Who

R'mar, Selaine, Lyllian, Thenan

What

A new face is welcomed at the Cantina

When

Mid-morning of the eighteenth day of the sixth month of the fifth Turn of the Pass

Where

Dustbowl Cantina

OOC Date 28 Jul 2015 06:00

 

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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.


Late in the morning it may be, but the Cantina is already crowded with weyrfolk and riders escaping the heat and looking for a cold drink. Even if that means there are some day drunks scattered about the place. The one that stands out in the crowd is the rider with riding jacket opened up to let his chest Breathe. He is sitting at a table in the middle, face covered in sweat and soot, a distinct smell of firestone emanating from his which seems to keep the immediate area around him clear. Running a hand through his bright red hair he takes another sip of the wine in front of him. On his jacket can be seen the knot indicating him to be a brownrider from the High Reaches.

On some rounds this morning, like a Weyr messenger without even having that job description, Lyllian slips into the Cantina with a rolled hide. She settles the hide on the bar for the 'tender, and takes a break at the bar by slipping up into one of the available stools. She looks over towards the rider and offers a smile, as she would for any unfamiliar face. "Good morning, brownrider," she cheerfully offers, adding status out of respect.

Thenan ducks into the cantina, giving a quick glance about for any of his craft superiors over at the stables - and finding none venturing a little further in. The youth glances about, ah, the possibility of lifting a little bit of warming drink…yes. Excellent. Though, his pursuit of avoiding work and distraction are quickly dashed as he spots the young harper girl. Thenan comes up closer to the bar and, and no doubt quite rudely ignoring the talk to the rider, pokes the girl in the back of her head before he slides up into one of the stools next to her with a little grin. Only then spotting the rider, his cheeks flush a little warmer and he inclines his head with due deference - as a stableboy should, given how capable a dragon is of eating their runners.

R'mar glances up at the address and nods, raising his glass of wine before giving it a quick sip once again. He frowns as the young man enters and rudely pokes the girl in the back of the head and shakes his head. Not his place to call him out on it. Technically, he's not even part of this place. He rolls his sleeves up a bit and dabs a handkerchief against his forehead. The heat not something he's overly used to.

Fortunately, it's still just morning, and things aren't too rowdy yet as the three sit at the bar. Lyllian's smile at R'mar is interrupted briefly by said poke by Thenan and she turns around to see who might have just interrupted her. "Hey you, goof!" she exclaims, albeit playfully, at the young man. Clearly she knows the boy. But she turns back to the rider, but sees that he's already possibly focused back on his drink.

"Well, if you will sit like that." How exactly that is, and how else one is meant to sit, isn't quite expanded upon by Thenan in his rather obtuse justification for his poking. He turns his head to follow Lyllian's gaze back to the rider again and his head tilts a little to the side "That's not an Igen knot" he says to Lyllian "Does the Weyrwoman have you playing spy on guests now?" The last is said in a more hushed tone "On account of your nose always writing in the hides so no-one would notice." Ah. Subtle Thenan

Sure, it's early, but that's normal for the Arroyo rider that pops into the Cantina at this hour, still wearing her riding gear and skin still slightly damp from sweating. If anyone's in the know, it's obvious that the wing has just finished their drills for the morning. Selaine's here for a quick pick-me-up before she's off to reports and sweeps and mentoring. In that order. There's some surprise in her expression upon sight of the two teenagers there. Though she doesn't know their names, their faces are recognizable. "Should you two even be in here?" the greenrider prompts as she walks up to the bar, eyebrow raising questioningly. A nod is given to the High Reaches rider, a wrinkle of her nose for the scent that floats off him. "Hello there. What's brought a High Reachian all the way here?" she asks conversationally before prompting the bartender for a glass of wine.

R'mar glances over at the mention of High Reaches. He smiles at the young greenrider who entered and addressed him. "Would you believe me if I said we ran out of wine?" A smirk and a gesture to a seat at his table. "F'dan sent for me actually. Why, I'm not sure, but I wish it hadn't been when 'Fall ended. Too damned hot in these parts."

Jerelloth thinks « I personally like the heat. It's nice. » »

Jerelloth senses Akitith thinks « The heat is bearable. The sand is not. »

Jerelloth thinks « But you have a beautiful lake here. A nice swim always fixes sand itches. » »

"Am not!" Lyllian replies back to Thenan with a smirk. "I was just here to drop off a missive and grab a drink before I step into the heat again." An aside to the 'tender, "Just a redfruit juice, please." Good apprentice. Now, back to Thenan, where she turns her attention again. "No, it's not an Igen knot, but we get random riders coming by the Weyr often on business." Although ginger High Reachians always pique her interest. "What… do you think there's something to be spied upon, sneaky boy?"

