Ista Weyr - Main Beach
The famous black sands of Ista spread out about the great cove upon which the weyr has been built, gleaming under the rays of both sun and moon, like diamonds in their own pristine beauty. Caught between the brilliance of the lush and verdant greens of the forest, and the crystalline blues of the shallows, gradually deepening their color into the wide ocean, the beach is nothing short of striking. The heat of Rukbat reaches into these sands by day, forever blazing underfoot, although the water remains cool and refreshing, never quite reaching the point of being tepid. Off to one side, spilling down from the plateau, a small waterfall empties into a catching pool that runs off to the sea through a furrow of dark sand and pebbles.
It's a beautiful clear night at Ista, the sun having set only an hour or so ago, leaving a swath of stars in the darkness of the sky above. The moon has risen, it's reflection cast in a rippling wave over the sea. The water licks against the black sand beach, calm and serene. Two figures can be seen, walking shoulder to shoulder along the shore, their murmured conversation quietly intimate. Of equal height and similar age, one might be recognized as P'rel, rider of bronze Malphath, with his facial piercings and braid of midnight blue in his sun-touched blond hair. The bronzerider is only wearing a pair of black swim trunks with two red stripes down the legs, hung low off narrow hips.
The quite splooshing of footsteps in the shallows where the waves meet the sand has Jaylen splooshing along lightly in her nightly stroll, a small green firelizardlet curled up in the crook of one arm. Spotting the pair of figures also strolling, she squints her eyes a little trying to see if they might be anyone she recognizes. The facially pierced one is vaguely recognized from some times in the living cavern, but no one she really knows well so she merely pauses in her trek to plop down in the dry part of the sand just out of reach of the water. Hopefully they're not headed her way, or if they are, hopefully they are paying attention sp as not to step on the young lady.
I'srie walks beside P'rel, their similar heights making their strides match nearly perfectly as they wander, the bluerider's shoulder just barely brushing his weyrmate's as he mumbles something or other about spiderclaws and shellfish. A head-jerk out to see and Iess adds quietly, "My brothers and I used to go diving for all sorts of crap off Breakwater's harbor. We should check out the islands, see if there's anything worthwhile over there. I heard the weyrleaders talking the other day, about some shipwreck they ought to get sorted sometime, over where they took the candidates to gather plants." The bluerider is clad also in swim trunks, his dark blue with gray striping down the sides, and a black drawstring. The leather sandals he wears do little to prevent waves from washing over his feet, black sand clinging as far up as his ankles, though for the time being he doesn't seem to mind. The only other thing he wears is a silver chain around his neck, with a rectangular charm. It glints in the light of moon and various bonfires people may have started for whatever beach gatherings they have going. Pondwater eyes flick to those briefly, but his attention is mostly on P'rel, thumbs tucking into his waistband as he adopts a sort of walking slouch. And luckily, Iess is paying attention, and nudges Py beachwards with one bare shoulder, the bluerider jerking his head in absent greeting to Jaylen, "Hey," as their path does indeed have them approaching her.
The bronzerider's rare golden eyes flick out towards the water as I'srie gestures to it with the jerk of his head, nodding to what the older boy says, his own arms relaxed at his sides. There doesn't seem to be any issue with the dark haired boy's naked shoulder brushing against his own, a notable lack of tension in P'rel. It might be the pleasantness of the warm tropical evening, or maybe even just the proximity of the boy beside him that eases the blond's mood. "Shipwreck?" he inquires after, gaze wandering back to his weyrmate as brows lift upwards together with obvious interest. "We should do that next time we both got a day off the same time, man. For reals." It's the shoulder nudge that alerts Py to Jaylen sitting there in their path, pausing a second before redirecting his feet around her rather then something that would take him through here. It is impolite to walk over people. A flicker of recognition for the girl, probably remembering her from that night in the living caverns. "Hey." he murmurs, quieter than the bluerider.
Shipwreck? Probably not her shipwreck though. If Jaylen actually heard any of the mumbles, that would be the part that has her eavesdropping a little harder on the pair of riders, even if she knows better than to eavesdrop. The young lady runs a finger lightly over algae green hide, listening to the waves and the mumbles and the various other beachey sounds. At the absent greeting, she bows her head respectfully and even kinda scoots out of the way, maybe a little, with her own quiet greeting to the pair, "Ev'nin." After a moment of considering. "Shipwreck?" Her voice is quiet and polite with the question, even if the riders' conversation is really none of her business.
