Difference between revisions of "Logs:Dinner Date"

Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr

The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.

Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern.

It isn't completely U'by's fault that this dinner has been months in the making. Often it was his scheduling conflict, or his "scheduling conflict" a.k.a. his cowardice that got it postponed, but at least once it was Ghena's schedule that was unaccomodating. But now, U'by is sitting in Snowasis at a table, with an empty shotglass. Perhaps that liquid courage is the only reason he's still sitting there when Ghena arrives. The redheaded man has dressed for the occasion in crisp, clean and rather nice trousers shirt and vest that someone else must have chosen for him and even, seemingly, made an attempt to tame his unruly mop. He scrambles to stand when the bluerider arrives, manners! Well, Holder manners anyway.

Ghena cracks a smile spotting the redhead, particularly when he stands. She's dressed nicely, at least what in her life mate's estimation qualifies as acceptable off duty attire. A silver-blue blouse and leather pants though not tight leather pants. "You are still here. I was beginning to think this was going to be scheduled off indefinitely." Eying the empty shot glass, as she takes her seat. "I owe you an apology I didn't mean to unsettle you so badly after." The flight she must mean.

U'by might've been fine for all the stumbling he did to get out, "Yes," to the first, and then, "No," to the second as he stares briefly at her shirt and then her pants before returning to her face. "You look-" He starts just as she starts about the apology. He might've been fine but for that. His cheeks, already pink from simply seeing her, get darker and the color spreads up to overtake his ears. "Oh, no, it's fine. It was. Is. Don't worry. We actually don't need to talk about it." At all. Ever again.

"I look?" She asks, waving over at one of the people working, and when they arrive she orders a shot of her own, and beer to chase it. Clearly this would require some social lubricant. Or at least a large amount of patience. She simply shrugs, in agreement that they never have to speak of the incident again..

"Nice. You look nice." U'by completes hastily, gesturing to the table and inviting her to sit, only doing so himself after she's taken a seat. Then there's the predictably awkward silence, which he breaks after a moment with, "Have you and Knioth been well?" In the intervening months since the flight.

Ghena smiles, "He's been well, as ever. Troublesome, but what can you expect from a shiny bundle of male hormones?" Downing the shot when it arrives, quickly and easily enough. "How is Ekoth?" Continuing the mild banter with a smile, studying his appearance with mild amusement.

"The same," U'by answers as the server arrives with Ghena's shot, beer and a second for the greenrider, who gives him a grateful look. "Less troublesome, I'd imagine." Keeping his sentences shorter does seem to help relieve the usual stutter, or maybe that's just the shot. Then more silence and then abruptly, "So, what do you like to do? You know, outside of wing duties and-- a-all that?" Ekoth is definitely assisting, but that's for the best, isn't it?

"I - Like lazing about the weyr, sometimes we'll head someplace warm and play beach bums. Damn Istan's don't know how good they have it, the bastards." Yay beer, beer is good beer saves people from awkward sort of dates. The stuttering, eventually Ghena takes some pity on the poor man. "Look U'by, I don't expect anything from you. Our dragons flew, and it was glorious, and if you're ever in a mood to relieve some tension feel free to look me up. This -" she gestures between the two of them. "Doesn't have to be anything significant if that makes this easier for you. I had a hellava lot fun, thought it might be fun again. But there are no strings or expectations ok? If you are here because you feel responsible then you don't have to be. " So long as he doesn't die on her anyway. At least she hopes she doesn't have to say that part out loud. She may not be the best interpreter of male awkwardness.

He chokes. You know a date is going well when your date almost kicks the bucket in front of you. U'by had just been sipping on that beer when Ghena started and it was about the time she made that offer that the beer found the wrong pipe and he's attractively trying to cough up a lung. It's hard to say if his face is redder from the lack of oxygen and all the coughing or the blushing that's probably robbed his toes of blood supply. It's only once he's recovered and stopped gasping for air that he can summon up any kind of response. It's probably not the most idea one either, "Are you sure?" Probably, he means the doing it again sometime thing and not the he doesn't have to be here part.

"It's not the sort of thing you would say if you didn't mean it." Nope she's forcefully not noticing the choking effect on her date. "Just gotta be careful about it and all, but life's meant to be enjoyed you know? Get too caught up in what everything means and you wind up missing the fun." She must have thought it was fun, judging by the offer. That or she gets a kick out of nearly murdering people with shock and embarrassment.

"I--" The fact that U'by is thinking probably is not altogether flattering to the offer, but the reason becomes clear enough when he asks, "You don't think your father would-- you know, try to hurt me if we-- you know?" The red-head isn't skinny, but nor is he especially muscular, being of average build, and all the time spent in the records hasn't honed any skills. If one had to guess, he probably made low marks in the self-defense required of all riders.

The arch of that eyebrow goes higher. "It's a Weyr, It's not like it is an altogether uncommon thing. Besides I'm one of -" She may have lost count actually. "Enough girls that even if he did think that way, he'd already have it way out of his system." And she certainly isn't going to tell her father about such things. "I do - you know, have my own Weyr." Same as he probably does. "So it's not like anyone is ever going to walk in either."

The man is still blushing as he considers her words and decides the prudent course is to try to drink his beer without choking now. After a few sips that could hardly be life-threatening even if Ghena did make another attempt, U'by says, "I'm not sure I can say how much I'd like that." But at least he doesn't babble on and try, amusing as that might be. "Food?" He suggests, although, like most men, he'd probably be content enough to skip to dessert.

"I actually snagged something from the living caverns on my way here, since - I wasn't entirely sure you'd show up this time." She admits a little sheepish. "Wonder if they have any of that flavored ice they make sometimes, they freeze fruit and then stick it in the drink and it's absolutely delicious." She may say the next when he's drinking again, or perhaps not. "Or we could just head back to my place." Her voice hushed.

For once, speechlessness and mute nodding works in U'by's favor. In no time, the pair will be up to the aforementioned private weyr, and not long after likely doing the also aforementioned private things. Rest assured, U'by tries his best, but his best, as ever, is still on the awkward side of life.