Ista Weyr - Lounge
A comforting warmth, not stifling even in the Istan heat, surrounds this cozy room. One large tapestry covers the entire right side of the room, curving with the cave and displaying a large portion of the Istan Island as seen from dragonback. It can easily be called a Weaver masterpiece: individual trees are seen on the shoreline where waves break and crash against the sand, the Weyr woven at one end with its jagged heights and a colorful wing of dragons aloft, pinpoints in a cliff-face of a Hold, and the smoky top of a volcano in the distance.
Lining the entire wall and curving out into an L-shape to stop near the doorway are dark red couches, stuffed for people to sink into them softly and littered with little golden pillows. Firmer square footrests lay haphazardly around the couches, tucked under or between round bronze tables that are set at the perfect height. Some are small, others larger, and a few hold a clear vase with a fresh assortment of plucked flowers. The tallest of the polished tables sit around the edges of the room, decorated with large glowbaskets to give the area a warm lighting. A larger dark mahogany table rests on the other side of the door, constantly being replenished with a platter of light snacks, a few sweet cookies, a large pitcher of klah and clean mugs. The rest of the room has large cushioned chairs, facing the left wall with a small fireplace that is only lit for the coldest of Istan days.
Xhaine is in love with the giant tapestry in this room, even though he can't fully appreciate it in all its wonders. He's currently sprawled on one of the couches, totally abusing it by not sitting in it properly. He's sitting with one leg over the back, one dangling off the side, and resting his head on the arm as he wastes his day away.
ryni enters quietly, somewhat distracted, certainly, a silly little grin on her face. Queen trills, announcing Shory's arrival for all to hear. Shory, meanwhile, seems to be dancing, her feet moving slowly but rhythmically across the floor.
Xhaine tilts his head back to see who's making that firelizard sound, his long(for a guy) black hair cascading down the arm as he does so. "Ah, back from your boob-flashing?" he asks her tauntingly by way of greeting. "Seems like you gave poor Baileigh an eyeful."
Shorynia stops suddenly, blushing quite a bit, "'Twasn't my fault. Ch'en tricked her, didn't tell us."
Xhaine chuckles in rich amusement. "Was that /all/ you were doing?" he asks her in an arch tone. "Or did Baileigh leave out some details from what she told me? Seems girl like her, she might've repressed some memories."
Shorynia smiles, still somewhat flushed, "Chaton's pants were still on, if that's what you mean… Good thing she didn't come too much later, though."
Xhaine laughs. "Well I'm not going to ask about any details, don't worry." with a sudden movement, he moves his leg off the back of the couch and swivels around to sit on the couch like a normal person. He pats the couch next to him, inviting her to sit next to him. "So is he someone you intend to handfast, or is this just a temporary fling?"
Shorynia chuckles, sitting next to him, "Handfast? Don't really believe in stuff like that. Not temporary, either." She grins softly, "Definitely not temporary. But just 'cause I go home to him at night doesn't mean I won't be with anyone else."
"Ah, good. Which means I don't have to avoid you from now on." Xhaine winks at her and 'oh so casually', which translates into 'blatantly' reaches an arm around her, resting it on the back of the couch. "That's no fun at all. I believe in free love."
Shorynia nods solemnly, "Just 'cause I love him with all my heart doesn't mean that sex with someone else is impossible. Honestly, I"m waiting to meet this Khaine and find out just how much you two have in common."
Izarra slips inside of the lounge, looking fretful. She spies Xhaine and looks a little releived, and a little more harried at the same time. Contradictory much? "T-the k-kitchenfolk s-said you'd most l-l-likely be in h-here causing t-trouble." she says, sliding up to him. She nods at Shorynia distractedly. "I n-need a f-favour." she says. "I'll t-trade y-you a b-bottle of w-wine if you help me."
"Hmmph. I don't cause trouble /all/ the time." Xhaine replies to Izarra, adopting an injured expression. "That's discrimination, I tell you! Discrimination! They're just jealous because I'm beautiful!" ok, enough of that. "What's this favor?" yay wine. "And he's currently at the Harper Hall right now, he'll be back soon."
Shorynia chuckles, "He'd better be." She looks up and smiles at Izzy, "What trouble are you into now? Smelling too many paint pots?"
