Difference between revisions of "Logs:Babies, Felines and Tea, Oh My!"

Garden Patio Ledge, High Reaches Weyr

Partly sheltered by the curving stone overhang, partly exposed to the weather, the wide stone patio serves as a balcony for socializing or just plain drinking on a sizable scale. The repurposed ledge might once have let two large dragons land, but now there's too much furniture for that: two rustic tables with attendant chairs, plus a couple more in particularly good weather, and a wrought iron bench situated to make the most of the view of the western bowl and the lake beyond.

Other changes include rough little niches carved out of the stone walls to hold glows in colored bottles at night, the climbing plant that's being trained to grow up along the overhang, and the blue ceramic pots of flowers that dot the edge of the ledge as a colorful reminder not to fall off.

An archway leads to the Snowasis itself, housed in the ledge's former weyr, while a few wide steps descend along the wall to the bowl.

While the ledge off of Snowasis is suitable for a sizable group - at the moment, it is rather less than full. The weather is gray and cool - enough that some folks remain inside, while others take the shelter from what wind there might be in the Bowl below - and still get to feel like they are outside. Claiming one of the tables, Hana's chair faces the outward, the better to watch gray skies and dragons coming and going - while taking advantage of the afternoon light to work on a bit of white fabric. The remains of a snack plate are off to the side, and a teapot still slightly steaming is offset by a pair of cups, one in use.

After climbing the steps up from the bowl, D'kan is about one step in the direction of the Snowasis archway when he spots Hana and swings toward her direction instead. He might have just come in from flying, because he's still wearing his jacket, though it's unbuttoned, and a heavy riding belt still hangs loosely from his hips, clips hanging from one side, goggles from the other. "Expecting someone?" he asks Hana, gesturing quickly toward that second cup before he starts to carefully unhook the riding belt, making certain it doesn't swing into anything or anyone.

Hana looks up, then smiles. "Hello, D'kan. And not exactly," she admits, putting down her handiwork before waving her hand at the same chair, "Join me, if you'd like. It is actually in case someone wanted to have a seat and partake, though it is by no means an obligation." There is a pause as she watches the bits with the belt, before asking, "Just finished up with, ah, drills?"

"Yep," D'kan answers, grinning as he slings the belt over the back of the other chair and takes a seat. "Tea sounds pretty brilliant right about now. I think I'm going to need thicker gloves soon." He picks up the second cup and holds it in his hands, just to take some of that extra chill out before pouring tea. "Special project?" the weyrling asks, nodding toward the white fabric. Then, happy enough with the state of the cup, he pours himself a cup and leans back, again wrapping his fingers around, this time to warm his hands instead of the cup.

"Best thing for a cool day - bested only by being the best thing on a cold day," Hana agrees, a touch mischievously, before nodding. "Definitely - I am starting to get ready to break out my winter dresses and shawls. I have no desire to be frozen until spring, and maybe even until summer if weather is unpredictable!" At the question, there's a light hmm, then a lifted shoulder. "Possibly. Wishful thinking, mostly, until I hear otherwise. Baby things," she adds, a wry smile appearing.

"Baby?" D'kan echoes, brows rising as his hand stops with the tea cup halfway to his mouth. "Anyone I know? Or... is it one of those things were I'm better off not knowing 'til I know?" he adds with a grin before finally taking that sip. "As for winter, folks have assured me there are lots of ways to keep warm. Colder than the Hold, but not as cold as, say, Crom or Telgar or something. So... that's something, right?"

It's probably the mention of ways to keep warmer that has Hana laughing, with a "Not mine!" followed quickly by a "There was a rumour about Lady Issedi. I am going by the idea that if it isn't true now, it probably will be soon. And this way is much easier to surprise her with than the last time, given residencies as such." The mention of those other places - especially, say, Crom or Telgar, has her shuddering and reaching for her own cup. "All wonderful reasons to keep away from there." During the winter. Right?

