her pants, before she looks back to Mianyi. "I'll make sure a Weyr is cleaned out and ready for you… With some wine to help the moving."
Mianyi stands up as well, though it's perhaps more habit and ettiquette than anything. But she does have to see her friend, and new 'boss', off. "Lovely," Mianyi replies, a slight coo in her voice. "I'll be by soon, to check things out and get started. I expect we'll be all settled in within a sevenday after your go-ahead." Cause, you know, it takes time to clear some weyrs out.