Izarra frowns at Shorynia a little. "N-no. T-they d-don't smell g-good anyway." she turns to Xhaine. "I-it's p-personal."
"Oh? Is it a sort of thing you'd want to talk to me in my room?" Xhaine raises an eyebrow at Izarra, smirking faintly. "Apprentices aren't supposed to do that, however, more's the pity."
Shorynia chuckles, "So personal you can't tell me?" She sounds so innocent, too. How'd she manage that?
Izarra frowns. "D-don't b-be a p-perv." she tells Xhaine. "B-besides. I w-wouldn't p-procreate w-with the l-likes of y-you." she shakes her head. "I w-want y-you t-to give m-me a-advice on um… p-people…"
Xhaine slaps his forehead with his hand in calculated dismay at the girl's response. "Didn't I tell you the other day that there's a difference between being merely sexually active and a pervert? A pervert uses whips and chains and straps and things like that." he responds in a mock-rebuking tone. "What sort of people? Anyone in specific?"
Shorynia chuckles softly, "There's also a difference between sex and procreation. Procreation takes intent. All it takes is a little extra time /between/ to put a stop to that." She grins, "So don't let pregnancy scare you off of sex, kiddo."
Izarra flushes bright red. "I d-don't w-want sex. I w-want a d-date." she flushes even brighter and sits. "I n-need h-help."
"Well sure, I'll take you out on one!" Xhaine is deliberately being obtuse about this, and his following chuckle confirms it. "All right, who is it?" he asks her in amusement. "I can drop a few hints to whoever it is if you like."
Shorynia gives Izzy a fake glare, "If it's Chaton you oughtta as me, not him." Then she chuckles, "Well, c'mon girl, spit it out."
Izarra frowns and mumbles something under her breath. "I… I dunno. I k-kinda w-want to a-ask m-myself." she looks at Shory with a little fear in her eyes. "I d-dont w-w-want your m-mate."
Xhaine leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I wasn't going to ask /for/ you, of course. But if that person doesn't know you're interested, well, I can help with that. I know how to be subtle. What, you think I made it to Journeyman by just being able to pluck the strings on my gitar?"
Shorynia chuckles, "Wouldn't be nothin' wrong if ya did, so long as you didn't want him for good." She ponders for a moment, "I suppose you probably would, though, bein' so traditional and all." She smiles as nicely as she can, "And what he said, sometimes a little hint dropped in the right ear can make things a whole lot easier."
Izarra nods at Xhaine. "Y-yes. I d-do." she says, rolling her eyes. "W-well I'm n-not so t-traditional. I l-like h-her b-but I dunno h-how to t-tell h-her."
Enka is far from being a shadow on the wall here; nay, she's no wallflower here. But in comes the girl, her firelizard riding her shoulder like some small statuary gargoyle — though he's far from hideous after all — and what a conversation she's gone and walked into. "Ullo," comes the greeting from the gray-eyed girl, her gaze alighting on those assembled. "Shory! You're back, or else I never noticed you were gone. You know me, all those odd chores keeping me tucked away." a wry grin for Xhaine. "Nice t'see you again, Harper. Hope you survived the dancing with all those ladies." A brief glance back and forth, looking at each. "Not interrupting anything, am i?"
Aaaaaaaaah, so it's a /her/. Xhaine doesn't seem fazed by that either. "Well as luck would have it, I'm an expert at asking girls out." Xhaine winks and pats the couch on the other side of him. "Actually, come to think of it, I'm not all that picky. Male, female, whatever. I just like having a good time." smile. "So, who's the lucky lady, then?" at Enka's arrival, Xhaine looks to the left of him, where Shorynia's sitting, and at the right, which may or may not be filled in with Izarra, then smiles brightly at Enka and pats his lap. "I could have another go with you any time."
Izarra starts at Enka's entrance, a little yelp comming from her throat. She blurts: "I c-can g-go…" she looks afraid. "If y-you w-want. I d-don't w-want to i-interupt a-anything." he says to Enka.
Shorynia smiles softly, "Oh, a *her*." She turns as Enka enters and waves a hello, "'Tain't nothin' wrong with liking another lady."
