Painting the Roses Redfruit Juice (Pern as we Know it)

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.


It's mid-evening around Eastern Weyr and Rukbat has long since fled from this winter day. The void sky, moonless and starless, doesn't provide much opportunity for a night time hatchling stroll, and with the damp cold air permeating the area, Mahl and Seracenath have taken cover in the Commons. The girl is crouched down, next to night-shaded emerald greenie, sweeping up a small broken mess of some plates that the dragon's long pointed tail sent crashing to the ground. She chuckles a bit as Cenath warbles and looks at her lifemate apologetically "It's ok, tight quarters in here now that you're getting so big m'love. Only a matter of time now till we're done with feeding in here and out on the hunt!" Mixed feeling emanate from the hatchling on this subject and Mahl moves to toss broken pieces while grabbing a tray of meat for grub time.

A'dar seems to like that shaded corner over there. As it is, who knows how long he's been sitting there, just watching the Weyr pass him by. Might be sort of creepy, actually. Especially since Mahlia and her lifemate may not even be aware of his presence until—

"…Soon, then…soon you'll graduate," A'dar says softly, still sitting in his shadowed corner of the cavern. "…And that's when it will begin." He tilts his head, regarding Mahlia and her green. His next words are spoken enigmatically. "…I hope you'll never regret the path you've taken…."

Mahlia near drops the tray of meat, startled slightly as shadows begin talking, but fingers grip tightly and it is placed on a table a few away from where the gent sits. Eastern's hustle and bustle has left this area rather calm tonight, not many others around except a few dredges tidying up here, cooking there, but otherwise it's relatively desolate.

The rumbling voice from the darkness is familiar, creepiness subsiding as A'dar is recognized quickly "Hi A'dar.. top of the evening to ya!" She looks to Seracenath who is bombarding her with a flurry of thoughts and feelings, all non-descript jumble "Yes, then we graduate… but then that's when what begins?" A few pieces of meat are ripped in to uniform pieces, just the way the hatchling likes it, and they are gobbled up quickly. Vermillion gaze squints the rider's way "Regret the path I've taken? Y'sound like m'mum.. what ever do you mean? How could this one true eternal bond be anything to regret?"

"Your life as a rider," A'dar replies softly. "It will /really/ begin once you graduate. You'll have a position, duties, and all that." There's a small, very gentle smile on his face. It's not a happy smile, though. It's wistful, as if he's thinking about a memory long past. And then he answers her second question, his voice barely above a whisper. "…It's…hard to explain. But I'll say this. I know that, if I had never accepted candidacy, I might have saved myself a lot of pain…."

Mahlia feeds the hatchling a perfect, pre-portioned amount of meat, slowly, for no yucky issues later. Eaten with great joy and appreciation, even if not the freshest of meats, the rider is eyed, by both girl and dragon-ling. A brow raises in reference to the peculiarity of it all. Still she smiles, taking a few steps his direction, but Seracenath is not quick to follow. Underlying mannerisms are felt deeply by the night-shaded green, some of it passed on to Mahl, but difficult to make sense of. She nods, and travels a few steps his way, asking "May I join you?" She waits for an answer before sitting and considers these topics. "Duties can't be any harder than Candidacy I suppose, plus m'pops will be so proud m'finally doing /something!/" She chuckles, but cuts it short as his hidden painful dismay is exposed by his answer "Y'mean.. it didn't make your life better? So much solitude and disappointment in Pern these days, figure no matter who comes and goes, I'll always have Cenath and she'll always have me"

A'dar sits with his back to that corner — a clear sign for those who can interpret it that he is accustomed to having to guard his back. Someone who hasn't felt safe for long enough that he's developed habits to protect himself. Permission to join him? It is given with a slow nod to Mahlia. "Becoming a rider…no, it didn't make my life better," A'dar replies quietly. "My lovely Zeituth may be the only good thing that came of it. Had I had to face what happened after graduation alone, I might not have been able to…." He trails off, going misty-eyed again. Not the misty eyes of a rider communing with his dragon. The misty eyes of someone looking into a past. "…Mistakes were made. Not only by me," he says after a few moments of silence. "I learned much from those mistakes…my own and others'. But those lessons were hard-learned…and painful…."

