Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
J'ey is sunning himself on the beach, minding his own business. His dragon has been cleaned, he is clean, all is good with the world.
Having finally found a place with water, Matteo sits down in the sands to watch the waves. The young apprentice debates wading out in the water. It had been a while since he'd been around the surf. Resting his mind on it, he begins to pull off his boots and roll up his pants to above his knees. He catches sight now of the other beach occupants and grins before heading down to walk through the water.
J'ey props his head on his hand and rolls over onto his side and he glances at the young man. He yawns slightly, covering his mouth and then waves towards the apprentice.
Matteo has waded out a ways before he notes the wave out of teh corner of his eye. He looks up and gives a wave in return. "Hallo there…" He stands with the water rushing from mid-calf to knee and back again.
J'ey nods "J'ey, rider." he calls out in way of greeting "New to the weyr." He tilts his head as if waiting for the other to introduce himself. Eyes flicking all which way to take in the features of the wader.
"Matteo… SeaCraft Apprentice." He,too, gives the other an appraising look; as well as his dragon. "New as well… I'd hoped there was sea access here." He grins rather wryly as he swishes his foot through the sand and water.
J'ey laughs and nods "Seems pretty obvious if you are a seacraft apprentice wanting to get to the sea." he says, a touch of irony in his voice. He nods "Seems new people are attracted to this weyr. It is restful here after Ista."
Matteo looks down at the sand and stoops to grab a small opally shell. "You were at Ista? What's it like there?" He asks, coming a bit out of the water so to better hear the other. Sitting near by, he looks down at his feet and chuckles, brushing the collected sand off them.
J'ey nods "I was, for 10 long turns." He sighs and shrugs "It's not what it was, all these visitors, touring around, poking around, getting lost." He shakes his head "It's nice enough, you should go visit."
"I hope to… Once I get my ship, when I get that far." Matteo nods and casts a somewhat longing look at the sea. Probably wouldn't hurt to see if he's able to sleep in the jungles near here a night. What with his silly sleeping problem. "I plan to go everywhere I can… be a hired ship, ya'see… for traders…"
J'ey smiles at Matteo and nods "Must be the life, pulling up anchor and taking off when you are tired of one place. Lydiere, the WeyrWoman at Ista was a ship's captain. I think sometimes she misses the sailing."
Matteo nods knowingly. "I've only done it a few times, but once your heart is there it's hard to drag it back. I can't even sleep on land unless I drug myself." He laughs silently at that. "And lately it hasn't been that effective… i think I'me becoming immune to this stupid plant." He holds up a small bag around his neck and frowns a little. "Just my luck though…"
J'ey tilts his head "You cannot? Perhaps you need to string a hammock up between the trees, nice breeze would be like the rocking of the ship?" he queries and stretches as he sits up and flexes his arm, having got tired from leaning on it.
Matteo's brows shoot up. "Good idea. I should try that." He drops the bag back to hang, now swinging like a pendulum. "Probably much healthier than the plant anyway." He nods and fidgets abesently with the shell, slowly flaking off layers of opally iridencence.
J'ey nods "Probably, not always good to get reliant on one thing." he says, with the wealth of wisdom, or at least he tries to impart he has a wealth of information. He eyes the destruction of the shell "So what brought you here? Search of a berth? YOu should go to Ista, we have lots of ships go through there, sailors staying and all that."
Matteo looks up. "Oh, I have a cousin here who's a SeaCraft journeyman… My father thought it'd be a good thing for me to get out beyond the Hold without scaring my mother half to death. Least ways I don't think reccomending Xanadu assured her any…" His face is set in a grim smile. the shell starts to take some form and he pulls out his knotting knife, working on it with that.
J'ey grins "What sending her only son to sea to keep him safe?" he seems amused at this. He tilts his head "What has she against Xanadu?" Now he seems interesting,s eeing it is about his new home "Tell me more."
"Ah, well, see my brother, he was a rider here. He and his dragon, Corseth, an' fell once during a paticularly fancy trick and he.. well, died… So, you can imagine why she'd be worried sick at my comming here." Matteo seems almost indifferent to what happened. "I didn't know him very well, 'cause he left the Hold before I ever really had a chance to get to know him." He seems to explain the lack of feeling. "So, yeah. But my father, he said 'better with family than away at some distant weyr or hold.' She wasn't exactly convinced, but eventually agreed." The shell now takes better form… a small slender tail like a whale or dolphin comes from the glittering mass.
J'ey ohs and nods "But the weyr had nothing to do with that and well you are a seacrafter after all. I would think that was more dangerous than riding." He pauses "Your brother must have been riding without his straps. His own fool fault." He sighs softly and shakes his head, no matter his words,a dragonrider's death is not something to be taken lightly. He tilts his head "Perhaps you should have been a woodcrafter with skills like that?"
Matteo laughs again in that silent fashion. "yeah, perhaps, eh?" He hold up the shell and gazes at it. s far only a long dolphinlike tail extends, but a shape was forming from the rest. he continues to work on it. "yeah, we tried to reason that with mother, but this is the same woman that if she'd known I'd wandered around small ports on my own when i was 13 she would have had a heart attack and died. After skinning my father and our crew alive, you understand. She never let me do anything. My father was teh one who'd sneek me away on trips to different places near by." Now a sender human form forms out of the tail and he works on what looks to be an arm. "The rig-master taught me how to whittle. These are the easiest shells for it."
J'ey ahs and nods and stands up, brushing sand off of him "Your poor mother." he says, reaching down to pick up his towel "Oh well when you come back, I am sure she will have missed you so much she will forgive you." He winks "Now I really must go oil Tiregeth before she kicks up afuss." He grins "Cannot do it on the beach, then she gets sand caught up in the oil. You can come if you want?"
Matteo looks out at the sea. "Actually I think I'll stay here a bit longer. Thanks anyway…" He smiles and stands as is curteous, but also because he wanted to take another wade through the water. "t'was nice meeting you." He says with a grin.
J'ey nods "ANd nice to meet you Matteo, enjoy your communing with the water." He eyes the carving "You could probably make money selling those." he comments and wanders away, his green close behind him.