Above, Miyakath blinks in from ::between:: amidts the shimmer and gleam of gold.
Above, Nverath soars, with deceptive liquidity, downward to land in the Seacliffs Courtyard. D'baji follows a path of wispy white from shoulder to forearm to slide to the ground from Nverath's neck, landing lightly.
Kristiana leans her right side against the front wall of the hold, one foot kicking around a few pebbles as she converses with another resident across from her. She laughs at whatever the person said and nods. "Right, but you know how Feln is," she replies to the woman with a chuckle, who blushes. "Oh, not there is anything /wrong/ with Feln." Cough. Shudder. Both turn as dragon shapes loom above the courtyard. "'eya, Kristi, it's 'Baji... and another." The bartendress grins and nods as she leans up from her wall, walking toward where the dragons might land though leaving room for their decension, raising a hand to both.
Nverath makes a point of going to spiral into a slow and easy landing. Partially because that blue Weyrlingmaster flying along with them wouldn't approve of any dive-bombings, and partially because there is a Miyakath there and he certainly doesn't want to have to be chewed out by her, and partially because it does feel ever so nice on the wings. As the trio settles, D'baji loosens himself from the straps, sliding off the bronze's neck, and in loosening the very same straps, calling over to Yulianna: "So this is it. I know it's really not much of a stunning thing from up high, but it makes up for it. And Nverath says that the cliffs do provide great places to go and sit." Go'a, on his blue Indiath, gives a roll of his eyes for the Weyrling's excuses, rather quickly loosening his own lifemate's riding straps, and with a quick excusing salute, heading off towards the hold, with a nanny to see about. Mrowr. And Nverath, ever-observant Nverath, takes note of the two women in the courtyard, offering his own soft croon their way before turning to monitor the gold's reaction to this place his rider is so very attached to.
Miyakath hovers a moment in the air, then folds her wings delicately for a graceful dive, backwinging into a slow downward drift, and landing gracefully in the courtyard. Golden neck is arched and bejewelled eyes winked loftily as sails of pure gold are folded neatly along her lissom body, and one foreleg is raised and a small form wrapped in redgold leather slides from between a pair of neckridges, springing lightly to the ground. Her eyes rove all around the courtyard and she nods lightly to D'baji's commentary. "Looks like a...a hold." she replies with a quirked grin. Her eyes go right over any of the inhabitants of the courtyard, but she does take in the presence of a couple of traders' wagons. "Ya' said ya' lived here fer a couple turns, right?" See? She really does pay attention when he talks...sometimes.
"You're not seeing much of it right here, and you may have missed a lot of it from the air, the best parts," Kristiana directs toward Yulianna, tacking onto D'baji's comments about the place. "There's the beach, which is splendid, and, of course, the best place-- the pub." She rearranges the things in her arms--empty glass, the sharding harp case, some hides--and yawns. "Sorry... Just got off work. I'm Kristiana, by the way, and that person eyeing the bluerider with an evil grin is Kimmy. You must be Yuli?" She looks toward the bronzerider, then. "How ya been? Taking advantage of the whole going *between* thing, both of you... and your lifemates?"
D'baji shrugs to Yulianna, contenting himself that the straps aren't going to strangle his Nverath anytime soon, and leaving them on, but loose, for now. One never knows when Go'a will get in a fight with his nanny and want to go home. "Well, yeah, just about a turn," he replies to Yuli with a sage nod and an affectionate pat for Nverath's foreleg. And now to turn and blink at the people, a Kristi among them, happiness! "Yeah, well, Nverath's hoping we'd get to the beach... He didn't get to visit it yet, and he's seen it sort of now... Oh, right!" Blinkblink. "Yuli, that's Kristiana. Kristi, that's Yulianna." Or, as Nverath calls them, Iana #1, meet Ianna #2. Ahem. "Well, Go'a needs an escort as he goes off galavanting, y'know. And Nverath does like the place..."
