1/14/2003
10:25
PM
Logfile
from K'rill.
Main
Living Cavern (#551J)
Grey
stone arches a vast vault overhead, details of the ceiling all but disappearing
in the shadows cast by warm, human-height glowsconces and the night hearth's
flames; tapestries texture the smooth walls, looking down upon the raised dais,
the expanse of tables, the flagstones left cleared for impromptu dancing.
A
single broad archway, its carved pattern worn soft with time and passersby's
touch, leads west into the bowl; two more, narrower but just as tall, give
access to the bustle of living caverns in the south. Predominant looms the
builders' masterpiece: the imposing staircase that twines up along the northern
wall, leading to the weyr's huge kitchens.
Vintner
Harry busies himself behind the 'bar'; nearby hangs the day's 'menu'.
You see
Veran, Wit, Legend of O'Sada Egg, and Angel here.
Shyona,
Ramon, Adia, R'ish, and J'bal are here.
Obvious
exits:
Bowl Lower Caverns Stairs Weyr
Tunnel
Moved.
More people
-- must be dinnertime, or somebody's drills just ended. Ramon rubs his eye and
contemplates the nuances of the Fort region -- the ones he can detect, anyway.
"I don't know, the Hold's pretty different from the Weyr." He winds
up saying this mostly to his mom. His mom will still listen to him. She has to.
It's the mom code.
R'ish
was concentrating on her food, so when she's addressed she looks up halfway
through the chewing of a meat roll with that deer in the headlights look.
"umm" she manages around the food in her mouth.. holding up a hand as
she finishes chewing quickly, and washes it down with a quick swig of wine..
"I'm doing alright, just finished some exercise" she nods "how
about you?" she quickly glances around at the group and offers a smile.
J'bal
comes in a bit chilled, that sweat gels when you go 'between' don't you know.
He glances over some of the conversations and happens to land at the one with
Shyona and R'ish and a few other more familiar faces.
K'rill
moves into the cavern, shucking his riding jacket and draping it over his arm
as he enters. Well, it is only on his arm for a moment before being placed over
the back of a chair. On his way to the kitchens he is waylayed by a drudge who
carefully steers him to a table instead. Oh. And so, he sits, blinking owlishly
before bobbing his head in greeting to whoever, "Greetings."
"Hey,"
Ramon mumbles back. He's doing a bit of a prodigal-son-returneth thing, on
vacation from his hall. He and his mother, Adia, are with Shyona.
"Doing
good R'ish..doing good." Shyona responds, slowly inclining her head before
she takes a sip from her mug of juice.
J'bals entrance is noted inbetween Ramon speaking, Shy offering the
first of those a wave and grin as he joins their little dinner party..and then
it's onto Ramon. "It's a change
either way.. Going from one to the other." Though in Shyona's mind..she's
made quite the leap from one to the other.
And yet one more arrival.. K'rill's, has Shyona offering him a grin
and..vague gesture towards the platter on the serving table, "Fresh fish
up there." Couldn't you /smell/
it?
J'bal
returns Shyona's grin with a broad one of his own. The food is duly noted and
once he's unburdened himself of his possesions onto a chair he's preparing
himself a plate and then leaning himself against said chair to have a better
view of everything that's going on. He doesn't add much yet, prefering to stuff
his mouth with that fresh fish. He's making a bit of a mockery of himself as
bits of it land on his chin and shirt, but it's that good. "Mmmmm."
Adia
laughs and winces, just a bit, at J'bal's enthusiasm.
K'rill
perks and echoes, "Fish?" Eyebrows jack upwards as he glances across
to note... Wow, would you look at that? A platter with fish. Of course, now he
has to get up again and get it. And so, hands are planting upon the table as he
pushes up, turning about to catch himself a plate of fish. Naturally, some
fenaggling is required as he scoots around the feeding J'bal, giving him a
generous bob of his head in greeting, "Good day there, J'bal. All goes
well in your wing?"
Ramon
cringes some. Don't make J'bal talk. He already has trouble chewing without
anything to say.
