Who

M'noq, Amani

What

The clutchparents' riders steal away to the living cavern for a late bite while their dragons nap.

When

It is evening of the twenty-second day of the fourth month of the fourteenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Living Caverns, Southern Weyr

OOC Date 24 Jun 2018 06:00

 

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"Part feline? How do you know I'm not part plant?"


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Living Caverns

Grand and spacious, the cavern curves high aloft in naturally-vaulted ceiling that soothes any sense of claustrophoba. Rich woods line the cavern floor, varnished and stained a rich mahogany, while round tables scatter about candlelit and intimate. The largest table lies southerly next the sideboard, long trestles that seem oriented to providing for the weyr's youngest. The rich blue of Azov can be seen from a distance in good weather, when the heavy stone doors covering the entrance are allowed to stand open.


Zymuraith and Ravaith are asleep on the sands, a moment of calm and quiet descending upon the hatching caverns. M'noq takes this opportunity to catch Amani's hand and pull her out to the living caverns for an actual meal together, when they can sit down together and everything. "Seriously, I never realized how dry it feels, spending day after day in that place," he is saying as they enter the room. "I feel like I could drink a pitcher of water every hour."

"Especially now," Amani agrees, reaching up to tug some stray hair back behind her ear as the switch from hot to cool displaces it a bit. "When it forgets what season it is." One might forget just how much it can bucket on either side of such sunny spells. "It makes me glad she doesn't demand my presence every second, even while she sleeps." Sure, Zymuraith gets broody…but there's a practicality about it that Amani is grateful for.

M'noq nods, going straight for the pitchers of cool fruit juice, pouring a glass for himself and gesturing that he'll pour one for her as well if she wants it. "It is nice when there's actual sun instead of days of rain, though," he says. "One thing I miss about flying sweeps is getting the chance to find more temperate weather." It probably isn't a secret that he sneaks off to find a sunny spot, particularly in the middle of Southern's rainy winters. "The eggs are looking harder every day, aren't they? The colors are really starting to show, though."

Amani nods; yes, she would like some of that, all things considered. "I think you're part feline," she informs M'noq with an teasing smirk. "Always looking for somewhere to soak up the sun." Not that she minds; getting to go with him to find said spots has been quite enjoyable. Before they ended up Sands-bound, that is. "They are," she agrees about the eggs, plucking up a couple of plates to fill for the both of them. "Zymuraith has even decided to switch a few of them around because the colors have shifted enough, though I can't tell what's determined her order yet." There's a ruefully fond shake of her head for that. Her lifemate remains as cryptic as ever. "Have you noticed?"

M'noq takes the juice and swipes a tray of cookies, heading over to an empty table. They've missed the main dinner hour, so the place is mostly empty. "Part feline? How do you know I'm not part plant? Sometimes I feel like I'd die without seeing the sun," he jokes. He sighs, sliding down into the chair. "Oh, was that what she was doing? It seemed like she and Ravaith were having some kind of debate over the placement of a few of them, but they didn't ask my opinion, and I didn't offer it."

Even though M'noq grabs that plate of cookies, Amani still makes use of one plate, finding some bread, cheese, and a bit of fruit to bring to their table as well. "You could be that, too!" she concedes, settling into a chair beside him rather than across. "Or maybe all felines are part plant, too, considering it's Southern." The green is everywhere, after all. Plucking up a cookie, the goldrider nods. "Best not to get in the middle of that," she says of any debates their lifemates end up in over their own progeny. "How is Th'res handling things since you can't be around as much?"

M'noq takes some bread and cheese to nibble on, though mostly he's appreciating having a glass of cool juice right now. "Yet felines hate water, and… oh wait, maybe you're right and I'm part feline. I do think that Southern's rainy season is pretty miserable." He nods rueful agreement about not wanting to get involved in whatever the dragons discuss about the eggs. He probably made some dumb comment early on and then regretted it. "Th'res is doing well, I think. I wish we still had another wingsecond, but the situation is what it is. If he seems to have trouble, I'll promote someone. But I should be back full time at Lynx soon enough. How are your duties going that you've had to set aside?"

Amani can't help but chuckle to M'noq's first, and nods along to his reply about Th'res. "He is good at working. So much that he might need to be ordered to take a break every now and then," she notes wryly. As for her own duties, she gives a little shrug. "The only thing I'm really missing is being able to fly. The hidework hasn't really let up. At least it's good to pass the time with." She takes a long draw from her glass, then settles her chin on a propped fist to look at M'noq. "Maybe we can disappear for a day or two after the Hatching."

"You're right about Th'res," M'noq says. "I usually have to direct him to take some time off. Otherwise, he would just work nonstop. Still, it's nice to have someone to count on to get the job done," he says musingly. Temptation getting to him, he takes a cookie from the plate to nibble on. "I think we will need to take a little time off," he agrees. "As long as we pick a couple days that are Thread-free, I think we'll be fine. And you're right about flying. Ravaith gets out to stretch his wings every once in a while, but he never goes far, and usually he's back before I can even talk him into getting riding straps on."