THere is a flick of a glance back to the bronzerider, hesitant almost, when the younger boy mentions checking out the shipwreck, the briefest apologetic look half-making it across I'srie's expression, as if having caught himself from saying something. And then it's gone, fleeting as the ocean breeze which wafts along the scent of grilled wherry from somewhere up the beach. Smells like somebody's having a cookout tonight. Lips part, and Iess pauses a second as both Py and Jaylen's question about the shipwreck, before he lifts his shoulders in an absent-almost shrug, "Yeah, some ship is apparently sitting right in the middle of the jungle, can you believe that? And it's nowhere near the ocean. Cenlia said it looked like it got dropped there turns ago, with trees and shit growing in it." He doesn't elaborate, though, just shaking his head at even the thought of that kind of story. But then, this is Ista. All /sorts/ of crazy tales fly around the island, some to scare the tourists, some to scare the weyrbrats. And who knows how much of any of them is true. The bluerider slows, maybe out of politeness, maybe to avoid walking over Jay too, the back of his hand brushing P'rel's as his pace decreases, the older boy muttering, "If you ask me, I think she was full of it," so much respect he has for the senior weyrwoman, tsk, "Was probably drunk and imagined the whole thing."
For that half-apologetic look, P'rel just so happens to look back at the other boy in time to catch it and this sends his pierced brow shooting upwards questioningly. "What?" he asks, now eying the bluerider dubiously and perhaps even a bit suspiciously. Whatever he might suspect that look was all about, he keeps to himself. However, the smell of roasted wherry drifting in from somewhere totally has Py distracted, and it would be hard to miss considering he lets his nose carrying him a few steps away from his precious weyrmate seconds after the older boy's hand brushes his own, eliciting a shiver. A few sniffs and then a definite growl from his belly. Also hard to miss. It's pretty darn loud. "Ah, man. Someone's cookin' wherry." The boy is practically drooling now, and a frown has drawn down the corners of his lips. Perhaps even pondering heading off to find the smell's source and fall upon it, devouring whole like some savage beast. Py certainly did have the growly thing down, as he indeed makes that exact sound and forces himself back to I'srie's side instead. "I gutta eat soon or I'm gunna die." he grumbles under his breath, certainly not looking like he was wasting away there with all that perfectly lean muscle to him, definition to his abdomen and chest. Didn't mean the boy wasn't ravenous. He returns to the conversation about the time that Iess starts to call Cenlia a fibber and a drunk. "Dun think so. She drinks a lot but she ain't the kind to make shit up…" he idly tacks on there.
Jaylen ohs quietly, definitely not her shipwreck then. But it could be interesting nonetheless, she'll file it away for later contemplation. She frowns slightly as the scent of grilling wherry reaches her nostrils, and probably the little green's, who decides that now is the time to wake up, and she's hungry! "Figures, y'sleep through ev'rythin else but at first sniff of food y'wake up." The girl is mumbling now to the algae-ball of a firelizard rousing on her arm. Well, at least her greenthing isn't the only one who is ravenous. As for the drunkenness of the weyrwoman, the girl has no comment, she's come to enjoy the drink too. "Could be from the ancients." Not that she knows much of anything about them, but it could be possible she think.
At that 'What?' from P'rel, I'srie turns an entirely blank and attempted-innocent (not) look upon the bronzerider, echoing his own, "What?" in response, and then quickly clearing his throat. Glancing away, he continues to lightly shoulder-nudge the other boy beachward. Oh look, there's a wherry cookout to serve as perfect distraction! Py's growling stomach is given a flick of a glance, amusement twitching the corners of Iess' lips upward, slight smirk evident before the bluerider suggests, "We should see if we can grab something. Looks like a lot of meat over there," pondwater-blue eyes peering off down the beach toward the nearest bonfire. "Wouldn't want you dying from hunger before-" he starts to say wryly, before turning a little red and lamely mumbling something about a haircut. Jaylen's firelizard is then given a curious look, possibly as much to avoid looking at P'rel as anything, "You should probably feed her before she starts creeling," the bluerider nodding toward the bonfire and the gathering people, "Come on." As for the shipwreck, I'srie shrugs again, muttering an absent, "If you say so, man," in response to Py's comment on the weyrwoman, then glancing briefly back to Jaylen, "She made it sound like a normal ship, the kind we have nowadays, but who knows. I still don't believe there's anything out there except trees and tunnelsnakes." And as he steps toward the food and flames, his hand once again brushes Py's, fingers ever so idly curling and catching the other boy's hand as he tugs him that way. Maybe his own stomach is complaining - it's been awhile since lunch.. or was that breakfast?