"Oh really," Enka's words are punctuated by a giggle as she props her hands on her hips to regard the Harper Journeyman with an amused expression. "I'll just bet you could." Well, since the offer is so generously granted, what's a girl to do. A shrug of her shoulder sends bronze Barq fluttering upwards for a nearby perch as the girl plops herself down onto Xhaine's lap before turning to Izarra. "This have anything to do with someone I saw you dancing with the other day? Although it was only a glimpse, mind. I was fairly preouccupied myself." She grins, and reaches out to pat Xhaine's arm, if he'd let her.
Izarra frowns at Enka. "N-no. I-it's nothing." she mutters, sitting down on the floor. "I d-don't w-want to talk a-about it."
Xhaine lets her, naturally, and if /she/ lets him, he'll wrap his arms around her waist. "All right, spill the beans. You've told us this much, now just tell us who she is and I'll give you plenty of advice."
Shorynia smiles kindly, "It'll do you some good to get it off your chest, hun. We're all trustworthy sorts."
Enka is Weyr -bred and -raised through and through. Even a couple of Turns spent in a Hold aren't enough to ruffle her feathers, and get her all worked up about 'morals' and whatnot. Of course she'll let the Harper wrap his arms around her waist, after all, he's providing her seat. It's only fair, right? And the only one likely to object to the whole situation would be Jaeenka — her grandmother — who's nowhere in sight, nor likely to be anywhere in sight. "Why not tell us," she offers good-naturedly to Izarra. "Sometimes it helps to talk about things instead of keeping mum and brewing over thoughts in private."
Izarra frowns a little. "T-the girl I w-was d-dancing w-with. M-maby I t-think s-she's c-cute." she wimpers. "I l-like h-her, but I c-cant t-t-tell h-her."
Xhaine glances over at Shorynia, then cranes his head around to regard Enka. "And who is this? Do you know? I think I was a little busy at the time." Xhaine eyes Izarra. "And what is her name, or do you not know?" he asks patiently.
Shorynia smiles quietly, probably knowing full well who it is, being generally a good reader of people in all, instead she takes a sip of klah from a mug and nods, "Go on, Izzy. No need to be ashamed of it."
Izarra hms. "I w-won't s-say. Y-you can g-give me a-advice w-without knowing h-her n-name."
Enka twists her head slightly to regard the Harper — hopefully her braid doesn't hit him in the face when she does so — and grins widely. "Just before you drag… er, lead me off to the dancing floor, I saw …" she pauses, glances in Izarra's direction and nods. "Right, I think I know who it is, but I won't say anything." she giggles a bit, leaning back slightly against Xhaine. "You know, I really can't be too sure. I was rather distracted at the time." And such, for those who might be entering the lounge at the moment, the gray-eyed refugee, is seated in Xhaine's lap, while Shorynia sits beside them, and Izarra is somewhere around nearby.
Izarra frowns. "It's n-nobody y-you g-guys know. S-so just d-drop it and i-if y-your going to h-help, h-help." she huffs. "W-what do I d-do?"
Xhaine rolls his eyes slightly. "At least tell us what this mystery girl is like? It's difficult to give general advice on how to woo the woman of your dreams. There's stereotypes, of course. Candy, flowers, jewelry. But if the girl you like is a tomboy, well… that'd require a whole different approach."
Shorynia nods agreeing with Xhaine, "It *does* help to know at least a little something about the person in question, even if you're not comfortable telling us who it is."
"Fine," Enka gives a laconic shrug at Izarra's words, "It's nobody we know then, but we can't just tell you what to do." she offers a small reassuring smile. "Shory and Xhaine are right. We need to know at least a little something about this mysterious girl of yours. Because we can't just tell you the best way to sweep her off her feet without knowing something about her." she pauses, and shrugs again. "It's like if someone was trying to win my affection. They'd have to find the one thing that I really really like. Same thing applies here."
Izarra hms. "She's… l-like me. O-only… not. She's s-shorter, and s-she is s-shy and b-bashful. S-she…" she frowns. "Fine, i-its the s-short g-girl I was d-dancing w-with t-that has the c-crush on the h-head h-healer. M-mind h-healer. W-whatever."