"I wouldn't try any other time," Amani says of choosing Thread-free days. "I actually sort of…miss Threadfall. Doing my part in it, I mean." She makes a bit of a face for the way that sounds, looking a bit surprised at herself before shaking it away. "Zymuraith only flies to hunt right now." And makes Ravaith stay, of course. "Where should we go?" Is talking about this really going to help her stir-craziness right now, with the eggs probably still another month out from Hatching. She thinks so, apparently.

M'noq gives a wry smile and nod. "I don't know that I miss Threadfall, exactly, but I miss flying with Lynx. And during Fall, I can tell Ravaith is torn between one duty and another." He won't leave the eggs, but he isn't exactly happy about it, either. "Well… it's spring in the north right now, so the weather has got to be better up there in a month or two than it will be here. Do you suppose we could stay up at Benden or Ista and not tell them we're on vacation? Say we're doing research or something that will require that we stay overnight a day or two." Sure… that'll work.

Amani's lips slowly curve into a grin for M'noq's little plan. "Maybe…though I'm not sure how convincing we can be, considering the timing. Unless we visit a smaller holding or something. I don't think anyone would begrudge us a little getaway." Though it likely depends on where they go. "Is there anywhere you haven't been, M'noq?"

M'noq gives a soft laugh. "Yeah, you're probably right. A small holding… now that's an idea. If we could find somewhere that wouldn't mind putting us up for a couple of days, and we could trust the word not to get out. If people start finding out, we'll get all sorts of visitors." At least, he imagines. "Well, there are plenty of places up north I haven't been, if you're talking about small holdings. What places interest you?"

Chewing a piece of cheese, Amani hums in thought in the wake of M'noq's reply. "I remember learning about Paradise Hold, near Ista." Not to be confused with Paradise River Hold, with which they're all familiar. It's a bit nearby. It was a point we learned in weyrlinghood, though we never stayed to visit." A few more beats pass as she considers where else she might like to go. "I've only visited Lemos twice. A hold back in the woods might be nice… Far Cry Hold, maybe?" She chuckles, giving a little shake of her head as a memory slips in. "I used to feel like the trees here might close in on me. Now I'm wondering what it's like to be surrounded by trees that aren't jungle. Trees that climb up the sides of mountains."

M'noq looks briefly cold for a moment. "Not Lemos, please," is all he says, as if the mention of the name brought up some memory. He tries to refocus on the issue at hand. "Some of the small holdings that look to High Reaches are quite lovely. I do miss seeing the mountains every day. The ones in Southern are… different. Particularly around Southern Barrier. Those aren't the same at all." He scratches at his chin, now growing a couple days' worth of stubble. "Shouldn't be too hard to find a friend in one of those places that would let us stay."

Amani is caught a bit off guard by M'noq's reaction to her mentioning of Lemos, dark brows rising a bit. "Okay," she answers, puzzled, but deciding not to make an issue of it. It was only a suggestion, after all! "I wouldn't mind visiting High Reaches, too." Her eyes follow his fingers a moment, lingering a bit on his stubble, which she happens to like quite a bit. "What's so bad about Lemos?" she asks softly, reaching for his hand, purely curious but willing to let it alone if he really wants her to.

M'noq picks at a piece of bread, turning it into crumbs. He's quiet a long moment, then looks up at Amani, dusting the crumbs from his fingers. "It's nothing, really. I'll tell you later." He just doesn't seem able to talk about it now. "Do you suppose we should be getting back to the sands now? Or if you'd like the chance to get a bath or something, I could head back and give you a bit of a break."

For as long as M'noq is quiet, Amani waits, content to let him reveal what he wants in time. Even if that's later, as he says. She nods, waiting for him to clear his hands of crumbs before catching it again and giving a gentle squeeze. "Alright," she murmurs, fitting him with a little smile and then finishing off her juice. "Whenever you feel you want to. And yeah, we can head back. I'll grab a bath at home." Once again, she's eminently grateful for that private bath in her own weyr. "Do you…want to stay over?" Considering it's getting late and such.

M'noq stands and starts gathering the dishes, but when Amani makes her offer, he pauses and gives her a warming smile. "I'd like that." And no doubt he'll be a bit more prepared later to talk about the things that are bothering him, when he can put it into words. "Ah, I forgot you have that private bath. Just thinking about it sounds tempting." After sweating on the dry sands all day.

"Well, it does have plenty of room," Amani reminds M'noq, taking up their glasses. He knows…but she feels like tempting him further, after things taking a heavier turn for a bit. Once they've gotten everything squared away, she'll be the one to catch his hand and lead them back to the Sands. A little longer to watch…and then home.

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