Yulianna blinks at the older girl as she guesses her name and nods, "Aye, Yulianna." she offers simply, tugging her gloves off and stepping toward Kristiana, extending a hand to shake. "Well met, Kristiana." she nods, with a soft smile. "I've heard...a bit about ya'. Good to meet ya' finally." Her eyes continue to travel around the courtyard after that grin toward the woman. She doesn't bother to mention that she's not even old enough to drink for another three months. But after a moment, she does turn back with a hand on Miyakath's muzzle, "Ah, an' this is Miyakath--'course."
"He might not want to visit it right now," Kristiana replies with a chuckle. "Ship just came in, and the men are unloading. No doubt they'd stop their work if they eyed these beautiful creatures." She grins toward D'baji's belated introduction, shaking her head. "I suppose, though, if they go to the far beach... they might be safer..." She returns Yulianna's handshake with a smile and nod. "And I you, and definitely it is," she replies before looking behind the rider at the dragon. Miyakath is sent a smile and nod as well. "Well met to you, Miyakath. So would you two like something warm to drink, perhaps, or... anything? Or just exploring?"
D'baji's forehead creases a tad in a frown. "Really, a ship... Who all's on it? It's not Feln's is it?" Though the thought of seeing Feln again obviously carries some sort of amusement for the ex-Fisherman. "They'd stop their work anyway, just that it would be beautiful dragons instead of beautiful women they'd blame it on. Chances are, either way, at least a few of 'em will end up in the pub before they're completely done." D'baji beams for their handshaking, all proud-like, even, and then raises both eyebrows in affirmation of Kristiana's idea. "That sounds rather tempting..." Blink over at Yuli and Miya/kath/ now. "Unless of course you want to go and look at the main part of the hold before doing anything? I mean, /if/ you want to get something to drink, of course. Great little juice mixing ideas they've got down there..." Insert wink to Kristi here.
Kristiana shakes her head slowly as she thinks. "One of the Istans, I think," she replies. "I didn't get a very good look at their sails." Shrugging, she chuckles. "Feln was in the pub last time I checked, but he could be back to work." She grins toward D'baji, nodding, before looking toward Yulianna and whispering to the woman, "Honestly, there's not much to see at SeaCliffs. Just kidlets, beach, lighthouse, and pub." She looks toward the direction of the last, nodding, before looking toward the direction the bluerider went. She'll give them alcohol only because she's trying to learn to be Bad. And a Rule Breaker. Normally, she'd lecture them on following rules, but she's learning. "If you're thirsty, I can find something lying around. Come on..." She starts pubwards.
Yulianna retrieves her hand and clasps them both lightly behind her back, peering from Kristiana to D'baji and back. "Well, it's yer hold...so...what ever ya' wanna show me." she grins, rocking forward on the balls of her feet and back on her heels.
"Well," the bronzerider begins his musings, "the pub /would/ be a good enough place to go... I mean, nothing like starting the tour with some sort of liquid in yer belly. And from there maybe we could go to the main hold, and then to the beach, and we could always end there as well? If we've the time, time is always a problem..." D'baji gives a hmm, and, with a bit of a shrug, starts off after the bartendress. "Nverath, you want to stay here?" The bronze ruffles his wings and rather pointedly folds them along his back, oozing neatly into a little golden-bronze lump. Yes.
Cliffside Pub
The rustic redolence of sea spray and weathered antique furniture seems to engulf the cozy little pub as one walks though the thick paneled doors. Dimly lit with a few glows scattered around the small opened room, it hardly offers space to move about unless the tables were cleared out of the way. Deep mahogany crown molding with engraved wave-like patterns is boldly displayed at the top of the walls. A chair rail ledge also works it's way around the room with small, handcrafted wooden boats with white plastered sails on display for all to see. The walls are a light sea-blue and the floor a hard wood that has been stained into a sandy brown colour. A few slant windows can be propped open when the weather is pleasant, allowing in warm sunlight. The bar is made from craved wood, with a dozen or so stools gathered around it. A mixed array of various sized tables are spread out over the room although their design remains much the same. The furniture shows everyday wear and tear, a kick here a scratch there. Although it does not distract the eye from the rest of the room. A rug is set before a large fireplace that is set towards one side of the pub with a comfy looking sofa couch set before the hearth. The little pub seems efficient enough for the locals. Here, drinks are preferred. The only thing offered on the menu is chowder and bread for anyone who can not reach the hold in time for a full meal. It is a summer before dawn.