In enters the Weyrwoman Ysa, and for once she has no papers! Nothing, whatsoever. Not even a sheet tucked into a pocket, if she had pockets. She's wearing loose skirts, loose blouse, and generally looking like she is on vacation herself. She's bringing in a tray of sticky rolls to set on the table up front, refreshing some of the food already there. "Did I miss the invitation to a party?" she asks as she looks around at the small crowd in the lounge.
Well. This is an interesting bit of conversation to drop in on. Hallac pauses at the entrance of the lounge, arms full of what appear to be maps, apparently intending on comparing the flat black and white papers to the tapestry judging by the flicker of his eyes that-a-way. "Er. Hi. Sorry," the seacrafter mumbles, eyeing Izarra thoughtfully before tipping an eyebrow up at Xhaine and Enka. Intriguing, and surely Shory was playing a roll in all this. "Just wanted to compare some stuff." The boy lowers his head in a polite nod towards Ysa, but otherwise manages to look uncomfortable and torn. "I can, yanno, go." He looks like he might anyways.
"The more the merrier!" is Xhaine's response to both newcomers, and Xhaine smiles equally at both. "Would you like a seat?" he asks, unwrapping one arm to pat the vacant spot next to him on one of the couches. This could be for either, of course. "Well if she's shy, how about a book or a recording of music? I think they have devices for that now." he suggests to Izarra, still not sure exactly -who- the girl is talking about. "Maybe something you record yourself?"
Izarra looks back at all of the people now in the room. "M-maby w-w-w-we should s-save this f-for l-later…" she says, glancing about, then looks shocked. "No. No, I s-sound h-horrible. C-can't s-sing and c-can't p-play w-well either."
Shorynia smiles, patting the chair next to her and indicating for Hallac to sit there. To Izzy she simply grins, "Yes, *her*. Paint her a picture, Izzy. Find out what she likes and paint a picture. I bet she'd love it." She's being very nice by not mentioning the girl's name outright, just for Izzy.
Enka's expression is somber now. "Oh," she remarks, seeming at a loss for words for a moment. "I see." Yeah, she really does see, given that she'd not quite made it out to the dance floor before seeing Izarra and the girl in question. She will of course play nice too, and refrain from mentioning the girl's name. "That sounds like a lovely idea, Shory." There's a glint of amusement in Enka's gray eyes right then. "Use the talents you have, Izarra. Make something really nice. Maybe Shory and I can arrange to get her into a place for a sitting without her even knowing." The tantalizing smell of sticky rolls is noted, and Enka seems to perk up excitedly from her perch on Xhaine's lap. "Sweets!" Ah, her notorious sweet tooth is starting to kick in. "Can I get up, Xhaine? I want some of those sticky rolls."
Ysa doesn't seem to find the conversation or people's positions troubling at all. It's Hallac that gets a very shocked wide-eyed look. "Ya didn't bring /work/ here, did ya lad?" Not that she hasn't been seen with paperwork in there before. "Sit down and relax a bit, it looks like ya need it lugging those heavy things around." She flicks her fingers to the maps before turning to the food, finding herself a clean mug to pour herself some klah before turning back to the comfort of the couches. The Harper seems to be her destination, giving him an apologetic grin. "Seems I just lost ya your lap warmer." She then turns to Enka, encouraging her with a, "/Really/ good sweets. Just out of the oven. Not going to last long."
Xhaine snickers and lets go of Enka. "Defeated by a pastry! Alas, whatever shall I do!" dramatically he places the back of his hand to his forehead and pretends to swoon. "At least bring me back one." he adds in a more normal tone of voice. "You can pay be back for all that wine of mine that you drank!"
"If you're sure." The corner of Hallac's mouth tilts up in a grateful smile for Xhaine, but he's more than happy to let Ysa take the seat next to the Harper. Juggling his maps and charts, the boy drops into the seat offered to him by Shorynia. "Thanks," he says with another crooked grin before blue eyes wide and stare up at the weyrwoman. "Uh, uhm, no? I'm planning a trip, wanted to compare stuff." His expression still turns sheepish, and he's quick to stash the maps beneath his seat. He'll be good and 'work' later. "Giving gifts?," he inquires, trying to keep it polite. "Bracelets are easy to weave, if you're good with your fingers," he offers by way of suggestion.
