Who

D'ean, Divale, Selaine

What

Divale comes across yet another Southern rider and Selaine joins their discussion after recognizing both of them…

When

It is sunset of the first day of the eighth month of the ninth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Dustbowl Cantina, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 04 Dec 2016 05:00

 

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Dustbowl Cantina

To enter the Dustbowl Cantina is to descend: the heart of the ancient tavern lies half underground, at the foot of ancient steps, insulated from summer heat and winter cold by the volcanic rock surrounding it. A windowless place well-lit by glows, it is homey, even cozy, with a certain bijou charm - but for the deep gouges worn in wooden table and solid stone, some clearly lingering evidence of boisterous brawling. The wall behind the well-polished bar, though, remains free from scars or graffiti, as does the door into the small kitchen, and the stairwell up into the owner's quarters: the barkeep and his staff reign, and they guard their territory well. After all, only a fool angers the source of the booze.


D'ean has wandered his way into the Dustbowl Cantina from the bazaar outside. His riding jacket hangs on his shoulders, open so that the heat doesn't suffocate him. Under the leather jacket he has a thin blue cotton shirt that's open at the collar. Pants and boots look a bit warm for the local weather, but he seems to be handling it well enough. The man is at the bar, paying the tender for a tall mug of beer that's just been poured. It's still early enough in the day that the venue hasn't filled up too much yet, with plenty of open tables and room at the bar. He's quietly conversing with the fellow as he slides the marks over to pay for his drink, asking about the upcoming races over at the track.

At least he chose the Cantina to hunker down in and not push his luck in the heat outside? Divale doesn't usually frequent this place but tonight has her joining a few of her fellow Wingmates for a least one round of drinks. She's still dressed in most of her gear, though her jacket has long been slung over the back of a chair while she casually passes the time. Eventually the group she's with move on and, not in any hurry to leave herself, will move towards the bar after gathering her jacket and just as D'ean is paying for his drink. Their discussion of racing doesn't interest her, but the knot and the colors of it DO and she barely manages to hold back the amused scoff. Seriously? "Evening," she murmurs with the vaguest of smirks. "Long way from home, aren't you?"

D'ean turns a friendly smile to Divale, "I am." The man agrees, glancing over the younger woman briefly. "That's not going to be a problem, is it?" He asks lightly, lifting his beer to have a sip of the refreshment. "I'm really enjoying the heat and sunlight here. It's pretty rainy back south." Since the rider's attention has wandered, the bartender will get back to wiping down some shelves along the back counter.

"Oh no," Divale muses dryly, "Not a problem at all." Setting her empty drink on the bar top, she'll signal the bartender for a refill when he looks their way again. Then she focuses back on D'ean, giving him a curious look over while at it. "I'm just amused because you're the second Southern rider I've crossed paths with in the last few days with the very same excuse. Is it really that miserable right now, weather wise?"

"Oh, really?" D'ean asks, laughing aloud. "That's great. And yes, it's pretty miserable right now. Non-stop rain, and cold. I promised my dragon we'd come here so he could soak up some sunshine. Who was the rider you bumped into?" He questions, setting his mug down despite only a few small sips. No refills in his future, he's going to make that one last.

Divale is distracted again as her drink arrives and she pays for it, murmuring a quick thanks to the bartender as she takes the mug in hand. Glancing up at D'ean again, that strange, vague smirk is still in place though her eyes are bright with amusement. "Xia," she answers without hesitation. "See and I told her too that I'd been meaning to visit Southern," And she did, briefly but she's not about to tell D'ean what went down then. "Apparently now is not the best time? Pity. I'm Divale, by the way." She'll offer her hand. "Brown Lukoith's rider." The two are both by the bar with drinks in hand and the cantina is still on the slower side as far as business goes, though evening is fast approaching.

D'ean grins, "Oh, Xia! Her and I were wingmates until recently. She's a lot of fun." He says cheerfully, then reaches to shake Divale's hand. "D'ean, blue Ozzeth's." He shares and then is shaking his head, brown curls bouncing a bit with the movement, "No, now is probably one of the worst times to visit. Not that there aren't some nice days mixed in, but I'd wait, personally. Was there anything specifically you were looking to see down there?"