There's a soft snort from the bronzerider when I'srie feigns innocence, nudging the boy's shoulder with his own, but letting it go. If it was at all important no doubt it would be discussed later, otherwise it might as well be forgotten. As for food, well, that was way more promising and so P'rel all but lights up at the suggestion of going and grabbing a bite. "I'll fight 'em for it if I have to." It was probably meant as a joke, but there was just something about the bronzerider that said if he had to he would fight to the death over a scrap of meat if he was hungry enough. At mention of the haircut though, golden eyes soften and for a moment it might seem that he was about to reach out and touch the dark hair brushing his weyrmate's shoulders before Jaylen's talk of shipwrecks and ancients reminds him where they are. The girl's firelizard is completely ignored, likely due to having more than a few himself. Or perhaps he just didn't like them. Who knows. "Ya know we could go take a look, see if there's any truth in the rumor." he mentions idly, with a shrug of one broad shoulder. "Just sayin', man." Though about then I'srie is moving towards one of the bon fires where the smell of roasting meat is coming from, the touch of fingers to hand not missed. When it becomes more than this, there is no hesitation, Py interlaces slender fingers with that of his weyrmates and allows himself to be tugged off towards food and fire, even giving that hand a squeeze as he falls very quiet.
Jaylen watches the two men walk off, though she doesn't immediately get to her feet. The green's not completely roused just yet, maybe she'll just forget about it and go back to sleep…or not! Algae starts to fuss, quietly at first, but the volume is growing quickly. "Shh.." The girl urges, finally getting to her feet to wander the direction the pair of riders went, a safe distance behind.
Iess totally ignores any bronzerider snorts, though he does twitch a smile at the idea of Py fighting for the meats. "Doubt it will come to that," is commented dryly, but not without some amusement for his weyrmate. As for checking out the shipwreck, I'srie nods, "I was thinking of doing that, maybe see if S'gam really is going to send out some search and rescue riders to check out the island. Some of the guys were saying that the renegades that escaped from here turns back might be hiding out there. Still think they're full of it, but," shoulders jerk upward in a brief shrug, "it's better than listening to the aunties and their crazy-ass stories." Or maybe weyrwomen and their crazy stories. And there might be a return tightening of his fingers around the bronzerider's, but there's soon the dilemma of actually grabbing plates and snagging some wherry for themselves. It takes two hands, alas, or some really creative teeth-finger action. Iess opts to not attempt the latter, and loosens his grip, sparing a glance behind them to Jaylen, "Want us to grab you something?" It's nearly a full-blown beach party around that bonfire by now, with people just wandering by and snagging something off the spit. Someone's brought out a crate to serve as a table for clean plates and multiple bottles of alcohol. There's even a drum circle getting going.
"Aw, that's no fun." P'rel all but pouts that any potential brawling was unlikely to happen, which he might be half serious about. The bronzerider nods at mention of investigating the shipwreck, considering what his weyrmate says about speaking to S'gam. "One of us can bring it up with him next time we see him I guess. Not like we dun see the dude every day at some point passin' in our paperwork." As I'srie brings up renegades, the younger boy falls silent, lips moistened and gaze adverted. He might of had something to say about that, but perhaps thinks better of it in mixed company. Even if Jaylen is walking a distance behind them, he's probably aware that she is in fact still there. "I never pay much attention to gossip, dude. But hey, if S'gam was already talkin' about sendin' search and rescue out there, must be somethin' to it." The hand holding wa brief, and Py seems to regret the loss of holdbred fingers interlaced with his own, but he doesn't complain when I'srie lets go and picks up a plate. There is only a glance the older boy's way and a lowering of lashes before he too reaches out and takes up a plate. The alcohol is eyed, considered, and then a bottle of rum snagged before the bronzerider makes off towards the spit and leaves the more chivalrous of the two of them to see to Jaylen. Py seemed to have zero interest in the poor girl, all of it reserved for the bluerider and the savory meats roasting over open flame.
Jaylen shakes her head to the question, "I'll get it, thanks. Guess we jus' grab, huh?" She usually avoids the bigger crowds, but if she can sorta hide behind the pair of riders, maybe she'll be alright. Of course, once she gets closer and sees the bottles of alcohol, she grins a little. But, first, the little firelizard who has become quite fussy, so the girl puts some meat on a plate and tears it into little lizardbite size pieces. She's quick as she feeds the bits to the young lizard, trying to keep her fingers in one piece for the most part, this green will bite the hand that feeds her. The mention of renegades causes a chill through her body and a churning in her stomach, though she's not completely sure why. If she was considering some of the meat for herself, she decides against it as her hunger all but ceases. "There's renegades 'round here?" And here she's been all over the place exploring by herself. The alcohol, again, is considered, but instead of a full bottle, she behaves and only pours herself some into a cup. Then she follows the two men like some sort of shadow.