D'kan apparently has little input on the possible spawning of the Hold's not-Holder couple, because his only reply is to nod a couple times while regarding that white fabric. After another sip of tea, there's an afterthought voiced, that, "It's nice how you're keeping in touch when them. Even though you're here now." Another pause, another sip. Then a frown. "Meant to ask, did your family ever... you know. Put up a stink about you... staying at the Weyr?" It sounds better than "refusing to be pimped out", right?

Hana takes a small sip of her tea, then leans forward to refresh it from the pot. A couple of grains of sweet are added and thoughtfully stirred in, before she hms. Hands wrapped around the warm mug, she leans back. "It helps that Lady Issedi and Lord Devaki agreed to my staying - with, of course, the unspoken agreement that letters are welcome." She pauses a moment, then takes another sip, before looking out at the open Bowl, "I have not received any correspondence beyond that from my Lady."

"She's still your Lady, then?" D'kan asks, tone oddly neutral, while those dark eyes of his are a touch exacting, possibly set off by the mention of letters. That is the last he lets on that he might have caught anything, though, because just after, he drains his cup and leans forward to refill, careful not to let the tea pot's lid clatter off. "I haven't heard a word from my parents since the day Kazavoth and I met," the weyrling shares after a slight pause. "Keep going back and forth... should I write? Should I see if they write first?" The pot is set back on the table, holding maybe just half a cup more. "Point being... might be worth breaking the ice with your parents." Possibly indicating that's what he's planning.

Hana offers a slight smile. "She has been such for some time now, Kaed, so even if I never serve her again, she shall always be dear to me." There is a pause, then she adds, "But I have attempted to break the ice - it is up to them on if they will try to step through it. I... ah, don't think Lady Azaylia will try to send me back at this point. She is enjoying the hair-styles at the very least. And serving her is a joy for myself as well, so staying would not be... onerous." Strange, still, but not a burden.

There is a very momentary tensing around D'kan's eyes after Hana's explanation, but he leaves it be, content to sip from his cup and enjoy the view of the overcast bowl. After a short time, he turns back to Hana, the tense look entirely gone. "Kazavoth and I should be able to fly back to the Hold at some point very soon for a visit. If you're interested in coming along, I can let you know the exact date once we get a little closer to it. Might have to put up with G'mli for the day, but he's not so bad once you get used to him."

Hana tilts her head, then banishes thoughts of family away. At least, hers. "Does that mean I might get to meet some of your family then?" she asks, lightly teasing as she adds, "I do not think I've met G'mli. Is he another weyrling?" she asks, the teasing fading to curiosity even as she adds, "I still have not ridden a'dragonback. The idea is a bit, well, I would almost considering adding something to my tea prior." Blasphemy!

"It's not so bad," D'kan answers regarding the spiked tea, smiling lightly as he shrugs a shoulder. "And no, G'mli's my mentor. He's a bit of a nut, but he and Durinth have been really good about helping Kaz and me get lots of flying practice and the like." There's a long enough pause to finish off his tea, after which the cup is set back on the table next to the tea pot. "So, any interesting developments on your end of things? I feel like I've been so cut off from the rest of the world while dealing with weyrlinghood."

Hana hms, and shakes her head before pausing. "Well, Mave talked me into helping with that play of hers. Hair and a bit with the costuming. Felt like I was herding a passle of little ones and felines for about two sevendays, but it went well, and now - now is blissful feeding and carrying of a weyrwoman only." Where upon she only has to chase the one feline. "Did you get a chance to see it?"

"Sadly, I missed it," D'kan admits with a mild grimace. "Heard there was, uh... some sad news on Mave's end after it, too." He shifts in his chair, just a little uncomfortable about it for whatever reason before he takes a quick breath and leans back. "I really need to grab a bite to eat before the rest of the day catches up with me. Thank you for the tea, though." He gets to his feet and slings his riding belt over one shoulder, again careful of all its various clips and buckles and things. "Good luck with the baby things, and... I'll let you know about the trip to the Hold when I know more." He pauses for a quick moment, but whatever the motivation, he's suddenly keen on heading back to the bowl, so that's just what he does!