After a long day of standing guard by the Star Stones, Selaine's finally been relieved so that she can go take a break. And the first stop she makes? The Cantina for a nice glass (or two) of wine. The greenrider's entrance to the place is a rather quiet one, not the type to really stand out. She makes a beeline for the bar, where she places an order for her typical glass of wine before taking a customary glance around the place. A face she happens to recognize stands nearby, though she can't put a name to it. Probably because she never received it to begin with. She does that thing with her face when you sort of recognize them but don't, index finger tapping at her lips while brows knit together. The one standing beside him, she does recognize as a recently graduated weyrling, though the name also escapes her. A glance for the pair before her attention goes to that glass of wine that's just been handed to her. Marks are given in exchange.

Thankfully Divale is very good at keeping her expressions in check or she might've grinned more than she wanted to when D'ean goes on to say how 'fun' Xia is. "That she is," she agrees with only a hint of mirth to her voice that could be pegged to match the cheerful tone he sports. "Small world then, isn't it?" There's a sip of her drink then and she'll make a bit of a grimace as she peers down at it. Was that really what she'd ordered? It's set aside for now, not likely to be touched again anytime soon. "A good friend of mine was there for awhile and told me quite the tale. Been curious since. Then there's a matter of another I'd been meaning to track down since he left Candidacy." Having picked up a few habits while living in the Underground (now Kurkar Hold), she'll have that all too familiar feeling of being watched and turn her head just enough to spot Selaine looking their way. There's a small smile and a waved gesture of her fingers. Hello there!

D'ean shrugs off his riding jacket, making some commitment to not suck down his beer and jet out the door. He's hanging it on the back of the bar stool he's frequenting and his brown eyes pass over Selaine. He blinks, staring at her a moment before he recognizes the greenrider. Then the rider blushes in embarrassment but offers a soft-spoken, "Hello…" He looks back to Divale, "Yeah, I guess it's a small world. At least it is when you have a dragon." He reaches for his beer and has a longer drink now. "I'm more than happy to answer questions if you want, about Southern. Can't promise I know all the answers, though."

Selaine is totally wracking her brain for names but eventually gives up. Instead, she focuses on her wine. Until Divale offers the smile and gesture, followed by D'ean's soft greeting. The pair receives a small smile from the greenrider before she moves a few seats over to get closer to them. A raise of her wine glass in greeting, hopefully not interrupting their conversation. "Good evening. I remember seeing you at your graduation, but I don't believe I ever caught your name…" This directed in Divale's question before blue-eyed gaze shifts to D'ean and his Southern knot. "And I don't think I ever caught your name the other day…" Understandably so, considering the situation at the time. "I'm Selaine, by the way, of green Akitith's."

"I'm mostly curious as what there is to do. If there's any areas I should see… or avoid? Firehead is no longer an issue from what I've heard or the pirates…?" Divale goes right into things with D'ean, watching him carefully to read any reaction. Only it's not her words but his behaviour in spotting Selaine that has her intrigued. Hello, what's this? She turns a little when the greenrider joins them, giving her a little look over too. "There were a lot of people crammed in the caverns that day… and a lot of name's exchanged. I'm Divale, brown Lukoith's. Well met, Selaine." A brow quirks up though when the greenrider seems to recognize D'ean too and the 'other day' comment probably has her gradually putting two and two together and she'll just faintly and wryly smirk.

"To do? Oh, I don't know. Exploring, hitting the beach, lots of lakes and waterfalls. The weyr itself has some interesting venues, depending on what you're looking for. Probably not as exciting as the things to do here in Igen, though." D'ean explains of Southern. "Firehead's mostly gone. The pirates are dealt with, too." He says casually enough. Then he notices the greenrider moving. There's the briefest moment that one might see some panic on D'ean's face when Selaine settles closer to the chatting pair, but he's quick to smooth his face into a warm smile for the other woman. "D'ean, blue Ozzeth's." He shares after Selaine introduces herself. "Nice to meet you. Officially." He has more of his beer. It's just not strong enough, all of a sudden. "Your Akitith, she's very agile in the air."