D'baji gambols in from the Lighthouse Cliffs.
Yulianna ambles in from the Lighthouse Cliffs.
Kristiana opens the door to the pub to let them pass inward. "So, this is the hang-out of SeaCliffs. Lovely, hmm?" She winks and then tosses her stuff on the bar. "'Ey, Kristi, I thawt ye lefted!" She peers toward the fisherman at the bar. "I see our grammar lessons haven't helped you in the slightest, Brayd," she tells him with a grin as she grabs out two glasses. And ignore all the fishermen and others peering toward them. "So what'll it be, folks? Just juice, or shall I do something else?" She points to stools at the bar.
Yulianna shoots D'baji a sharp look at the suggestion of 'something else'. Friends don't let friends fly drunk. *cough* "Klah fer me, thanks--if ya' have it fresh." She hooks a stool with one foot and draws it toward herself, forced to give a little hop to achieve the seat. A long gaze is offered around the room, an appraising look given the furniture and the fireplace, and at long last, a hand is run smoothely along the bar. "It's very cozy." she murmurs to herself, stuffing her gloves into her belt.
D'baji raises an eyebrow towards Yulianna, personally considering the sharp look to be some sort of mention over the pub. "I'll go with the juice for now, if that's alright. And just the juice. I mean, maybe if we come back again something else, but y'know, I've not been de-sensitized to your mixings quite yet, since candidacy..." A stool is claimed, perched on, and the fishermen given a sweet little smile. "It doesn't bother them that it's sorta in the morning, does it?" he mutters for whichever of the Ian(n)a people care to hear. "Right, so, this is the pub. Yeah, cozy enough... The fishermen might kill the atmosphere somewhat, and I'd watch myself around them if I were you, they can take anything as a pickup line."
Kristiana grins toward Yulianna. She complimented the bar. She gets an A in Kristiana's book. She doesn't really have a /book/ per se, but.... you get the idea. "Of course," she replies with a nod as she grabs a mug. "This is a family place after all." Which.... would explain why half the female patrons are in male patrons' laps. She pours klah into the mug and then slips it before Yulianna. She raises an eyebrow at D'baji. "Juice?" she mouths with furrowed forehead as she pours the liquid. "I never thought I'd hear you say that word in here." A chuckle then goes toward the bronzerider as she shakes her head. "Have they ever? Some of them worked late afternoons, so this is... like... night to them." She nods about his part about the pickup line, telling Yuli quietly "And watch your bum" as a burly guy comes up toward them. Kristiana grins and waves as the newcomer to SeaCliffs attempts to put his arm around D'baji, his unusually high pitched voice asking. "Aw, Kris, who's yer cute li'l friend?" The bartendress snickers.
Yulianna quirks an amused eyebrow at D'baji's mention of the fishermen. "An' ya' think I couldn't handle myself around men twice my size?" She shoots him a meaningful look, and turns back toward Kristiana. "I'm...honestly a bit surprised that yer so small." Ahem. "Meaning...yer about my height..." Probably an inch taller. "Fer some reason I thought ya'd be a..." she hesitates, chuckling softly to herself, "...a towering beauty..." She trails off, raised eyebrow turned on the man with his arm around the bronzerider. "Doesn't seem that /I'm/ the one who'll need to watch myself at all." Hm. How /very/ interesting.