Xhaine suddenly notices something. "Oh… sorry, ladies, gentlemen, but I've got somewhere to be now." he tells all of them apologetically. "Gotta stuff info into the hard heads of the local weyrbrats." with a quick flash of teeth in the shape of a grin, he leaps to his feet and scampers off. In a /totally/ manly manner, naturally.
Alas, for poor Xhaine — when it comes to Enka's choice between a man and a pastry, the sweet sticky rolls are going to win every single time. Especially if they're fresh, and hot right out of the oven. She can't help but giggle as she wiggles off the Harper's lap and makes a bolt for the table. It's not quite a stampede, but clearly, the girl wants to get to the treats before they go cold, or are snatched up by anyone else. Helping herself rather shamelessly to a couple of sticky rolls, she also commandeers one for Xhaine and then maybe one or two more for good measure, she returns to the couch with a somewhat laden plate. "I didn't drink all the wine," she remarks. "That was Baileigh and the Weyrwoman." Ah, but who was keeper of the wine bottle at the time? Guilty as charged.
Izarra sighs. "It's n-not like I w-want to g-get in h-her p-pants. I j-just w-want a d-date or s-s-something." she looks at…. some guy with maps that she doesn't know. "I'm n-not g-good with s-string and t-things."
Shorynia smiles, "If you want to ask her to dinner, get to know her a bit and then ask her to dinner, just don't lie about your intents." She chuckles, "That's how Chaton wooed me. First guy to treat me like a lady."
Izarra frowns up at Shorynia. "S-she's g-gonna t-think I'm a c-creep. I k-know h-holdbred g-girls." she frowns and draws her knees up to her chin.
"Oh, well, a trip is definitely not work," says Ysa with a grin to Hallac as she watches the teen for a moment. "Might as well do what ya can here. Get out an' 'bout faster once ya got everything planned." Her attention is then taken by Xhaine instead, raising her brows up at his words. "'m the one to blame for that, no need to bug the gal. And the wine was very good." She winks to Enka as she returns but looks mildly disappointed when the Harper gets up to leave instead. She leans back on the couch now, lifting her feet up to a footrest and getting completely comfortable. Her green eyes scan Shorynia and Izarra, not joining that conversation just yet and listening instead.
Shorynia chuckles at Izzy, "Oh, Izzy, Izzy, Izzy. If you worry about that you'll never get a date with anyone, boy or girl. You two have plenty in common, just talk with her for a while and just let the question happen. It's not like you want to ask her back to your room for a good tumble. Trust me, that's a *lot* more awkward." She smiles at Ysa, gratefully grabbing a sweetroll as well, "So, did the paperwork survive my absence, Weyrwoman, or do I have my work cut out for me in the morning?"
Hallac tips his hand in a wave of farewell towards the fleeing Xhaine, mouth curling up lazily. "Talk softly and carry a big stick," comes a bit of sagely advice. He's teasing though… right? "Ah, alright. Didn't meant to, yanno, invade." The conversation between Izarra and Shory, of course. Sigh, so awkward. "It's… not, but it is?," Hallac says towards Ysa with a wince, hand tilting from side to side to illustrate his vascillation. "I mean. It'll be fun, but I'm taking two mites with me, and they like to cause trouble." Judging from his tone, that's an understatement, but what can you do. The Seacrafter eyes Enka's sweet rolls contemplatively, then glances back towards the table where she got them. Hmm, she had the right idea.
Izarra sighs. "S-so, w-what do I do w-when she tells me I'm i-insane?" she asks, frowning. She looks at Shorynia. "Y-you s-still offering t-to s-set up a l-lunch f-for me?"
"Love advice is always tough to give," Ysa says to the two girls, giving Izarra a sympathetic look. "Don't think that way, really. Doesn't matter who it is, never hurts to give it a try." She winks and then takes a long sip from her mug. "How old are ya, lad?" she asks Hallac, looking him up and down. "I wouldn't've considered someone your age to be worried 'bout trouble during their work… vacation… trip. Shells, make it a vacation even if it isn't!" Ysa, best role model ever.
Shorynia chuckles, "I *could* try, if you want. Might do her some good to stop oggling Chaton so much since I know she won't act on it." She blushes slightly, "And after what she saw 3 or 4 days ago… I'd bet you might take her mind off some things." Then she chuckles, "Relax, Hallac, enjoy life a bit."
