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.
M'lak strolls in from the clearing as he glances back towards the clearing and chuckles. "Behave yourself Adenylath, all I'm going to do is get some food."
Food is Meira's speciality, what with her being a chef and all. She emerges from the kitchen, carrying a platter of sliced wherry meat, and a pitcher of juice. These, she brings to the serving table, before loading a smaller plate with slices of the same meat. "Mm, cooking makes me so /hungry/" she says, turning and heading for a table near the clearing exit, not exactly looking where she's going.
A rather loud warble resonates into the cavern as a blue snout appears at the entrance to the caverns. M'lak rolls his eyes. "No… you're not begging for treats either… forget it." He heads over to the serving table to get himself some food.
Meira stops suddenly at the sound of the warble, looking around to see who responds. M'lak? "Uh, is … is he yours?" she asks. While she's gotten used to dragons being about, she tends to think of dragons as being, well, about, with emphasis on the out. Technically the dragon is still outside, but still. She's more curious than anything.
M'lak gives a shake of his head as he blushes a little. "Yes… that's Adenylath and well… yeah he's mine… even at moments like these when I wish he'd just stop that." He smirks a little as he looks over towards the chef. Adenylath gives a bit of a displeased snort and M'lak seems to lose focus. "He wants a sweet roll." He looks a bit embarassed at his lifemate's request.
Meira tilts her head, and giggles. "Dragon has a bit of a sweet tooth? I thought all they ate was, well, hunted." she frowns slightly, though she's not exqctly squeamish. It would be hard to be, in her line of work. "I think …" she pauses, to consider. "Desserts aren't my area, I tend to be on mains more often than not, but I /think/ there's a batch in the oven now." another pause, and more of a frown, confused this time. "I don't think there'll be enough, though. Not for a dragon."
M'lak shakes his head as he replies. "It's not the first time he's had a bit of a sweet tooth. And yes, most like hunting better…" M'lak goes silent before replying. "He says one is fine… just he says you should take it out to him."
Meira tilts her head, and frowns. "Just one? For a whole dragon?" Well, it'd beweird if there was only half a dragon out there. "Uh… You're the rider." she says finally, with a shrug, before heading to the kitchen. A minute or two later, she returns, carrying a single sweet roll on a plate that looks far too big for it. "Will this do?" she asks, still skeptical.
M'lak nods quietly as he laughs. "He says that will do." A bit of shake of his head as suddenly the blue snout moves out of the way and clears the path to the outside warbling as he waits. "It's ok, he won't hurt you." He says as he walks out to the clearing.
Meira follows M'lak out to the clearing, blinking as the blue snout moves out of the doorway. She's gripping tightly to the too-large plate, on which rests a single sweetroll. "Ah, is this him?" she asks, pointing to Adenylath. Well, he's blue, and he's right /there/, so odds are good.
Adenylath gives a pleasant but exciteable warble as he sees the young woman with the sweetroll on the plate. Oooh. He looks really content at the proceedings of his procurement of the sweetroll. M'lak looks towards Adenylath and says firmly. "Now you made her go get the sweetroll on a big platter… you sure that's all you want Adenylath? I'm sure the young lady likely was busy and needing to do stuff other than cater to your sweet tooth."
Meira blushes slightly, and shakes her head. "It's no trouble, really. I just went on my break. Nothing better to do." she says quickly, glancing up to Adenylath. "Besides, it isn't every day that I get to cater for a dragon." she giggles again, behaving more like a giddy teen than the adult she actually is. Well, it's a dragon. A sweetroll, for a dragon. The whole thing is rather amusing. "I… Should I put the platter down, or…?" she asks, turning back to M'lak.
M'lak smiles as he softly replies with a chuckle. "Oh just set it down. He's fine with that but he wants to know if you'd be interested in standing for Mellonath's clutch." Adenylath gives a bit of a cheerful croon towards the woman.
Meira begins to put the plate down, and then nearly /drops/ it. "Oh, uh…" she mumbles, as she first makes sure the plate is safely set down. "I… Me? Is he sure? I'm not exactly… Me?" Shock. Yep, that's shock alright. She blushes. "Oh, and I'd just… Erm…" she doesn't finish that. "Well… What can I say? Yes. I think… Yes. Yes is what I should say." she rambles, then looks sharply to M'lak, uncertainty in her tone, "Isn't it?" Is Adenylath absolutely sure? "I… think… Yes." she finally says. "I would … yes. Very much." Is she going to start speaking in whole sentences any time soon? It does seem as thoug she's accepted, though.
M'lak gives a soft chuckle. "Yes miss, he is certain, they know whom they think is worthy of standing for a clutch." He smiles. "Well then, we should get you set up in the barracks and you can arrange to move your stuff there and contact whoever you need to." He pulls out a simple white knot from his pocket as he holds it out to offer to her. "This is yours."
Meira nods, wide-eyed. "I… Okay." she says, willing to do just about anything at this moment, still fairly shocked. "I'll send a message to the hall, and to my family, just to let them know. I think… Wow." she says, taking the offered knot and holding it tight, as if it might crawl away of its own accord. "Barracks. And… candidacy."
M'lak smiles as he replies. "Just follow me and we'll get you settled in. This way." He waves her towards the hatching arena.
Xanadu Weyr - Candidate Barracks
A long, low ceiling room opens off the entrance hall to the arena, one wall slightly curved as it is set against the outer wall of the arena itself. Cots are set evenly the length of the room, in two rows, each with its own small press at the foot, for personal belongings. Wide windows are spaced along the outside wall, letting sunlight in, while other lights are available for the night time hours.
M'lak smiles as he walks into the barracks and speaks. "Welcome to your new home Meira. There is a chore board over there that you can look at for your daily chores, you don't have to worry about those till tomorrow. Pretty much the rules are as follows: no drinking, no relationships outside of friendship and no fighting. Grab up your choice of cot and enjoy getting to know your fellow candidates."
Meira nods slowly. "Chores… Tomorrow. Is it okay if, today, I go back to the kitchens? I don't want to just leave, not this close to my next shift." As for the other rules, she nods slowly, and chews on her lower lip. "Mmhmm, okay. I don't really drink much. Or … those other things. Much." she blushes. But she figures those rules will be easy to keep. As for cots, she moves over and plops down on one, looking around in amazement, as if she still can't believe her luck.
M'lak nods as he replies. "Sure. That shouldn't be a problem." He turns to head out. "Best of luck on the sands." He winks to her as he slips out the door.