At the pout, there's the very slightest twitch of a smile for the bronzerider, I'srie telling P'rel, "Grab some ribs, and I'll wrestle you for them when we get home," with an utterly straight face, and the barest trace of mirth in pondwater-blue eyes. He might even be serious there. Ahem. There's a further nod about S'gam, and then a pause, Iess considering, "Might have been Cenlia who was planning it, but she gave him his knot back, and the weyrleader's supposed to organize that shit." As if that's ever stopped Ista's weyrwoman before. If he notices Py's silence at the mention of renegades, there's no indication, though Iess does shrug absently at Jaylen's question, "Turns ago," gaze flicking toward the ocean briefly, "I heard they captures some big renegade leader or something, but his buddies broke him out and killed a bunch of people when they escaped. Stole a ship and just sailed off," the soft snort indicative of maybe some skepticism there, possibly just a lack of being impressed by Ista's guards. Either way, he makes no outright comment, at least not regarding the weyr's security, instead muttering, "Don't know why they didn't just drop him between." There's a darker edge to his voice, the bluerider falling silent as he gets his own plate and some pieces of sliced meat, heavily seasoned and a touch spicy, but still probably more than decent for beach-cooked food. A brow is arched for Py's snagging of some rum, but Iess says nothing of it, wandering along between the other two, and gingerly picking at the still-steaming food with slender fingers.
Yeah, at that comment about ribs and wrestling, P'rel totally stops piling his plate with meat and just stares at I'srie. If the bluerider hadn't caught that, the younger of the pair totally had. His cheeks, lightly tanned, now flushing a healthy shade of rose before he blinks a couple of times and then looks away quickly. "Okay." Certainly wasn't hard to convince him, now was it? And what does the bronzerider pile onto his plate next, but some ribs. Food acquired, he moves to some of the seating that has been put out and lowers himself carefully down, a bit of a twitch as his backside hits the surface but eases into a somewhat comfortable position. "Sounds like her." he murmurs about Cenlia, probably knowing her better than S'gam even if he worked directly for the man. Rumors abound though about the time that the blond spent with the weyrwoman when he and she were able, apparently friends. Others speculate more than, but who knows. "Should of just executed him and be done with it. Renegades ain't worth nothin' as prisoners. Vermin if ya ask me." he mutters before grabbing a roasted drumstick and biting into it, tearing the flesh from the bone. Py was a carnivore, through and through. No doubt about it. Knowing his weyrmate, the boy had snagged a napkin as well, and uses it to wipe his face after settling his plate on his lap. This done, he takes a swig of rum directly from the bottle before offering it to Iess, brows lifting.
Jaylen isn't far behind the two riders, but she doesn't move to sit by them, she sits off by herself. Just her and her green, though of course they remain in the relative safety of the bonfire. She does watch the two men for a moment at the mention of ribs and wrestling, but she shrugs, it went over her head or something. The algae-ball of a firelizard is finally satiated and the girl takes a sip from her booze glass, maybe she should have grabbed a bottle, would have made it easier when it comes time for a refill. Brown eyes scan the beach partygoers, and she just watches the various activities quietly for the moment.
I'srie is being stared at, which has the bluerider pausing in momentary confusion before what he said has a chance to hit him. And then he turns slightly pink as well, though possibly not quite for the reasons one might expect, gaze flicking left and right, as if sudden onset of paranoia were called for. But it doesn't last, the bluerider saying nothing, but absently brushing Py's elbow with his own as he wanders after the bronzerider. There's just going to be some blushing, vaguely awkward silence for a few seconds. Oh, and he definitely notices the addition of ribs, quietly clearing his throat and managing to look vaguely sheepish. He makes no further comment about the weyrwoman, maybe having forgotten the topic altogether as he heads for a seat, though he'll nod agreement about the renegades, no arguments from him there. It's his weyrmate he's watching, however, lashes lowering as P'rel takes a seat, the bluerider glancing back toward the weyr with a muttered, "We should head in, maybe, I still have some.. stuff for you." A pause, and a glance at Jaylen, before Iess jerks his head in a nod to the girl, "I'm I'srie by the way. Tscyleth's rider. He's P'rel," as the older boy begins heading off down the beach, "Later," nodding to the girl before giving Py a glance and indicating for him to follow with a jerk of his head.
And, they are leaving? Apparently so. P'rel was just starting to relax and enjoy his plate of meat when I'srie suddenly stands up and is headed up the beach again. A few wide eyed blinks and the blond of the pair is on his feet again, and perhaps contemplates leaving the meat and rum but then again. Cough. He'll just take those too. "Nice seein' ya again, or whatever." he mutters in passing to Jaylen before plate, bronzerider, booze and all are hurrying to catch up to his weyrmate.
Jaylen blinks out of whatever revery she happened to be in, "Jay. No title in particular." She watches the pair a moment before adding, "Well met and have a nice night."