Enka settles comfortably onto a couch, although not her previous perch atop Xhaine's lap — not with fresh warm sticky rolls from the ovens to occupy her now; although she's quick to share them with the Harper as promised before taking her seat. "Mmm," comes the gleeful sigh from the girl, as she takes a generous bite of the first sticky roll, and licks at the crumbs at the corner of her mouth. "These are good!" Thankfully, by the time she's said that, she's chewed and swallowed, and therefore not speaking with her mouth full. She turns a bit to regard Izarra, but says nothing, not with Shorynia taking things so carefully in hand. On second thought … "I'd be willing to do my part too." she suggests. "Gettin' something set up if you want it."
Ysa turns to Shorynia as well, giving the young girl a wink and answering her about the paperwork. "We survived. Have some more hired help here and there, really, so ya don't have to be worried 'bout it. In fact, might loosen your load as well, especially if that gal ya offered up continues help as well."
Izarra blinks. "What d-did he s-see?" she asks, then shruggs. "W-will you guys?" she asks, looking between Shorynia and Enka. "I w-would a-appreciate i-it."
Hallac's had his dip into that conversation and came up dry, so he doesn't try his hand again. Instead, he aims a lopsided smile towards the girl that he hopes is somewhat comforting. "I'm sixteen, ma'am," Hal says, coloring under the woman's scrutiny, suddenly off-kilter again. "You haven't met my siblings, then, or you'd be worried too. My sister thinks she's a pirate queen." The roll of his eyes isn't quite sincere - he probably used to be the king back before he grew up /sooo/ many turns ago. "And the other one's not any better, and a foster kid to boot. I'll try to relax, Shory, but I make no promises." He seems to have settled down again, head angling to one side as he glances between each of the girls. "If I can help, let me know."
Shorynia smiles and chuckles, still blushing fairly deeply, "She… sort of walked in on Chaton and I… not quite having sex, but close enough to embarrass her quite thoroughly." She nods to Izzy, "Of course I'll help. So long as you promise to tell her the truth if she asks." Her attention turns back to Hallac, her eyes narrowing somewhat, "You look a little familiar… do you have a brother with a penchant for wearing man-skirts?"
Izarra nods at Shorynia. "I will. I'll tell her."
"Sure thing," Enka's got that confident tone of voice again — the same one used just the other night when talking about catching wherries only to make them stark raving drunk on the cheapest swill possible and then painting them the colors of the Weyr, something that might only serve to fluster said avians even farther — because she's a Weyrbrat deep down in her skin. How could she not fail? "I'd be more than happy to help out. It's not too difficult, I'd think." A pause then, as Enka makes the second sticky roll a thing of the past, gone to join it's pastry brethren in … well, a place dear to Enka's heart, particularly when it comes to things such as sweets. A sideways glance is turned towards Hallac, brows quirked in anticipation of his answer. "A man-skirt. That'd be right interesting."
Ysa can't help the snort as Shorynia explains what was seen. "Well… A vacation's supposed to be in a secret place. At least the two of ya were lucky 'nough not to be— ah, nevermind," she quickly says, shaking her head and taking another big gulp of cold klah. "It looks like you've got lots of help here in pursuing this romance, Harper." She grins towards those around her, bobbing her head at Enka. This Weyrwoman hasn't forgotten about the idea of drunk orange and black wherries, either. It's while she's taking another sip of klah that she nearly chokes on her drunk, coughing a moment and then glancing at Hallac. "A man-skirt? This is something 'm not quite familiar with. Enlighten us."
Hallac's eyebrows are initially raised high with that information from Shorynia, a little smile tweaking the edge of his lip, though he's visibly trying to hold it back. She might as well have taken an eraser to a whiteboard, though, with that question. "Oh. Him," the boy grumbles, shoving his hair back out of his face with a eyeroll that he totally means this time. "Yeah, that'd be my brother. He does crazy shit like that all the time when he's drunk." Insert aggreived sigh here. "I don't know the first thing about a man-skirt, but it definitely sounds like something Sigam would do. You met him I take it?" He grins lopsidedly for Shorynia, obviously pitying her before his gaze slides towards Ysa. "As a matter of interest, you probably did too." Sigh.