D'baji gives a rather pointed cough, and even a bit of a blush, for Yuli's comment, proceeding to look just a bit too innocently Kristianawards. "Well, y'know... I mean, just so that... I mean, I don't want Yuli to feel left out with her klah, so juice... And yeah, it's good and fruity?" He can indeed be flustered by goldriders. And now to gently pat the arm so happily thrown around him, giving an uncomfortable little half-quirked smile. "Hi..." is given as he makes an attempt to lever the arm up from around his shoulders. Shellin' burly fishermen. And he's burly too, but really, I mean, high-pitched voice man is big. And a snort for the comments of tallness.
Kristiana blinks toward Yulianna, pausing in her pouring herself a glass of juice. "Yeah... I'm quite short..." she replies with a chuckle. "I never knew anyone had that impression of me, but that is... interesting." She raises an eyebrow briefly toward D'baji, but then nods. "Aye, that it is. That's why they call it fruit juice." She winks as she slides back onto her stool, glass now poured. "So are your dragons enjoying SeaCliffs? Did they try out the beach?" She grins at the fishermen, shaking her head and murmuring. "That's not Trouff. Trouff will be back later, and I'll introduce him." Aye, the bartendress is turning the tables on her matchmaking pub boy...
Yulianna leans back a little, looking very amused, but not willing to let go of the vein of conversation regarding Kristiana's height. "Well, maybe if yer spoken highly enough of, people begin ta think that yer a tall person." She quirk an innocent grin, leaning forward, again and lacing her fingers together, resting her chin on them. "Not ta say that it actually implies that anyone's perception of anyone else is ever entirely correct. We all judge other people on our own 'xperience, don'tcha think?" She does a lovely job of keeping her eyes off D'baji, but studying Kristiana's face closely.
D'baji shrugs towards Kristiana's raised eyebrow, still prodding the big man's arm, though his finger-jabs have become obviously disheartened, and he seems just nearly content to to submit to the half-hug. Thank Faranth that there is a Kristiana, which gives the burly guy a startled look, a peer at D'baji, and has him leaving, with the bronzer rolling his shoulders to stretch them. "And she is spoken highly of?" is questioned of Yulianna with a sweet little smile. If she's saying it, she may as well at least prove that he speaks highly of Kristiana twice, right? And the fact that he's not being looked at, well, he won't let /that/ bother him. "The dragons are still basking in the sounds of the courtyard. At least, 'Ver's basking." Darn it Yuli, get off that topic.
"Well, then, you should be a giant, as well, according to that theory?" Kristiana replies as she raises her glass in her habitual toast and then takes a drink. She looks toward a clear bottle and back toward her drink, fighting the urge to do a little mixing as she fidgets in her seat. Will... not... drink... alcohol... Yulianna's inspection of her makes her fidget even more, and she shoots a 'Help!' look to D'baji. "I agree..." she replies. "I trust his judgement, though, but I do like to make up my mind for myself..." She scoots her stool back some before giving a look to D'baji. "What? Am I not?" she replies with an innocent look before nodding. "I still think, personally, that it's good that they keep off the beach for a while, considering the crowd." And shardit, she can't stand it anymore! Two bottles are grabbed, a bit of each poured into the juice and mixed.
Yulianna barely keeps an amused grin from creeping across her face, but the other eyebrow raises to join the first. And, of course, there's no way she's going to let that pass. "Really? I'm spoken that highly of? a' can't, perhaps, hear dragons, can ya', Kristiana? Only person I can think of that would speak so high of myself is Miyakath." Yes, she's still pointedly ignoring D'baji. "But you...I've heard, well, practically every day how charmin' and pret--no...it wasn't pretty..." she pauses, a look of searching on her face, and then her expression lights up, "Ah! Cute! That was it. How cute ya' are. And of course there were the other things...intelligent, beautiful, amazin'...astoundin'." And /now/ she shoots a look at D'baji, a /very/ pointed look. "Things which, I'm told, are much more important than bein' cute. A few virtues which, apparently, some of us lack." Now she turns back to face Kristiana, again, her expression /perfectly/ innocent. "But ya' seem to have them in golds."