Bits and pieces of the conversation make their way to Selaine's ears, hearing enough to decipher what it's actually all about. Still, it's not something she butts into right away. Instead, a few introductions are in order first. "True enough," she responds to Divale's observation. "I can't say whether I prefer an indoors or outdoors ceremony… but I'll have to lean toward the latter just due to the sheer amount of people." Light laughter comes from the greenrider before she raises her glass once more. "Well met, Divale. And a belated congratulations." A sip of that wine is taken before she turns her attention back to D'ean. "Likewise, D'ean." There's a bit of a mischievous grin for the bluerider. "And thank you. Your Ozzeth faired well, considering." An almost apologetic look for the fact that blue didn't actual catch.

Divale tilts her head curiously as D'ean lists off a few of Southern's points of interest and chuckles dryly, "That'd depend on your flavour of excitement? There's a few things to do here, though difficult to do much when half the day is too hot." She nods her head when he confirms that the news she'd received was correct. Brows lift when he seems to almost panic at Selaine's approach and she'll have to duck her head a bit to hide both the grin that threatens and the snickered breath she makes. "It would have been nice outdoors, true," she agrees to the greenrider. "If the season had been earlier. Regardless, it was a good ceremony and I am no longer a weyrling." Both important factors, apparently. As the two of them pass comments between each other, Divale will observe the exchange in silence, a look cast between both.

D'ean relaxes as the conversation continues, that awkward moment melting away. He grins for Selaine's returned critique, "He did alright, considering." The blue was likely the youngest and one of the smallest contenders. The bluerider throws a smile back to Divale, "Congratulations. Isn't it nicer once you're free of weyrlinghood? I was a big fan of graduating." He says with a wry smile.

"The heat was definitely what warranted an indoor ceremony… though it's hard to say whether it was hotter inside or outside the Weyr at that point, with so many people." That many bodies and the combination of body heat certainly didn't do the weather any favors on that point. "But yes, it was a good ceremony." Selaine agrees eventually with a light chuckle before partaking in more of her wine. "Being free of weyrlinghood certainly has its pros and cons…" An almost distant look as Selaine recalls her own, some Turns ago. "When did you graduate, D'ean?" Her gaze shifts back to the bluerider.

"Much better," Divale agrees with a bit more of a crooked smile this time, shifting her weight now to one side and leaning casually against the side of the bar. "Enjoying the lift on the restrictions, though can't say I've gained any free time between Wing duties and dragonhealing training. It keeps me busy, though." Which may be a very, very good thing, given her nature. Not that she won't still find trouble at some point. There's a hint of grin sent to Selaine, "Which would be?" she muses, before turning her attention back to D'ean with equal interest for his answer.

"I really can't think of any cons. I was happy to be free of weyrling restrictions." D'ean says in an easygoing tone, then answers Selaine, "Graduated just under a turn ago. Then I got firehead, so I'm not as seasoned a rider as I pretend to be." He muses, draining the rest of his beer and setting the mug aside. "What about you?" He'll ask of the greenrider, then looks back to Divale, "You mentioned some candidate you were looking for? Did they go south?"

Selaine nods, almost sagely in response to Divale's observation. "Just so, riders can get rather busy. But," A glance for D'ean with a small grin, "I do agree that having no restrictions is a huge pro." As for any other cons that might be associated with graduation, Selaine won't go into detail to prevent spoiling the mood. The bluerider's eventual reply to her initial question does garner some surprise from her expression. "Firehead, huh?" The greenrider's gaze looks thoughtful, "Can't say I've much experience with it but from what I hear, it's nothing to joke about." Still, her eyes move to the knot on his shoulder. "And yet, not even a turn and you're already a wingsecond? Quite an accomplishment." She notes, with a little finger wavey gesture at the knot. "And I graduated about… oh," Surprise registers in her face and a small laugh escapes her lips, "It'll be 8 turns in just a few months. Funny how quickly time flies." As for the other bit of the conversation? Selaine's not privvy to that so she'll just look from one person to the other while sipping her wine.

Divale will reach for her drink and tilt it a little in a mock-toasting gesture. "To no restrictions!" she muses and takes a generous sip of it before holding the mug idly between her hands. There's a grim look to her expression as the conversation switches to firehead, though there's an underlying intrigue there. "Dangerous illness, from what I understood. Doesn't get as bad here." As for D'ean's rank, Selaine's remark draws a look from Divale to double-check the visiting bluerider's knot. There's a low, almost scoffed sound. "How'd I miss that? I'll second her comment… How'd you manage that? And time has a funny way of slipping by like that, Selaine." At D'ean's question, Divale will nod and look down at her drink in a thoughtful manner. "Former Candidate. He turned in his knot. They'd posted him to Black Rock just before the outbreak got real bad. Journeyman named Leevi? I'd been meaning to track him down now that I can. There was another who went south too but they're back now."