Shorynia chuckles, "Yeah, Sigam, that's it. He was in our cells several months back, said he'd been drunk in a kilt." she ponders for a moment, "He was kind of cute, you know… I always meant to get in touch with him after they were released…"
There's a steady tap-tap-tap, rythmic in sound from outside the open door. For the keen of hearing, a soft plop migh be heard through the gaps in conversation, but almost everyone hears the Skeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sound of leather sliding across the floor. A leather healer's bag slides into the room, and the tapping resumes, quicker, and getting fainter untill it ceases all together. There's a note tied to the handle of the leather bag. The note is plain, and easily readable by anyone with good eyesight, and the correct angle. "NB 11, PG 42." If one were to open the bag, they would find the usual healer things, plus some oddities like rubber ducks, and a lot of dominoes in a leather pouch.
Enka is quick to polish off another sticky roll in the interval of Hallac's explanation. By now, the plate that the girl has balanced in her lap is looking decidedly … well, empty, with only a few crumbs left on it to ever tell the tale of the once yummy sticky rolls. Brushing crumbs from her lap, the gray-eyed girl looks thoughtful for a moment, and then confused. "What's a man-skirt anyway? Skirts I understand, but what's the difference between a regular old skirt, and a man-skirt?" Clearly, if one /has/ to ask … Enka turns her head slightly, head tilted now at the sound of the tap-tap-tap. "Hear that?" she inquires, and then at the screeching sort of sound of leather across floor, she leans forward off the couch. "Hey, who's bag is that?"
Izarra turns her head at the noise, shrugging at Enka. "I d-dont k-kno-" she yelps as she has to stand up quickly to avoid being attacked by a flying bag. She flushes, stepping back well away from it in case it's harboring tunnel snakes or something like that. "W-where did t-that come f-from?"
Ysa listens to the two of them talking about this man in a man-skirt, shaking her head slowly in confusion. "Me? Met him? Trust me, I wouldn't forget ever meeting a drunk man in a man-skirt, and I don't quite remember this one." She frowns a bit in though, lifting up one shoulder in defeat. "I don't think I went down to the cells… ever." She'll blame it on too long of a walk, most likely. "Probably just a skirt on a man," she answers Enka with a little snicker she hides in her mug, taking another sip and making a face this time at the cold drink. Her attention is caught by the bag, brows raised curiously but doesn't comment aloud.
Shorynia eyes the bag, the talk of man-skirts momentarily forgotten. She stands carefully, "I think there's something special about it… said it was an old earth thing…" She leans down, examines the note, all gibberish to her, then flips the bag open, "Well… this is Chaton's bag… and that was Chaton's cane, so…"
"Yeaaaah," Hallac drawls, hands clasping in front of him, elbows resting on his knees, "I know about the whole jail thing. That was fun, watching him try to explain why he wasn't going meet up with us like he said." The boys smile turns pessimistic, eyes rolling yet again. "And here I thought I was free from 'your brother's cute, can you pass him a message' things when he moved to Ierne. Shall I tell him you asked?" Just then, the bag squeaks into the room. The Seacrafter frowns, head tilting, but can't seem to find the point in repeating Izarra's question. Shorynia was on it anyways. Tearing his eyes away, he looks to the goldrider. "He wouldn't've been drunk in a skirt then. I hope. He said it was for political reasons, not public indecency. Ah well, suppose that's just as well." He nods absently towards Enka. "Yeah, the man-skirt's likely a kilt. Sig's got enough weird friends in Xanadu that he'd be able to get ahold of one."
Enka leans back against the couch, the plate of vanished sticky rolls slipping onto the cushion beside her before she regards Ysa for a moment, and then a grateful grin of relief is flashed in Hallac's direction. "Oh, a kilt. One of /those/ things." So that's what a man-skirt is, as opposed to just a guy wearing a skirt. Gotcha. She's up a moment later, moving for the table to pour herself some klah at long last. Gotta wash down the sweets after all. "Anyone want anything while I'm up?" comes the offer from the girl. No point in everyone moving around, right? Glancing back over her shoulder, Enka regards Shorynia for a moment. "Chaton's cane and Chaton's bag. Means Chaton's nearby, right? Why ever wouldn't he have come in? Or is it that he wants you to go out to wherever he is?"