Mahlia is slow to sit, Seracenath only now moving quickly to nuzzle up against her side, watching the solemn rider with an intent red-black swirl to opalescent eyes. The color is noted by the Weyrling, slightly puzzled as the shades are nothing she's ever seen before, not that she has that much experience with the whole thing, but it's odd none the less. Mahl's a sensitive soul, feeling his deep-rooted emotions empathetically, that swelling in his eyes provoking the buried feelings she's been hiding from herself as she too has glassy green orbs welling with tears. They are fought back ferociously, knowing that will not help, and although she's inclined to reach for his hand to comfort, she knows better, or better yet, knows him well enough to know that may not be accepted. "What happened after graduation?" she can't help but ask before adding "Mistakes could've been made regardless ya? Hard-learned and painful lessons surely to occur in life regardless of being a rider I'd think.." Ok so maybe there's that whole proddy dynamic, but what's Mahl know 10 days in?

A'dar looks to the dragon a moment, confused. He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't seem too threatened by the green. He offers a thin smile to Mahlia. It's more a stretching of his lips than anything else, just this side of a slasher smile. Which is…probably kind of creepy. "Ah…but when she takes to the skies, to lead the males in chase…you will accept, without question, whatever partner rides he that catches your beautiful green lady. Male. Female. Young. Old." Here his 'smile' falls. "…Good. Or evil. As will any who you care for who also ride. Nothing will stop it, short of a barred door or physical restraints. Such…dalliances are common, though…maybe your mate won't care when you bear a child of another man…." He speaks of this as if it's a certainty, not a possibility.

Red eyes shift to a yellow-grey whorl, as the easily influenced greenie sorts through the perplexing depths of this shadow-dwelling gent, his confused glance meeting her gaze and helping to set her at ease as she sees the human hiding below that gruff exterior shell. Black rimmed nostrils flare and send a gust of warm air towards her lifemate as wedged head rests on the seated girls lap. Mahl takes quick to scritching, before the demand even has a chance to process. The disconcerting smile makes hers fall, the jungles trapped in her irises deepening in thought "I'm not even sure how all of that will go.. I mean m'pops is a bronzerider, n'all the headache he put my mum through.. leaving us at the vineyards for his weyrmate when he became Weyrleader.. only to be replaced and come back begging for forgiveness." S

She sighs, wishing she could have a nice big glass of Benden already, but alas she's a rule follower.. most of the time. His speaking from experience hits her loud and clear "I suppose it does kinda muck up the whole hopeless romantic thing.. then again I'd say m'so caught up in the uncertainty of my present situation.." she hadn't even mentioned it lately, not until now, and there's that army of tears surging to charge, gulped down with a hard swallow.

"Indeed it will," A'dar replies softly. "Flights. Rank. Positions of power. I wanted none of those. All I wanted was happiness. And after everything disappeared around me, I couldn't even end it. That would have hurt Zeituth. He was only an unwilling, hapless bystander in it all. He doesn't deserve this life…he deserves better…."

A sigh, and he closes his eyes. "He stood by me when no one else did. When everyone else deserted me, he was there. He remained true. And I brought him down into these depths with me when I fell, quite unintentionally. Now? I live for him. He wants something exotic that can only be gotten at Telgar? We go to Telgar, any time of the day or night. Whatever he wants, if it's my power to get for him, I do so."

A pause, and he seems to at least get /some/ of his mirth back, as it plays in a smile on his lips. "In the end, just remember one thing. Your fine dark lady will be the only true friend you have in this world. She is the only one who knows you like no one else…who can see what her pain does to you…and vice versa." He sends a look to the green. And as he speaks the next, he seems to be addressing the green directly. "Please see that she has support when she needs it…?" he requests honestly.

Mahlia listens, doleful expression truly feeling the gravity of his words, hands slowing to a yearning pet as they work down from headknobs to neck. "I suppose that ultimately, happiness is what we make of it A'dar.. what we find in ourselves, and fortunately in this amazing eternal bond shared with our lifemates." A deep breath is taken, she's young, but now and then wisdom expels itself from her thought processes "What you say is quite valid, and no matter how close to any human we become, it is all to easy to be let down, left to fend for ourselves, backs turned and often when needed most."

"As mad at my parents as I was, they taught me the most valuable lesson by sending me away.. you can't depend on anyone but yourself and true happiness comes from within. No one person can make any other person happy." This comment generates a small rumble from the greenie, Mahl's eyes lose focus as thoughts are shared. She says softly "It's different with dragons.. different with you Seracenath.."

Her mouth has become dry, unable to move, a passing drudge is asked for mug of redfruit juice. This is delivered quickly and sipped on, lips smacking with a quenched ahh. As she sips, the rider's words direct towards the shadows of emerald hatchling, who's eyes shimmer translucent blue greens, this little one is a healer by nature, ready for whatever may come their way.

"Oh that's true…" A'dar agrees. "No other can make one truly happy. But others can make one /un/happy," he points out, with a smirk. "Others can, and often do, make another unhappy, because it is the only way they can truly impact one's life." He pauses then, as she asks a drudge for some juice.