Jerelloth senses Akitith thinks « Yes. The lake here is wonderful! Perfect in this weather. »

Thenan is spotted, and is therefore - alas - behaving. He turns back and nods "Another redfruit juice, please, if you could." He asks before giving Lyllian a little sideways glance as if it is entirely her fault they were noticed. He then looks back at the riders "And I don't know. /I/ don't hang out with the Weyrwoman. /I/ hang out with runners." A little grin and he nudges Lyllian gently with his elbow "And harper girls who try to….what was it? Train me into a proper young gentleman?"

Jerelloth thinks « Now if only I could get a good bath. But he wanted to go have wine. » »

Selaine eyes the two youngsters warily, making sure that they continue behaving. An approving nod for the order of redfruit juice, though her gaze lingers momentarily on that Harper knot. Blue-eyed gaze shifts back to the other rider at his reply. The question receives a soft laugh from her as she picks up her glass of wine and joins him at his table. "F'dan? Wonder why…" her musing is shortlived as he mentions the weather, "You get used to it. The heat anyway. Even living here all my life I'll still not get used to all the sand." And she makes a face when mentioning it. "Selaine, by the way, Green Akitith's."

R'mar extends a hand to the woman. "Wingsecond of Arroyo Wing if I remember correctly? I'm R'mar. My brown Jerelloth seems to have already found a nice spot by the lake. And from what I can tell, is already making friends down here." He glances back at the redhead Harper and frowns. Something familiar about that one. He turns to face Selaine and smiles again. "I have a suspicion as to F'dan's reasoning for calling us down here, but I can't say for sure. Knowing him, I'm surprised he is not down here waiting for me."

Lyllian smiles sweetly towards Selaine. "Have a good day, greenrider," she wishes the woman as she moves on to the rider's table, and then slips her gaze back towards Thenan, although admittedly keeps an ear open that direction. "Note taking during the occasional meeting doesn't mean I get to hang out with the Weyrleadership," she corrects the boy. "Besides, don't you like Runners? Because if you're really that jealous, the Harpercraft loves new apprentices."

Thenan snorts a little at the idea "I don't think I do hides that well, and I love the Runners. They are a lot of run. Kind of nicer than the dragons too - a runner beast is obedient but kind of stupid. You can trust kind of stupid. Dragons are all clever and know whatever you are thinking. It is why their eyes always seem to follow you across the bowl." His hand flies to the small of his neck as if he can feel the look now. Or he has a guilty conscience, and should perhaps stop doing naughty things. Still he watches the green rider go off to sit with the Reaches one "And the Weyrwoman seemed pretty interested in what you were talking about, Lylli. You shouldn't sell yourself short." Some actual sincerity from Thenan before the boy turns to grab at his juice and take a sip

Jerelloth senses Akitith thinks « Mine likes wine. A bath would be nice, but I can't have one now. Hopefully later. »

Jerelloth thinks « Baths are nice. A swim works too. Maybe just lay in the lake. » »

"Dragons only know what their riders are thinking, not everyone." Selaine throws out to the young teens, a small grin on her lips before she turns her attention back to R'mar. Her free hand takes his extended one, "That I am. Well met, R'mar." Her head tilts slightly as she checks in on her own green. She chuckles softly, "It would seem so." Her green was not shy, to be sure. As for F'dan, a shrug. "He's a busy man. I'm sure you'll run into him soon enough. How was 'Fall?"

Jerelloth senses Akitith thinks « You should join me in the water then. It's very refreshing. »

"Light, which is shouldn't have been. Jer is listening to the sweep reports as they come in." The brownrider frowns at the thought of missed Thread. "The heat here is nice compared to the cold from /between/ though. So I shouldn't complain too much." He looks at the harper and narrows his eyes slightly before finally asking, "Have we met, young apprentice?"

"That was many, many sevendays ago," Lyllian tells Thenan, although clearly there's still a smile on her face. "I highly doubt the Weyrwoman remembers the conversation." The greenrider's comment causes her to look over that direction again. "I think the Stablehand here is just a little paranoid, that's all, greenrider. He probably means nothing by it." Although as R'mar addresses her, she blinks a bit and looks at him. "I do not believe so, brownrider. I am Harper Apprentice Lyllian, here at Igen Weyr," she introduces herself. She stands to her feet and gives a slight bow in formality. Although she does study him for a moment.