J'bal
salutes K'rill with his fork. "Going well," he answers, thankfully
after he's swallowed the previous bite. "Everything's been working itself
out pretty well so far." During his pause to talk he's cleaned a little of
the mess off his chin, he does have manners ... when he remembers them.
"And with you and yours?"
And all
of this over fish. You can practically
see Shyona's lip curl with distaste.
Though humor still tones her words as she shakes her head. "I'll never understand.." And she
rightly won't. Being that it
was..fish. So, it's back to the
others-Ramon and Adia, "So.."
She's only lacking for a moment, before she says, "I hope
everyone's day went moderately well?" Small chat. It fits every so often.
Ramon,
seeing that J'bal can redeem himself with his social graces, stops gawking.
"Pretty dull," he tells Shyona. "Not that that's so bad."
K'rill
would have Shyona know that fish and the act of fishing is where it is at. Some
day, he'll have to show her the joy in a good batch of beer-batter spiderclaw
meat. To die for. Alas, seeing as he can't read minds, nor she can read his,
this entire thread is moot. Anywho, settling some fish on a platter, tapped
with his spork, he is returning to the seat, nodding to J'bal once more,
"That is good to hear. Sirocco is going well. Now that we've got Shendti
back, it is moving along even better. Up at the crack of dawn for drills.
Afternoon sweeps. Flaming practice once a sevenday. We're looking awfully fine
next time the Games roll around."
Adia
hmmphs at Ramon. "Slept in this morning, then went for a walk. The lot of
us will be going out when Grey and Imena get back." And, because she's mom
and it comes with the job description, she harasses Ramon a little. "It's
just /so/ rotten being stuck with the family."
One
side of Jubal's face comes up in a slight grin. "Ahh so we're talking
about readiness for the games eh? Well we've had our practices as well. It is
nice to hear that Shendti is back though, was fun being a candidate with
her." He finishes off his fish with a little less fervor and a little more
cleanliness than the beginning and he pauses his conversations for a moment to
go and look at what has been set out for dessert. It must be his lucky day,
he's back with some berry pie and a mug of klah. Returning as well to the
conversation. "We'll see how the wings come out in the games, from what
I've seen we're all on top of our skills."
Shyona
grins at both Ramon and Adia.
"Dullness can be a blessing..though, you've got plenty of free
time. What about..tomorrow afternoon? Enough free time left to help and old friend
hang from some rocks?" She's been
just itching to take back up that old hobby of hers. Adia's words earn a curious glance, and a slightly inqusitive,
"Oh? Would this be a good
thing..or?" And an ear is kept out
for the conversation around her, mostly K'rill and J'bal..which has her asking,
"Any of my fellow ex-weyrlings tapped yet? Haven't heard much from them on the topic." Nor has she
heard about the age-old tradition of..playing cards to win the new wingmates. Fortians.
You've got to love them and all their quirkiness.
Ramon
looks at Adia. "Well, do you have plans for me tomorrow?"
K'rill
cuts up the fish with the spork, chopping it into nice, manageable bite-size
pieces. Mmmmm, delicious. After swallowing, he is looking back after J'bal,
"Well, I would certainly like to hope so. I'll have to talk to R'ish about
seeing if we can get come coordinated drills happening soon. It would only be
in all of our best interests." That and so K'rill can show off just how
advanced his wing is. Head turns and he is looking back to Shyona, "Ohhhh,
yeah. That.
Zephre
and I and some of the other 'leaders have a poker game planned soon here."
Figure that one out.
Adia
nods to Ramon. "Beach," she says, lingering over the last remains of
her bubbly. "Unless you had other plans?"
Ramon
shakes his head. "I'm here nine more days," he tells Shyona. "So
we'll go another time. Within the nine days. Maybe Aelren would come, I
dunno."
Wullan
enters from the Bowl.
Shyona
offers a nod and grin towards K'rill, "I've heard something about
that.." And..she just might not be able to figure out why they'd be
playing poker. But..it sure would make
for some interesting conversation.. "Hm?
Oh.. yeah. That sounds good,
Ramon. Just let me know when and
where. I'm sure I can get the time
off.." Or..she hopes she can.
Offering him a grin, Shy then turns her attention towards the fish
eaters. She just can't figure it out. Try as she may.