D'baji hunches down rather pointedly over the bar, bringing his elbows up and effectively sticking his head between them in some sort of hiding idea, only to peer out cautiously at the two as he's neatly embarrassed. "Well, y'know, I think you're rather not a bad person," is muttered to Yuli, more for his sake than hers. And at the comment of cute, forearms are brought down via straightening of elbows to slap the bar. "I did /not/ say cute, thank you /very/ much!" Defensive little bronzer, isn't he? And for all those things following cute, he sinks back into his protective puddle on the bartop. "Just a... little highly," is said through an exhasperated sigh to Kristiana, the words "Thank you," mouthed to Yuli. "And I never said you lacked..." And now his gaze flits to the fishermen and the bartendress and the goldrider, and with an audible snap of his teeth, he shuts his mouth and braces himself for the outcome of any of this.
Kristiana laughs lightly as she shakes her head. "I just keep my ears open," she replies as she mixes her drink with a straw. "Amazing, the things you hear, when you listen carefully enough. And then body language comes into play sometimes." And now Kristiana is blushing profusely, which could explain why she's adding more alcohol to her glass. And is avoiding looking at either of the two across from them, though Bert seems to be taking notes. She takes this time to pour some wine for others, attempting to look busy, before returning to the two with a cough. "Right. Well. It's good to know... I have... virtues... I've always considered me to be just...me... and... Oh, well see. I'm not cute, Yuli, so there's one thing you can cross off the list." She doesn't know whether to feel insulted or not, and she's too embarrased to really bother with thinking over that. "No, no, he does seem to consider you... highly...so no worries... And see that look there?" She gestures to D'baji with her glass. "That's the I Want To Crawl *Between* posture, so maybe we should change the subject."
Yulianna pretends not to notice D'baji's attempt to hide, but a little grin does tug at the corner of her mouth. And thus she proves that she's back to ignoring D'baji...and how good she is at it. "Oh, but ya' /are/ cute." she insists. "Yer hair is just lovely. I could never do /anythin'/ with my hair...trust me, it's best left short." she adds wryly. "An, o'course, I've got eyes like some sort of fowl er somethin', but yers...that pretty blue-green color--" she glances at D'baji, "Aren't they pretty? Don't ya' think so, D'baji?" She waves the 'I want to crawl between' comment aside and shakes her head, "Aw, he's tough this'un. /Steadfast/ ya' might say...steadfast as...as the heart of true love." Oops! Did she just say that out loud? A hand is waved dismissingly, again, "He's tougher than he looks, an' trust me, he's tough to look at!" She waves her mug of klah cheerfully around and takes a long swig from it.
"No, cuteness is different," D'baji-puddle insists."Lovely hair and cuteness... They're not the same. Cause cute is like baby-ish, and just seems wrong to describe..." And now to slip happily back into his somewhat shocked silence. "Yes, very pretty," is agreed for the eyes in the most defeated tone he can muster. And then for the true love comment, the puddle turns beautifully red. "Whether that's true or not," he whuffles, "I still think-" And here he breaks off, turning somewhat to peek at Kristiana. "You didn't spike that klah, did you?"
Kristiana is not grinning anymore. Her face is too red, and she's fidgeting too much to consider any other facial expression. She looks quickly toward D'baji, who is obviously to embarrased, as well, to save her, and then back toward Yulianna. "I think you would look nice with longer hair, but that's nice, too," Kristiana mumbles in reply andw ith a shrug. "And your eyes are fine, too..." She takes another gulp of her drink before continuing. "Is he though, though? I suppose you would know. You're the one that has lived with him for several turns. I'll take your word for it. I'm sure there are a lot of things you know about him that I don't." She grabs some glasses and drops them into a sink before leaning back against the wall behind her, arms crossed over her chest. And then she just blinks at D'baji, and then at Yulianna, and shakes her head. "No," she replies softly. "I wouldn't do that." A hand goes out as if to swat a nearby drudge. "Go find something better to do. Keep your nose out of others' business.." she tells the tall man with a sigh.