And when the drudge is away? A'dar begins to chuckle. "Ah, but never you mind me. These words of mine are merely the words of an old curmudgeon who's lived probably far too long to be of any use besides offering prophecies of death and heartache," he offers, sitting back in his chair and waving a hand dismissively. "Youth is…fleeting. So is naivety. I wish I still had both of mine."

Despite his words, he's hardly a curmudgeon; he's only seven turns older than Mahlia. Even though she wouldn't know his actual age, he doesn't look that old. Fact, the probably looks a little younger than he is, because of the training he sticks to religiously.

Mahlia nods as another gulp is nearly choked down "Well said, and sadly too true as well." Index finger taps on the table a few beats "Then again, people can positively impact someone's life too. I've made some friends around here that have really helped me through some serious stuff.." Then again she has made some that haven't too, and the disappointment almost resounds in her expressionless eyes.

A nudge from Seracenath's murky snout snaps her out of it, and finally she smiles again as he chuckles. Arms wrap around the dragons neck and their heads prop together like a lean-to. "Old curmudgeon you say? Y'dont look many turns older than I Sir.." the last part is said teasingly since he seems to think he's so aged. "Many things in life are fleeting, what a few moments and people we should even fathom holding on to." Another sip of juice as her bright green eyes look up from behind mug. It is set on the table and she goes back to the cuddling entwinement with her lifemate "I know it's easier said than done, but ya ever thought about trying t'let go of all those pains that haunt ya?"

A'dar gives a thoughtful sound when she mentions having made friends. "Never keep them too close. But don't keep them too far away, either," he advises. "If they're too close, they can find a weak point. If they're too far away, you can't know what they're planning." And he chuckles at the mention of his age. "Maybe not. But often what's more important is how old you feel, isn't it?"

And finally, he smiles gently at the suggestion to let go. "Ah yes, I have many times," he replies. "I have let go of them…only to find my arms full of more burdens, more pain. Sometimes old pain all over again, sometimes new pain. Eventually you cannot let go. There's just too much to let go of…." He smirks. "Ever dropped a heavy piece of metal on your foot? It's like that. But when you drop such pains, it's your heart that's underneath instead of your foot."

Mahlia takes his advice to heart, knowing she's heard something like that before "M'mum used to say something like that too when I was a younger teen and having friend problems.. keep yer friends close and yer enemies closer.. all I really ever need is right here though." She nuzzles her head into Cenath's before sitting upright again, one arm continuing to stroke the smooth glistening hide running down lithe neck. The green croons and Mahl giggles a little, blushing a bit and agreeing "I suppose age is just a number and the true reflection is how one feels."

The Weyrling looks contemplative, leaning back in her chair a bit "I'm afraid I know this smashed, heavy heart feeling.." by the tonation of her voice, it is easy to tell this wound is a fresh one. She sighs a bit, looking in to her dwindling juice almost wishing she could just drown in there, thankful she's got such an amazing lifemate to make her realize that thought is foolish. "Oh what a many travesties we endure.. they say it is supposed to make us stronger, but in reality it weakens us to the core.. sadness and pain is difficult to overcome, especially if dealt the same crappy cards over and over.. moving on is easier said than done."

A'dar seems actually contented to hear Mahlia say Cenath is the only one she needs. "…In the end, she may be all you have," he says quietly. Another dismissive wave of his hand. "Many youngsters are giddy when they are chosen for candidacy. Even more so when their lifemates appear on the sands," he states. "Few realize that, even beyond the care and upkeep of those lifemates…that their lives will change on a fundamental level. Everything will change. And not all of those changes will be good." Here he chuckles. "The moral is, of course, not everything is as pretty and rosy as many believe being a rider is. There are many…complicated issues. Hopefully you can sort them out."

Mahlia bites her bottom lip, head nodding and brows furrowing to a peak at the center as she listens "She's all I need, and truly between her and the beasties that's /is/ all I really have.." she doesn't want to say it, and hasn't said it to anyone up to this point "I was abandoned by my mate a few fortnights back.. we were supposed to Stand together with hopes that both our lifemates would be out there, but he disappeared the night he got Searched and I haven't seen or heard from him since." She frowns a bit, quickly comforted by Seracenath who leans in even further, if that was even possible. "Nothing is pretty and rosy, and oftentimes things are never what they seem. Cenath wants a garden.. a big one, when get out Weyr. So there will always be beautiful flowers in our lives.. but yes everything has and will, and will continue to change.. not always for the better unfortunately, but that makes the good so much more enjoyable I guess."