Thenan gives a little scowl at Lyllian for her apologising for him, but he stays quiet on that point and contents himself with a little shifty look "I don't know. Dragons I guess." he murmers before sipping at his drink. The suggestion of familiarity, gets an odd look "If you've been visiting high reaches and didn't tell, Lyl…" Thenan starts "You know, the runners can make that trip pretty easy. If you know where the caves are. Tricky with the plains of Telgar out there…"

Selaine offers a nod of understanding about the light 'Fall. "That's one consolation I tell myself every day." the greenrider says about the heat, chuckling softly before letting her gaze drift over to the two teens again. She merely offers them a small smile at their response about dragons and even raises an eyebrow at the stablehand and his comment about caves, though says nothing for the time being.

R'mar looks the harper over once again. "The ride is faster and safer via dragon." He takes another sip from his wine and sighs as he empties it. Setting the glass down he looks the greenrider over once again. «She is pretty, R'mar. She would be good for you.» A sigh. "Silly dragon. Stay out of this. Go ask Kadanth if you can have something to eat would you?" Shaking his head he shrugs at the greenrider.

"I have not," Lyllian replies back to Thenan with a suppressed giggle, not fully addressing all the statements, aloud or quiet, that the other teen offered. She then looks back towards R'mar as she continues to stand near their table. "May I inquire as to your name, brownrider?" she asks politely. Even if she might have picked it up by eavesdropping earlier, she wants to play it safe.

Thenan spying a raised eyebrow at him, Thenan looks deeply into his drink for a few moments before he ohs "I used to be a trader, or my family were, m'lady Rider." Talking to the rider directly, Thenan gets very respectful. Possibly in a 'Don't want to be eaten' motivation "Caves are kind of your life when you are out on the trails. Don't want to be out during fall." His deference melts away as he turns back with a little purplexed look at Lyllian. "Maybe there is some weird other version of you at high reaches." There is a pause before Thenan grudgingly admits "Well, it was less fun with you not around."

Selaine is perfectly harmless! Probably. Don't mind the looks. "Ah, that makes sense." she says, offering Thenan a small nod at his explanation. A glance over at R'mar, "Have you been here often before?" she asks, curiously. Perhaps that's how she'd run into Lyllian? And she waits for him to reintroduce himself to the young Harper and stablehand. She's sure they know hers, at least, so she won't introduce her own.

R'mar stands up and takes his riding jacket off, untucking the light shirt underneath and undoing the top button to let more air flow through. "R'mar, rider of Brown Jerelloth from High Reaches Weyr." He gestures at one of the wait staff to bring more drinks and nods to the younger couple. "Have a seat if you would." Looking back at Selaine he settle back into his chair. "I was here once before. F'dan needed some help moving some of his larger items down when he transferred."

"R'mar…" Lyllian says quietly, almost thoughtfully as she obeys his request and grabs her redfruit juice and settles into a seat. "I was born in High Reaches, myself," she states with a smile. "High Reaches Hold." Giving a nudge of her elbow towards the stablehand, she adds, "Of course, I thought I told you that, Thenan."

Thenan cautiously follows Lyllian, settling down next to her and nodding his head "I know that, Lyl. But I assumed you brought all of you here, not left some strange second you there." Thenan protests "And hrm. Maybe the lord Brown Rider went to one of the meetings with the Weyrleader that you were writing notes on?" Thenan suggests before he gives another little more formal bow to Selaine. He then realises in none of this has he said his name "Oh! I'm Thenan. Of the stables. I'm Lyl's pet project."

"Well, you certainly could have come across her during your last visit then? Though…" Selaine glances at Lyllian, "She may have been too young for you to just run into her back then. And if you're from High Reaches Hold… who knows. Maybe she just looks like someone you know." the greenrider suggests as she watches the two join them at their table. "Pet project?" is asked of Thenan after he introduces himself.

R'mar nods lightly at Selaine, but turns back to Lyllian. "I was at High Reaches hold from birth until about 15 Turns back, when I was Searched. We may have met in passing at the Hold proper. Perhaps at a Gather or some such." He smiles at Thenan's introduction. "Runners I know something of. Having worked in the stables myself."

"Perhaps, brownrider R'mar," Lyllian replies back towards R'mar, but holding her tongue on a few specific details. "In any case, it is a pleasure to meet you, and I hope we get an opportunity to run across each other again. It's always good to meet people from my home Hold. It's been many Turns." As she's been busy in discussion with R'mar, she allows Thenan to discuss said, uh, project with Selaine. Maybe the stableboy won't cause trouble in the process.