Yulianna sets down her mug and waves her hand. "Nonsense, nonsense! Ya' put too much sway on candidacy and weyrlin'hood. I'm sure that D'baji is quite the same as he was when he left, ya' know? An' I'm sure his heart'll always be in the same place." *coughseacliffscough* She slaps D'baji heartily on the chest--not unlike an aunt fondly ruffling her favorite nephew. "Ya' don't really have to go anywhere." she insists, downing the rest of her klah. "What about takin' me around the rest of the hold? It seems nice, if a touch small." What's this? She's /finally/ going to let go of the compliments!? The wonders never cease.
D'baji actually pulls himself out of his puddle enough to offer a glare towards Yulianna for all her talking. And, breaking that, he sends a downright apologetic look towards Kristiana, his puddly-self reforming and rippling with a sort of sorry shrug. "Right," he replies softly with a semblance of a nod. "Wouldn't have expected that from you." Insert weak (as in, faultering completely) upturn of the corners of his mouth, and then returning his glare to Yuli for her patting him. Oh no, he's starting to feel a wee bit protective of the bartendress again. "There's been a bit of change since Nverath, certainly. And as for the rest, well." Another ripple shrug, and, absolutely grateful for the distraction of having Bert being somewhat sent away, he nods to Yulianna, pulling himself up a second time. "Yeah, y'know, the drudges /do/ have the best knowledge of inside and outside the hold... Let him take you, surely. It's small, but it's nice, he'll tell you all about it, wontcha Bert buddy?" Oh please, oh please.
Kristiana bites her lip slightly as she looks down into her glass, the mighty bit of alcohol in it sort of reaching her now. "You know, Yuli..." she starts softly. "I don't mean to be... rude, and it's honestly nice, finally, to know how I am considered, but... where I come from, friends keep things between friends." She nods slowly as she walks back to the bar, setting down her drink. "Aye, that's what I've told the others, that he's not really changed, though few seem to believe me. They see that bronze and think he's an entirely new person." All this fun talking about D'baji like he's not even here... Whee! Her voice remains quiet as her eyes widen toward D'baji. No telling what Bert will tell the girl... She'll return to Ista with more news. But she only nods, pouring a bit more juice into her glass. "Right, they could show you every nook and cranny you'd want to see."
D'baji frowns a final time as he raises up from his stool, no longer the puddle, it would seem. As a puddle wouldn't so much stand from a stool as ooze right on off of it. He gives a little cough for all this conversation over him, not particularly knowing what to say on the topic, so for once going with what would seem a wiser decision and not saying anything at all until Bert gives the affirmative nod for taking them about the hold, commenting something to the effect of "We'll start with the avians, then," as he heads towards the door. And the riders follow, D'baji only throwing a final apologetic look to Kristiana. "You can join us if you want?" *dingle* That's the door opening already. Beach "Well, this is the beach," D'baji notes to his lifemate, playing master of the obvious. Nverath gives an appreciative rumble deep in his throat, white-flecked wings stretching in a luxurious and liquid stretch as he eyes the water, and licks his lips in an almost human gesture he's picked up from his rider. "Go on then," D'baji encourages, himself oozing to a nice sitting spot where he can lean his back against a little lump of sand, most likely remnants of a kidlet's Sand Hold. And the bronze very well pours himself into the sea, giving a happy little whuffle that turns to bubbles partway through as he sinks. Rather like a rock, a snout the only bit that resurfaces for the sake of air. A large wave hits the water in the form of a bronze, and Kristiana's pushed back and under several feet. Resurfacing, she coughs, wiping her face, and peers around her. "What the...?" Did no one tell her a ship would be coming in? Then she sees the bronze, and immediately starts for shore. Rider can't be far, and he might be in the pub. Bikini-clad Kristi wades onto the sand, smiling and waving toward D'baji as she grabs her nearby towel. "Welcome back! Where's your friend this time?" Nverath doesn't notice Kristiana first. Gasp choke. He's already deep into the water by now, honeyed wings popping up to help him