D'ean nods, a seriousness crossing his features as he thinks on the firehead. "It was pretty rough. It's at the top of my list of diseases I never want to get again. A lot of riders were sick. All the wings were strained for a while." He comments, then chuckles when she points out his rank. A wry tone bleeds into his next words, "If you understand the circumstances of *why* I got the promotion… let's just say my wingleader was looking for someone to solve a specific problem and I happened to be qualified." He does add, however, "I was wingleader in my weyrling class, so that did get my name out there some." Then his brows lift when Selaine mentions how long she's been a rider, "Wow." As his attention goes back to Divale, there's a knowing expression before she even gives the name of that former candidate. "Leevi." He echoes as she gives the name. "I could get a message to him if you'd like." There's a sort of … moderated politeness to the offer, as if he's trying hard not to let any of his own feelings for the healer work their way into his voice.

The mock-toast of Divale's is followed by Selaine's own raising of her own glass slightly before taking a much more generous sip of it. By which she empties it, requiring an indication for the bartender to get her another glass. There's almost a grimace for when D'ean describes just how badly the disease had affected the Southern riders, making it sound eerily similar to their own situation, though not due to sickness. "Doesn't it, though?" On the time comment. And what does Selaine have to show for that? More wine and marks are exchanged before the greenrider takes another generous sip from her new glass. "Wow, indeed." She echoes, "Regardless of the circumstances, still something to be proud of, at least?" And hey, he held a rank even as a weyrling! More wine sipping in reference to this 'Leevi' guy.

Divale shares a similar grimace as she makes the same eerie similar connection to what befell Igen's Wings though not from a disease but just a terrible and tragic Threadfall; one that saw her propelled to full rank quicker than normal. "All the better then that the danger has passed," she murmurs as her final comment on the outbreak in Southern and her expression turns wryly amused again for D'ean's response to their interest in his rank. "I'm almost curious enough to ask what that 'specific problem' was but I don't want to pry," she remarks dryly, giving the bluerider a sidelong look as she does before leaning back against the bar again to consider the offer. "So you know him too then? Well… I guess just pass along that I'll be likely to be in Southern sometime in the near future to visit." And if there's time, she'll hunt him down. If not? Well, she'll just explore and maybe try her luck with Xia again. Draining the last of her drink and straightening from where she was leaning on the bar, she will give a small smile to both riders. "As wonderfully pleasant it's been talking to both of you, I need to be going. Enjoy the rest of your evening and clear skies." There's a dip of her head to follow her farewell and then she's gathering her jacket back up under her arm and moving away to the stairs that lead up to the bazaar.

D'ean doesn't pick up on the recent trials Igen has suffered, it seems. The man gives Selaine a smile, though, for her words, "Thanks. I'm proud of Ozzeth. He works hard. I don't think I would have accomplished any of it without his influence." He can't keep the fondness he holds for the blue from his voice, but then, what rider can? "I can pass the message along, sure." D'ean agrees when Divale shares what she'd like the healer to know. As the brownrider gathers up her coat, the man exhales a sigh. "I should probably get going as well. It's getting late. It was nice to meet you both." He says, smiling to both of the ladies and offering a casual salute, even, before grabbing up his jacket with similar intentions to depart.

Selaine's almost curious enough to ask about the circumstances of D'ean's rank, as well, but she knows better than to try and pry information from someone she'd just (sort of) met. D'ean's comment about his dragon is received with a knowing grin. "And that's what makes teamwork so great." Rider and dragon, making each other better. Most of the time. "It was a pleasure, Divale." The greenrider offers a brief wave and smile with the other woman's departure, followed by the same for D'ean as he makes a move as well. "Likewise, D'ean. Clear skies to you both." Selaine remains where she's seated at the bar after the pair leave, taking her time to finish off her second glass of wine before she, too, eventually leaves the Cantina behind.

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