"She claims i'm 'rough' and she plans to break me so I behave. Like I do with the runners. I meanwhile posit she will break first and actually have fun, which might break her tiny head." Thenan explains, a friendly jostling elbow back to Lyllian "But she abandoned me for her special projects with the weyrleader, so I've been busy getting the runners all ready. Plenty of travel, in and out. Though I've not made it out for a while."

"Bunch of Holders here, then, huh?" Selaine chuckles, "I was borna and raised at Igen Hold before I came here." And then she looks back over at Thenan. "Ah… I see." The edge of her lips curl into another smile, "At least you're keeping busy, that's always a good thing." She gives a slight nod before taking a sip of her wine. "I was actually a Harper before I got Searched," this directed towards Lyllian, "Are you thinking of specializing in anything, yet?"

R'mar smiles softly. "I try to go when I can. My mother, Mara, and father, Rellyr, still live at the Hold. Mara makes the most wonderful wherry stew I've ever tasted. Maybe you know of them?"

Lyllian does indeed jab another elbow back at Thenan before she answers Selaine. "Scrivener, actually, which is said projects I've done for the leadership on occasion. In short, I am sometimes called to be the meeting Record keeper. I took an interest in Records considering my family." She takes a sip of her drink, even though her mind is already starting to mull through the facts as she turns her gaze back towards R'mar. "The names sound familiar, but I'm afraid I haven't met them." She gives a glance over towards Thenan, her eyes meeting his a moment.

"She loves her hides." Thenan states, an assertive nod of his head "Loves loves loves them, all piled up past her little ears." He sips again from his redfruit juice, his eyes shifting back to Lyllian's to meet her gaze before he gives her a bit more of a gentle nudge "But she spares some time for us lowly drudges." His attention slips back to the green rider "And oh, we always keep busy. Runners like it that way, and there are always more hides for Lylli."

"Scrivener, huh?" Selaine grins widely as her gaze shifts from Lyllian back to R'mar. "Well, it's good to start early, I never did start to specialize in anything… not sure what I would've done if I hadn't been Searched." A shrug as she takes another sip. "So Thenan, have you always been at Igen Weyr, or do you hail from somewhere else as well?"

R'mar leans back in the chair a bit, thoughtfully looking over thr group. «It's nice here R'mar. I want to stay.» He chuckles softly and continues to listen to the conversation around the table. Being an outsider can be good at times, not knowing the others. «And she /is/ pretty.» »Yes Jer. You have said that already. Just relax. Enjoy the sun before we head back home.«

There's almost a bit of relief on Lyllian's face that Thenan would catch, knowing her as he does. And that's even amidst the gloating the boy does over her pastime. "I'm glad my secondary work is singing or else my hands might be fully cramped by the time I make journeyman. You can only string so many lutes after copying Records half the day." She sits back, seeing how Thenan's response will be this time now that the conversation is focused on him.

Thenan looks a little sheepish at the focus on him, reaching up to scratch at the back of his hair "Me? I was kind of born nowhere, really. As I say, the family were traders before we settled." Thenan pauses, no-one had quite asked this at Igen yet "There was an incident during fall, settling down seemed useful and well, we were close to the weyr. So, here I am. And I could use my skills to make myself useful." His life explained, sort of, Thenan leans back to murmer something to Lyllian

Selaine leisurely sips on her wine as she listens to the two younger kids. Her gaze occassionally drifts back to R'mar, offering him a small smile before focusing back on Thenan. "Hm.. yea. Being traders during a Pass can be pretty dangerous. Even with them coming at more regular intervals, it's not safe to be wandering about carelessly. It's good that your family's settled, at least. And a Weyr can never have enough hands."

R'mar chuckles softly. "And there is no safer place during a Pass." He notices the smile from the greenrider and returns it. Glancing around the cantina briefly, his gaze lands once again on the harper. Something so very familiar. Just can't put his finger on it.

"Later," Lyllian states back to Thenan, out loud, but giving a soft smile so as to not worry the boy. She even pats his arm to accentuate that point. And then back to her drink, which she takes a brief sip of. "It may be sharding hot here compared to High Reaches, but it's certainly a great place to settle in safety."