Ysa drops her legs down from their comfortably perch, sitting on the edge of her seat now as she gives the bag a very suspicious look.. She looks from it, to Shorynia, now that she's figuring out what's up with it. "Hmm?" comes from the goldrider as she glances back towards Hallac, brows raised up. "We've had quite a bit worse 'round the Weyr than men in skirts. Have ya been to the beach during the summer? The amount of streaking that goes on down there!" Herself included, most likely. She chuckles and shakes her head. "Political, yes. 'Nough to give ya a headache really." She heaves a big weary sigh at that and finally gets up, staring at the inside of her mug. "I think I might go look for some real klah now."
Izarra sighs. "I n-need t-to g-go. I… I- have to f-figure o-out w-what I'm going to s-say at this d-dinner." she nods, and smiles. "N-night. G-good luck w-with the b-bag t-thing." she says, exiting.
Shorynia chuckles at Hallac and shakes her head, "I could send him a message by flit if I really wanted to. Queen and Tipsy both met him." She smiles, "Don't look so down, you're not exactly ugly yourself." She shrugs at Enka, digging through the bag slightly before re-examining the note, "I think it's a message…" She taps her chin, "page 42… but which book… book 11? Of how many…" She's focused on her pondering now. Poor girl. A tear enters her eyes, then another, "I… I need to find him…" And she's gone, bag in hand as well and out the door.
"Fresh klah sounds good," Enka remarks, peering at the offerings on the table. Alas, those sticky rolls are all gone. Somehow, they never seem to last long, desserts don't. "What's over here on the table doesn't look very promising." Ahem, yeah. She frowns, a little moue of an expression that quickly clears as she casts a sympathetic glance at Shorynia. "Hope you find what you're looking for!" she calls out to the retreating back of the other girl. "Good luck!" Ayup, that's Enka, all sunshine and light right now. Why not, after all, she's gone and made a pig of herself on the sticky rolls, sugar always makes anyone feel good.
Hallac nods towards Enka, appearing even less impressed than she about the man-skirt thing. "Yes, one of those." He seems to consider her offer, again eyeing the sweets only to shake his head. "Nah, I'd better not. Supposed to hook up with the folks for a meal soon. Speaking of-" He pauses, caught up by Ysa's words, a crooked smile worming onto his face. "Oh, I wasn't talking about the lack of clothes. Only way Sig would wear that is drunk and… Well, you don't want to see him /that/ plastered. It's criminal." The boy winks, a gesture he obviously learned from said older sibling. "Don't go getting a headache, now. I've gotta go meet up with my parents - I'll walk with you to the kitchens if you'd like." He's already bending over and digging for his maps, regardless. "I'll come back and finish this later." The Seacrafter waves for the departing Izarra and Shorynia, head shaking for that bag, before giving Enka a smile. "See you around, yeah?"
Ysa watches Shorynia with growing concern, looking as if she were going to call out to the girl but instead she runs out. Sighing, she shakes her head slowly and turns to those still in the lounge. "I'll send some warm klah with a drudge," she tells Enka with a smile and then nods to Hallac. "Sure, lad. It isn't that long of a journey." But hey, company is company, and the Weyrwoman leaves the room with the seacrafter, giving Enka a parting wave.
Enka pokes around at the various plates and cups and mugs on the table, before wrinkling her nose in dismay. "The kitchens sounds like a good place to go," she remarks to Hallac. Well of course! That's where you get food. But when Ysa's offer is made, the girl smiles wryly at the Seacrafter. "Guess if there's a drudge coming with a fresh pot of warm klah, I might as well stay here. It's nice and cozy, and quiet now." she remarks cheerfully. "See you around though. If you need to go somewhere, don't let me keep you."
"Yeah, especially when you're dad's friends with one of the cooks," Hallac notes with a grin over his shoulder for the girl. "Good point, though. Wouldn't be a bad time to take a nap." Hal nods to Ysa then and makes to follow her out. "Yeah, it's not far, but if we're headed in the same place…" He shrugs and turns his own smile back to Enka. "Don't worry, you're not keeping me!" And by that, he means he's leaving, tossing a quick wave with the hand least cluttered with papers before he disappears around the corner. "Bye!"