J'bal
now looks over his pie, if they thought the fish was bad. His fork is raised,
he's ready to plunge down and take a bite, and it's on his fork, berry juices
dripping a bit ... and ... the bite is cleanly in his mouth and quickly chewed
and swallowed. What did you expect him to do?
Adia
suddenly looks regretful - here Shyona was inviting Ramon to rock climb (a
hobby which Adia heartily endorses), and she's queered the deal. It's done now, though, so she resolves to
make the best of it. "Where do you usually climb, Shyona?"
Wullan
enters the caverns quite briskly, even for her, each little foot ringing hard
against the stone flagstones of the floor.
Stopping suddenly at the edge of the tables, she scans the room as if
searching for someone, her dark eyes determined, then, just as abruptly, shrugs
and finds her way to the least busy table.
Smiling down at Shyona, she visibly relaxes, then nods to each person at
the table. "May I join
you?" she asks, demurely smoothing
her top skirt to avoid showing off her underskirts. There is a subtle energy about her tonight, though she seems
quiescent - as if waiting for something to happen.
Ramon
scoots over a little bit more.
K'rill
glances back to Shyona, watching her for a moment before bobbing his head,
"Everyone will know after that... but you don't have to worry about it so
much." He offers her a quick, but warm smile before reaching to take a
drink from his mug. Amazing how it just appeared like that, filled with cider
care of an anticipatory drudge. Taking a long sip from it, his gaze is
inevitably drawn to the sitting Wullan. Curse that child-hood crush. "Good
day, Wullan. You are looking particularly fine today."
J'bal
calms his eating as Wullan enters, those manners finally triggering. He is of
course still leaning against his chair rather than sitting in it, but at least he's
looking a bit neater about it all. He offers Wullan a deep nod and a smile with
his "Evening."
Shyona
grins, "Too true. I've already got my wing..so I think I'm
safe." The word of choice?
Think. And, its back to Adia as Shyona
offers her a grin, "No no.. He's your son.. this is your time to spend
with him.." The regretful look had
been noted..and is returned with one of Shy's.
"I'll catch him another time.
Besides, I really shouldn't be doing that. It's not..advisable." In her mind, that is. Wullan's entrance catches her attention,
Shyona motioning to a seat as she shakes her head, "Not at all..please, do
join us."
A
particularly harried looking drudge scurries to Wullan's side without waiting
for the Weyrwoman's signal, a skin of Benden wine in one hand, a goblet in the
other. She sets down the items
carefully in front of Wullan, then is gone into the crowd as if in response to
some unspoken request.
"She's
new to the climbing thing," Ramon says.
Wullan
gestures for the others to continue eating, nodding back at each one
individually. "Climbing?" she
enquires, conversationally, her dark eyes curious. Pulling the stopper, she carefully pours herself a glass of the
Benden, enjoying the aroma before taking her first sip. "Around the Weyr, you mean? Or?"
The drudge returns, a bowl of the fish dish and a hunk of bread for the
Weyrwoman.
K'rill
apparently finishes with that fish, dabbing the coating crumbs from his lips
with the backs of his fingers. Hey, having bits of bread on your lips simply
does't give off the best impression for this stolid boy. He glances back over
to his plate, handing it off to a passing drudge before moving on to nurse his
cider.
"Around
the weyr," Adia confirms, not that she was necessarily the person who was
asked. "I climb around in our weyr all the time. Kolyath occasionally
spots me." The benefits of being weyrmated.
Shyona
drops her head in a nod, while she lifts her mug. "Climbing around and abouts. Never been further than here.
Though one of these days I hope to.." Which isn't the most advisable thing..but Shyona doesn't exactly
think about these things before she says them.
A hand is waved in Ramon's direction, "He's actually one of the
ones who got me into it.." Great
way to get your 'friends' into trouble Shy!
K'rill and J'bal are given a glance.. Perhaps it's Shyona digging for
support? "You guys have
climbed..haven't you?"
Though..it's pointless as Adia offers her words, "It's fun, though,
isn't it?"
J'bal
holds up his hands in a sorry gesture since he's set down his place, "The
most I've climbed is up to Kwaith's neck, and that's more than high enough to
me with how much he grew."