"Well, I settled." Thenan states simply before his shoulders lift in another shrug "It has runners, and sometimes the riders are happy to talk to stableboys. Dragons aren't runners, but we tend to be good at caring for things. Still, I miss things sometimes. It still feels all cramped here sometimes." Despite the pat from Lyllian, his eyebrows furrow in concern as he looks back at her. But, girls are like that, so he shrugs and simply nods in agreement "The climate is nice and warm. And runners get shade, so. Good job in the heat too!"

Selaine nods in agreement with R'mar's comment, "Indeed. Though we get our fair share of casualties…" And here the greenrider winces delicately before taking another long sip of her wine. "But still, much better than out in the open. Cramped? Ah…" she looks back over at Thenan, "I guess when you travel, the open space is much more spacious than being in a Weyr."

R'mar chuckles softly, remembering when he was younger, and all he wanted was to get away. "Like it has been said, you get used to it after some time." he pauses and closes his eyes, thinking back to his days as a weyrling, remembering how hard it was to look at himself as a rider. Letting his face slip into a smile he suddenly stops and opens his eyes to look at the others around the table. "I must extend my thanks to you three. Making me feel at home like you have. Jerelloth has informed me that F'dan is ready for me now. So I must take my leave. May we meet again." He stands from the table and nods to the younger two, and offers his hand to the greenrider. "Perhaps next time, I will not be covered in ash and smell of firestone like I do."

Lyllian looks up from her seat and smiles back at R'mar, "Be well, brownrider. I shall see you around. And don't worry about the smell; I think most of us are used to it these days." She softly giggles and her smile widens, before she turns her attention back on the other two at the table.

Thenan lifts his hand to R'mar "Take care m'lord Rider." Thenan offers, inclining his head "I hope all will be well for you." And then he nudges Lyllian again "Now?" he asks, trying to pry out this secret before he returns his attention to Selaine "It is cramped inside. I don't come into the caverns much. You can usually grab food and have it back in the stables. As long as you are OK with a runner shoving his nose in your face. And they are kind of adorable."

With another slight tilt of her head, Selaine's gaze unfocuses before focusing and looking at R'mar. "I actually should head out, too. I need to get started on some reports. I'll accompany you out?" she suggests, getting up from her chair before moving over to the bar instead of shaking his extended hand and paying her marks for the drink. A glance back to the other two. "The two of you stay out of trouble now, y'hear?" Though her tone is playful, despite her words.

Thenan just continues to look a little more confused as Lyllian gets all lip bitey at the escape of the brown rider "Were you lying about knowing him?" Thenan pries, canine with a bone and all. But then he realises he is being rude, and he blushes a little as he turns his head "Take care, m'lady rider. And oh, I am never in trouble. And Lylli is allergic to the idea. She is a good little girl."

Lyllian keeps her voice low after the riders leave, and leans in towards the boy as she says, "The name is familiar, as are his parents. In a really odd way. I don't know if I know him… yet. I know it sounds odd, but I'll do some digging." She flashes him a smile, and states just as quietly, "And… thank you for not giving away my status as an Oldtimer."

"Your secrets are yours, Lylli." Thenan states, as if the idea is quite simple and straightforward to him before he wrinkles his nose "It isn't like you to hide things though, Lylli. You are normally so honest and pure. Maybe I'm breaking you and not you me?" There is a tone in his voice that almost sounds like a little regret at that "And I think you make a cute sweet hidebound harper."

Lyllian blushes as she looks down at the table. "Thank you, Thenan." She pauses a bit, then adds, "But as for this thing… I'll let you know when I have more information. It may be nothing, and me being silly. You'll be the first to know, though."

Thenan reaches a hand up to touch the blushing cheeks before he catches himself and snatches it back, his eyes darting to his drink "Well. I'll be around, you always know where to find me. And I can always make time to come help you out, you know. The older stablemaster gets kind of sleepy and can't see so well from one eye…."

"Yeah…" Lyllian replies, and then bites her lip again as she gets up, shyly avoiding the continuation of that line of discussion. "I should get going for now. I have a lot on my plate and only needed to drop a hide. But it was good to see you, and maybe we can meet up at dinner in the Caverns later? Our schedules permitting?" She flips a mark towards the bartender for her juice, which is flipped back at her.

"Of course, Lyl." Thenan says, sparing her a little impish smile "Careful though, people will start thinking you are all sweet on a rough stable boy, and then you'll get in trouble, you know. Not everyone knows I'm just your project, hrm?" He continues to sit "I'll head out in a few, give you some cover."

Lyllian rolls her eyes and swats him in the arm. "Behave," she states, and then exits into the heat of the day.

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