Inner Caverns, High Reaches Weyr
Within the labyrinth of interconnected chambers that make up the inner caverns, this large, long cavern serves both as a crossroads and a comfortable place for weyrfolk to sit, talk, and keep a nosy eye out for who's going where. Colorful, seasonal tapestries add warmth to the smooth walls and reduce echoes, while large niches house clusters of chairs, and a waist-high stone shelf along one wall provides a perch for drinks or work for residents on the go. Worn brass hooks often hold jackets or other outerwear with workboots stationed beneath, the transitory nature of the cavern lending itself to being treated as a sort of communal foyer where snowy or muddy gear can be kept outside of living quarters. Smaller, higher niches at regular intervals hold glowbaskets kept fresh during the daytime and allowed to dim somewhat at night.
The largest tunnels lead to the main living cavern, to the bowl and to the Weyr entrance, but it's still easy for the uninitiated to get lost within this maze.
The humidity of the fog brings a chill to the evening, the sort that seeps through jackets and takes up residency in bones. The sort that will drive even the most hermitting of hermits to seek warmer quarters. Or, better yet, to fight water with water, and cold with heat. H'kon is one such, emerging from the baths clad in a heavy fisherman's sweater, cheeks still pink from both the scrubbing and the temperature, hair spiked and messed from the towel. Maybe it was even relaxing. Maybe that's to blame for the relative slowness in his step as he moves through the caverns.
Where some might find relief in hot water, Hana seeks it out by exploring and keeping moving. Also, two shawls instead of her normal one, giving her more of a layered effect. However, as a side effect of exploring is a natural result. Once she leaves one set of tunnels and turns, and turns again, well, which way did she come from again? Pointing at the residential way, she turns to a rather damp fellow coming out of - thanks to the steam - must surely be the baths. "That way is towards the living cavern, yes?"
H'kon almost ignores her completely. Only the sudden stop and sharp turn of his head suggests it was more preoccupation than bad manners. "Hm?" comes out before he's had time to stop, to turn to face the young woman, to replay the words that had been shut out of his head by whatever else was going on there. "The living caverns," he repeats. A finger points in the direction she's going, and rotates, "are that way." That finger then dips until it's pointing at the floor. "The other well-trodden path," is surely meant as a guide. How helpful, in a busy Weyr, well...
Hana shakes her head with a laugh, "I would have sworn.. and here I've had to go wandering more than once. Thank you for correcting my sense of being lost," she offers, before tilting her head. "And I don't think we've met, so that makes it even more kind. I'm Hana, a pleasure to meet you sir." There is a pause, as she looks down at the well-trod ground, then back up. "... I don't suppose you could had a side-to-side direction to go with the up-and-down one?"
The breath, as it comes in on her 'sir', is quiet, but as it goes out, gains some momentum. There's a flash of something akin to a grimace over his face, and with a curt nod, he chops out, "H'kon." Stubbled chin lifts, eyes narrowing only until an, "Ah," shows understanding. And the brownrider starts his gesture further from, and sends it sweeping toward, the path to the living cavern.
Hana tilts her head, and mouths the name to herself - no doubt putting features to bits and pieces of gossip so recently abound, before nodding. "H'kon. Thank you then - especially for the extra pointer. I'm certain I'll figure out where everything is - probably just in time to go back home, but that is neither here nor there. I shouldn't keep you though - I'm sure there is either things to do, or places to warm up. Have a good evening!" Throughout the stream of words, the woman seems cheerful enough - enough so that the smile doesn't even flicker at the name or the connections mental made, as she turns to head down the indicated path.
It might be a cold, humid night, but that's not likely what brings the grimaced reaction to 'places to warm.' "Indeed," is as terse as tense. H'kon brings his hand to rub at the not-beard on his chin. The gesture of holding his hand - this time, flat - down the path he'd just indicated to Hana is polite, though his face remains stony throughout. There's the slightest press of his neck to the collar of his shirt when he starts up, just steps behind her, and in the same direction. Maybe she won't notice.
Hana takes a step or two towards the Living Cavern, then stops and turns - surprise appearing at the fact that H'kon is just steps behind her. "Oh! I didn't realize.." she trails off, then shakes her head, "My apologies. I was just going to ask - having noticed, well - the etiquette of a matter - specifically, if one is unfamiliar and in a relaxed state, what title should be used." Because that flinch, well, she has to ask. Or maybe just wants to.
A white-knotted candidate has been coming up the corridor at a healthy clip, boots clunking dully on the stone floor. The footsteps slow as Kaeden nears Hana and H'kon, the first getting a familiar nod, the second a smaller, curious one. Less familiar, more bare recognition.
"No, I was simply going in-" uncertainty hits, and H'kon's head turns a bit to one side, the sentence left to die a lonely death. His eyebrows drop, and his discomfort translates into a tug at the base of his shirt, a roll of his shoulders to re-settle the garment thereafter. "Brownrider will be suitable. If you feel a title necessary." Maybe it's the awkwardness of trying to determine whether he should start walking again or not that has him looking so readily toward clumping boots. The candidate is given a raised chin in turn.
"What if I didn't know you were a brownrider," Hana asks, curious and friendly, one hand's movements aborted, as if she was going to lightly place a hand on the nearest arm as to walk and talk in comfort. But thinking better on it - or due to the clunking bootweilder, she doesn't do so. Instead, she looks up and offers an equally cheerful smile, "Kaeden! Good - another familiar face in case I get turned around between here and the living cavern!"
"I bet you could call him 'sir'," Kaeden comments, obviously in time to eavesdrop on the last few exchanges. As the first two are standing, he comes to a complete stop just behind, then gestures with a thumb further up the corridor. "Heading out? And hi there, Hana. Do you get lost a lot?"
H'kon's flat look to Hana is not even a little bit patient. "That would be quite unlikely," is deadpan. The candidate's help brings an extra bulge of muscles around his jaw when that brownrider's teeth clench, face pointed in his general direction, but the boy's involvement is, at least, opportunity for H'kon to try a step away from the other two. Eyes roving back to Hana. "If you're set aright, then," is the beginning of his excusing himself.
"I refuse to answer that on grounds that it could only lead to embarrassment and laughter," Hana promptly responds to Kaeden with a grin. "Also, I already tried that." H'kon gets a look, then a shake of the head, "Well, yes. Now," she'll agree with, before moving to the side. "If I have any trouble, I am certain I can get Kaeden to guide my steps, Brownrider. Thank you for your help."
"Have a pleasant evening," Kaeden says to H'kon, having probably picked up on the escape plan, as subtle as it... wasn't. Half a beat later he adds a "Sir" before quickly giving Hana a bright smile. "I'd only laugh with you. Have you had dinner yet?" He gestures again up the cavern and takes half a step in that direction.
"Good," has some sense of approval, at Kaeden being labelled guide. Short nods are given each to Hana and Kaeden. Free, H'kon wastes little time in resuming his original course. Which, it would seem, leads out in the direction of the bowl. Or at least, does so now.
Hana takes a deep breath, then lets it out. Shaking her head, she looks at Kaeden and then takes his arm, "... two dances, Kaed. Minimum, regardless of title you wear afterwards. Agreed?"
"If I could pay my way through life in dances, I'd be a happy man," Kaeden answers Hana, easily letting his arm be taken. He then leads them upward and outward, though at a far more leisurely pace than H'kon's efficient exit. Wouldn't want to risk getting lost.
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