Ramon
nods. "Yeah. We climb cliffs, or sometimes we just hike up the brambly
parts."
K'rill
shoots a glance to Shyona, "Jania once had me climb a tree?" Hey, it
is something, isn't it. But he is shooting a glance askance to J'bal before
nodding, "And a dragon's neck... Even climbed a few ship masts in my time,
but not a cliff." That is what a dragon is for. They just fly you to the
top. But, naturally, he doesn't have to say this, the look he gives the junior
goldrider is enough.
Wullan
spears a daintily bite-sized portion of the fish, sniffing it before trying it
gingerly. "Around the weyr, eh? I haven't been exploring much since I got
here," she says, glancing towards the bowl. "But it might be fun to climb with the dragons cheering us
on to greater heights from above."
This said in a musing tone of voice, that impish spark twinkling in her
eyes as she regards K'rill.
Shyona
laughs, "Well..trees are easy. I can climb those in my sleep."
Okay..so she can't. But that's beside
the point. "Cliffs..now those are
fun to climb. And.. I think I do rather
well, don't I?" Cue the glance towards Ramon as Shyona includes him in
this.. "Oh it is fun.. Though Aiwenth.. well I haven't really had much
time to climb since Impressing. Which
is why I want to get back into it.. Seems like I'll forget just about
everything I did learn."
Adia
casts Shyona a sly look. "Great exercise," she advises. "Helps
keep you in shape." Adia is pretty trim for her forty-odd turns, although
perhaps the perpetual scrapes and scratches aren't so much of a positive
fashion statement.
That's
what Ramon needs to do on his vacation. Lead goldriders in all their hostessy,
frilly, perhaps even proddy glory up a cliff in a climbing expedition. He
scratches at his eyebrow, contemplating what that would be like -- and then,
there's his dad. And his little sister.
K'rill
peers from beyond the lip of his mug across to Wullan, lip's smile hidden by it
but not the one that crinkles in the corners of his eyes. "Well, how about
you climb all you want, Wullan. I'll be waiting at the bottom to catch you just
incase..." He is shooting another glance to Shyona, smile wry, but he
doesn't say a word. He smiles over to Adia, grin warming just the slightest at
her words, "I might have to take that advice though." Too much
sitting on dragons...
Adia
points at Grey and Imena. "And there's our cue," she says, rising
from her seat and brushing away the crumbs from her pie. "Pardon us,"
she says, giving everyone a smile and a wave.
At
least she can count on Adia.. "Right! Excercise.." Shy's trying to rationalize why she'd want
to go climbing. It's addictive..and
it's all the fault of her ex-Candiemates.
Really. "And well it's
good..mental exercise too. I mean, what
else are you going to focus on other than what's infront of you?" See? It does make sense. Adia and Ramon are given a wave, "Good
to see you out and about again Ramon..take care. And same to you, Adia."
Which then has her..sipping her juice.
She's done enough damage for one night.
Adia
goes home.
Ramon
slouches out for another rip-roarin' evening of family togetherness.
Ramon
heads out into the immense bowl.
Wullan
shakes a wary finger at K'rill, dark eyes narrowing in mock-pique. "Indeed, K'rill, you'd be right beside
me - I might need a big, strong bronzerider to help me if I had trouble
climbing or something," she says in a subtly velvet voice. She draws a finger down the stem of the wine
glass and curls her hand around the bottom possessively.
J'bal's
eyebrows raise just slightly at Wullan and K'rill and now seems as good a time
as any to head for a refill of klah. He's back soon though and sitting in the
chair over one from his things. Suddenly he's seem to run out of things to say.
Shyona
glances away from Wullan and K'rill.
Completely oblivious to anything happening in that direction. Though she does offer J'bal a glance..and a
smile. "Was the meal
good?" See..he's done eating. So now she can ask him without risking him choking
on food. Or some other calamity like
that.
J'bal
smiles at Shyona and nods, "It was delicious I admit," he looks just slightly
abashed, "I know my manners were horrid when I started, it just tasted so
good after a day of flying around. I did a few trips between Boll and Ista for
the Enlanders."