A'dar frowns a little as Mahlia notes her current woes. "…Hmm…." The sound is quiet and thoughtful. "…That…is unfortunate. But yes…you see now why such things are so difficult. And now that you have Impressed and he has not…your relationship will be more…open. Forcibly so, I'm afraid."

A sigh. "…But. For what it's worth. I do wish you luck with that situation. I hope you find him unharmed, and that he wishes you back. On top of the new 'situation' you have on your hands now." This last is said with a little bit of mirth, and he looks at Cenath playfully.

It is difficult for Mahl to find the words, but it can be certain the look of her tells all. Shoulders shrug a bit as averted wandering eyes retract sheepishness and settle on A'dar, as if trying to read the subtext that is not found beneath his straightforward observations. "For better of for worse I suppose that is true.. guess we just weren't meant to be monogamous, no matter how hard we fought 'living like the riders do'" These stinging words are obviously taken from some experiential minor altercation they had during their time together.

Cenath croons to her, wriggling nose in to an idle hand, those brilliant blue tinged orbs looking up in hopes to ease. "She always knows.. good or bad, m'glad t'at least know she will always be there for me, and I for her.." drawing back to the topic of MIA gent a nod is shared "I suppose I do care to at least know that he is alright, even if he's left with some lass or something.. oh well" not really that it is that inconsequential, but no sense in dwelling. She giggles and the greenie looks the gents way, shooting back what might be considered a playful response of an expression "She says the only situation here is figuring out how she can get you to come visit /her/ garden when it's done." That is when Mahl is finished planting it all.

A'dar's stance is tense and always on edge, always ready to spring. The set of his shoulders is firm and tells further of his ever-present tension. "Maybe. Maybe not. But life will always change. Life will always march on. Reality doesn't stop. There's no real way to fight it. It just tramples you and keeps going, without giving a second glance." His words are spoken half-jokingly, and the smirk makes it hard to tell if he's kidding or not.

As for the garden? A chuckle. "…You need only tell me where it's going to be," he replies. "I'll even help you plant it. I'm a clockmaker, I'm fairly good with my hands." No double-entendre meant in the words.

Mahlia shakes her head, auburn-black tendrils spiraling and bouncing off shoulders as she does "It will always change, and Pern-ality as I like to call it won't wait for anyone.. so do you fight? Do you get trampled? Do you look back and think what if? I've learned to take nothing for granted in my turns, hope for the best, but expect and be prepared for the worst. Expect nothing from no one, and you'll never be let down." She's serious, even if he was joking, but Seracenath's presence overwhelms her, head getting a bit dizzy where she sits.

"You'd really help me plant a bit? Cenath's got this ridiculously" she get's a nudge from the green "Ok.. ok.. ridiculously amazing plan of garden grandeur and insists that when we graduate we must move somewhere with plenty of room for a dragon-sized plot of lush tropicals." The callow color in the girl's eyes flicker with the signature gold flecks commonly seen during up-beat moments. "It'd be amazing t'have someone like yourself out there too, Cenath can only really help with the digging part."

A'dar offers a gentle smile. "That question is one of those that define us as people," he says quietly. Though he says nothing else about it, seeming to be willing to let the conversation drift to lighter topics for the time being. Apparently this 'lighter topic' is flowers, and the possibility of making a huge garden of flowers!

"Of course," he states. "This dream, whether yours or hers, should be fulfilled. I had one that was much the same…I finally fulfilled it, and I'm almost happy enough to leave it be…."

Mahlia beams back to the rider, letting the heavy conversation slip away for now, ready to stop thinking about the travesties that fall upon good people who deserve better. What a sad Pern it can be, but lucky are the few who remember to enjoy the little things in life. LIKE FLOWERS! This topic has made Seracenath quite exciteable, long tail starts to sway, bumping in to a chair there, a dredge's feet here, adn the hatchling shakes a little, like a giddy canine. "Oh man now we've gone and done it.. she wants to scope sites as soon as we can and says she'll def be looking for ya when we've found the spot." Verdant orbs remain fixed on the gent for a few good moments as he speaks of fulfilling dreams "Aye.. too true, dreams and lifemates is really all there is.. happiness enough for me, mate or not." This might be a hopeful overstatement, as her heart is truly hurting for the grave loss of someone she trusted and invested in "I do hope to see you again soon A'dar, but I should probably get her back to the Weyrling Caverns before any more plates are broken.. these hatchlings have really taken a toll on the Commons lately. I hope you have a wonderful eve" She lingers there for a moment, lips curled in a warm smile, and after they bid each other farewell, she slowly pushes to a stand and herds the hatchling home. Seracenath looks back just one, sending bluegreen warmth and positivity the riders way.

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