Eastern Weyr - Commons Cavern
A grand stairway leads downward into the cool rock of the commons cavern, a place for socializing and relaxing, as well as an area that provides solid shelter from the seasonal storms of this area. One of the few caverns at Eastern Weyr, the rock here has been worn away by centuries worth of water movement, leaving a nearly glass smooth polish over much of the room. Rocky shelves line the walls on which electric lights covered with paper lanterns rest, providing adequate illumination for the area. High above are further light fixtures, enabling a wide range of lighting options here. A natural pool occupies half of the far end of the cavern and is supplied with heated water piped in by an ingenious techcrafter. All about the room are balconies of rock with stairs leading to them and small dumbwaiters for the purpose of delivering food and drink to their heights.
The days have been long at Eastern recently, so many happenings, fun on the brink of madness, excitement, chores, a lot of missing faces. Mahl finds herself in the caverns, at the tail end of the evening's chores and glad to be done. The climate has moderated to a comfortable cool, there is a lot going on in the Commons, especially with the coming of Turnover and eventually *the hatching*. She looks a little tired, sitting at a table chatting with a few weyrfolk about Candidacy, twisted bun atop her head, bucket of cleaning supplies on the floor next to her.
There were many causes for celebration, from eggs on the sands to the Turnover planning, and now with all those pretty white robes flying around with their neat little cake making to replicate the eggs. At least no one had to concerns themselves with a missing person any longer. The red head has been sighted, currently taking his time shuffling out of the infirmary, with a bandaged arm that looks minor and a bit of bruising showing about his face, and also a subtle favoring of a foot. Nothing that would immediately jump out as life threatening. Good right? There is a wild look in his eyes though and a healer drifting behind him like a shadow, to ensure some level of control. Getting out of the infirmary was at least cause for his own personal celebration, asking a passing drudge for a glass of mulled wine. The healer mutters something behind him and the order changes, albeit reluctantly, to sweet juice. The Journeyman shuffles to an open seat, fingers twitching as his eyes take in his surroundings, much to his relief by the evident long and gusty sigh.
Hearing that Tadarius was in the infirmary has encouraged Mahlia to take intermittent glances towards the heavy infirmary doors. She notices the copper haired gent emerge, bruised and bandaged, so she finishes her conversation and politely excuses herself. Before she stands, she whispers to Tarrin "Nows your chance maybe?" Figuring the baker will jump on the chance to get his cast removed she approaches her long lost friend, in view from the front and slowly. "Tadarius?" Her voice is calm and collected regardless of how worried she's been the past few days.
Tadarius flinches at his name. Flinches. Yes. A hand pulls into his chest in a protective gesture, even as the calm and collected voice is that of a friend and not something ready to eat him. The ginger regards Mahlia for a time, blinking at her, then as if remembering some sense of manners, points to a seat across from him in a fluttery sort of hand flap. That's when the sweet juice arrives and his nose curls, explaining, "They won't even let me have wine until they make sure my heads on straight." A yank of the glass towards him sloshes a bit over the side, a resolve set in his face as he's determined to drink it. Yet, he stops as he notes the change, "Ah… wait. Um. How long have I been gone?" It's not about him, it's about her. A point to the knot with a thread of white in it.
Mahlia winces at the inflicted flinch, trying to maintain a smile and steady but unassuming look of pleasant ease. Besides her face, the rest of her body does not react abruptly, but instead slides gracefully to the chair. Looking in to the mug of juice she herself brought over, she does her best to not stare or come across over-worried. Thinking of the most reasonable thing to say, she settles on is "M'glad you're back.. you alright?"
"Short answer… Yes," a little blunt with a shifted glance over his shoulder toward the healer who is trying to catch a meal himself but still intending to keep an eye on the Journeyman. "I think… they believe there is a long answer…" He takes a sip from the juice, his tongue working away the pulp. Shaking his head he can't stomach it! And the topic is going to lead away to something more pleasant, "I hear there are supposed to be celebrations soon? Turnover? Are you going?"
Mahlia looks towards the direction the techcrafter is craning towards, before delicate gaze settled back on him. "I was pretty worried bout ya Tad, went to Syra n'everything when you never followed up on our photography plan." If for no other reason than to distract her curiosity, lips are stuck to mug for another swig before she says "You were gone quite awhile Tadarius.. out in the wilderness?" Lips curl at the edges as juice is set down and she nods "Celebrations for at least a sevenday yes? I sure hope I can get away from duties for some personal time.. will you go as well?"
Tadarius looks down into the glass of pulp juice and just sours his expression further, "I can't do it…" he mumbles, pushing the glass away from himself. Method of distracting from awkward topics? Yes. Does it work? For a time as he can pretend he didn't hear her, straightening up in his chair and giving a shifty eyed glance over his shoulder again. "Gone? Yes. Gone. Into the wild," his eyes snap back toward her face, a tick at the corner of one, maybe a good thing he is seeing the healers, "I'm back now. Let's not talk about it. Ok?" A nod toward the rest of the folks in close enough range to over hear, "Maybe, another time. Ok." Agitation just touching the edges of his tones. "I would like to. I would like to. Yes." A decision made with such a staggered thought process that it's showing, "Having some fun would be good."
Mahlia puts her hand out his direction across the table, slowly, very slowly "It's ok Tadarius.. just want you to know m'here if ya need me." A few deep breaths are inhaled and released gently "Just glad you're back.. fun would be good. Maybe we can go together, or meet up or something. I bet Sira would enjoy some relaxation with us." She continues to beam sweetly genuine smile, but still subdued, both sensitive to the photographer's state and quite exhausted herself.
Tadarius is wringing his hands together by the time that Mahlia extends her own. The healers had reason to keep him close by. He does reach out and grab her hand, squeezing, "I didn't think I was going to make it back. Ever." He notes, sliding his hand well away from her afterward, bunching them on the edge of the table, picking at his fingernails nonetheless. "I would like to go or meet up. I would." A bobble of his head as he agrees, eyes lifting at the mention of Sira, "She … she… is coming?" A weak but very split moment smile, lost in his abrupt bounce off his chair when the healer is putting his hand there on Tad's shoulder. The healer looks first to his patient and then to Mahlia, explaining in a warm and friendly tone, "He needs to return to the infirmary now to rest. You look as if you need some yourself candidate." Tada's chest heaves some as he looks accusingly up at the healer, but he's already moving to stand from the hand that slips under his arm to get him to rise from the chair. The healer politely adds, "You can visit him more later, when we deem it won't risk his recovery." Tadarius starts muttering something that sounds like nonsense and jibberish. The healer nods to Tad and points him back to the infirmary.
Mahlia squeezes the gent's hand back tightly, thinking he probably needs it, she would grab him for a hug but isn't sure he's ready for that. The golden flecks that ebb across silky green irises shimmer as they examine the gents facial features "Couldn't be happier you've returned friend.. I was quite concerned. We should meet up, haven't seen Sira around lately, but m'sure it's a matter of no time once she hears you're back." She smiles to him, as well as the healer, standing only after Tad has taken a step away from his chair "I'll come by again during your next visitor's hours. Rest does sound good.. Thank you for taking care of him" she says to the attending healer before saying "Goodnight Tadarius, welcome home." She watches him slink back towards the infirmary, glad the knot in her stomach is at least slightly absolved, who woulda thought the little worry-wort was on to something?