K'rill
looks after Wullan for a long moment, smile turning rather wry, "You know
that you can always call to me if ever you need anything, Wullan." His
shoulders shrug slightly before he is blinking back to J'bal and then Shyona
with a sidling glance.
Wullan's
mood shifts along with the uneasiness she senses, and a brilliant smile is sent
towards the others. "I know, I can
always count on you, K'rill. I knew
that after you brought me that first bouquet of flowers," she recalls, her
eyes warm. "I knew K'rill at Ista
Weyr, quite a long time ago, before he was ever Searched, I think. He used to bring me lovely bunches of blooms
that he'd fresh cut - my weyr was filled with them." She raises her glass in toast.
Shyona
grins towards J'bal. A shake of her
head offered. "I've seen plenty worse.. trust me. You just showed..and enthusiasm for your
food is all. Nothing wrong with
that." Or so she says.. Wullan's words earn a glance in her
direction, Shyona raising a brow in question, though she says nothing, save for
offering a dip of her head in a polite nod. "That was nice of him.."
And now her gaze slides back to K'rill.
Almost as if she were judging something. But..she's too new to this new life of hers. And..so she's utterly clueless.
J'bal
smiles and his face softens a bit as he thinks of something himself. It takes a
little shake of his head to get himself back to reality. "Sounds like the
perfect gentleman." He offers with a grin to both Wullan and K'rill. He
belatedly offers Shyona a chuckle. "I appreciate the kindness in
describing it."
K'rill
blinks at Wullan for a moment and then, right then and there, this
thirty-something turn old bronzer blushes. Yes, blushes. He takes this moment
to take a long drink from his mug of cider, therefor hiding his face. After a
moment to try to compose himself with some sort of witty rejoinder, all he has
to say is, "Ahh, youthful enthusiasm and a teenager's crush. I'll never
live that down will I, Wullan." He draws to his feet, moving as if to lay
a hand on the Weyrwoman's shoulder before continuing on to the serving table to
find something with a bit more kick to it. Aka, wine.
Wullan
notices K'rill's reddened cheeks, but makes no comment, instead swirling the
wine in her goblet idly while she listens to the other conversations.
Shyona
would be entertained if she lingered about..that's for sure. But..there's a certain other calling..and
Shyona has no choice but to answer.
"I'm coming.. I'm coming.."
This before she stands and offers a wave to those gathered,
"Aiwenth's calling for her oiling.
I should head out now.. thanks for the chat. It was nice." And..without much further waiting, Shyona
turns and departs for the bowl. And the
awaiting dragon therein.
K'rill
comes back about with a glass full of dark-hued wine this time. He blinks after
the junior as she starts out, hand lifting as he offers a wave to the departing
rider, Clear skies, Shyona." He takes a sip from his glass, looking over
to the others and sending out a query, "Can I get either of you
anything?"
And
then there were three. J'bal politely declines K'rill's offer raising his klah
mug as proof he's doing just fine where drink is concerned. "Thank you
though."
Wullan
eyes the dark-hued wine with interest, her own deep ruby Benden sparkling. "What kind of wine is that,
K'rill?" she asks, dark eyes curious.
"Is it sweeter than the Benden?
And no, thank you, I don't need anything."
Wullan
blinks once, and then rises from her chair abruptly. "Isabeth is awake," she intones in a distracted
voice. "And hungry! Yes, hold onto your fighting straps, I'm
getting up right now." She sighs,
grinning apologetically to the others before heading out to the bowl.
Wullan
heads out into the immense bowl.
K'rill
bobs his head in understanding to J'bal, warm smile making its appearance once
more. He is looking back to Wullan at her query, frowning for a moment and then
taking another exploratory sip, "Could be?" Clearly lacking any sort
of wine palate. He pushes away from the serving table, nodding his head to her
-but then she is gone as well. What is with the fleeing goldriders? He shoots a
glance to J'bal, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you
later, sir. Good day and clear skies." Head is inclined towards the fellow
rider before he starts out as well.
J'bal
just gets out his farewell to Wullan before K'rill rises to leave as well. He
smiles and nods. "To you as well." Might as well check Kwaith now as
well.
Y