float, as being nearly fully submerged does take some effort. D'baji is eyeing Kristi with frank admiration. Never thought she'd be one for a bikini. Seems so daring, or something, and Kristi is so... Kristi. But heh, if she feels safe enough wearing one of those things in a fisherman-infested hold... "Thank you, very much," he returns to her greeting, sitting up a little straighter against the late sand hold. "No, I... Am not sure I want a repeat. And y'know, already got that to take care of, if there is anything left to say. Apologize for the way she acted and all, I don't know why she would. I mean, she /knows/ I like you and that..." He shrugs. Not his job to figure out girls. "And I would've gone looking for you in the pub, but there are always too many people there," and the beach is /so/ much better for this? "and Nverath did want to swim here." Kristiana figures they're going to look at her body anyway, and the bikini was cheap, so she bought it. Towel runs across her hair as she approaches him and his sand hold prop, looking down at him and nodding. "Thanks for that... no offense." She chuckles, shaking her head. "It's sort of what I expected. I lived in a place, you know, with lots of... well, no offense, but girls. She's a girl. And I saw that from time to time. I wasn't surprised. She seems quite nice, though, despite the... well... jealousy." She coughs slightly, as she's not one to say what might be considered offensive words. "Oh, quite understandable, and nice you chose here, since here is where I am. How are you both?" "It's no problem. And I'll talk to her about it at some point too, she really... I can't see any right in the what she did and said, I mean... It was uncomfortable. For me at least." And now D'baji blinks at her, boot heel grinding into the sand as he gives a light cough. "Jealousy, you think? Well, why'd she be so jealous? I mean, she acts alright when I'd just talk about you... You aren't jealous with her too, are ya?" That is asked ominously enough. He doesn't like the thought of such things at all. "But we're both alright. I was a little... well, worried about you, after all that's been said in the past few days... Nverath is simply happy. He says the water here is very nice. How are you?" Kristiana shrugs slightly at his words as she lays down her towel and sits on it. "Well, you know, if that's how she is, that's how she is, and she's just going to get defensive if you 'talk to her about it'. Tell her she did something wrong. Most people don't like that." She shrugs again as she pushing some sand off the towel. "I don't know. If she's your friend, maybe it's because she's afraid I'll take a way a bit of the friendship. If she feels more, then, well, that's obvious. She could have been playing around, though, but you know her better than I." She thinks for a minute before chuckling. "I'm not any more, no, because she's more than happily told me things you've said. So maybe she was trying to help me out. Before, yeah, I guess I was, kind of. More that she got to be around you and I didn't than anything else." She looks toward the bronze with a smile, nodding. "It's good that he likes it, and yes, these past few days have been strange, yet... good in away. We've gotten a lot of stuff out, I think." D'baji hmms thoughtfully, angling himself a little more towards her, and wiggling his back and shoulders to re-create the indent in the fall sand hold. For more comfort. "You think so? I dunno... I mean, I was just sorta bothered by it myself, and I don't know how you felt, exactly, but... I dunno, just figured maybe I should bring it up with her? Your advice is more than welcome." As in, help, I'm afraid of falling out with my goldrider. "And yeah, I don't know if she still feels 'more' or not... And it's good you aren't so much anymore... It's such a horrid emotion to have to deal with in situations like that..." Nverath has, by now, gotten entirely used to the water, and is flipping his tail about in it to make little splashes over his head, oblivious to the world. Odd thing, for the Frothy Ridged One. "I think so too, yeah... Sorry I was taken away on that last note though... But Go'a, he can be picky when he's either rejected or totally happy." "Well, I was quite embarrassed," Kristiana replies with a soft smile and shrug. "More for you, than anything, I think, because I know a lot of that was probably stuff you told her in privacy. And well... 'more' is something that's not easy to just get over when the other person says 'No thanks.'" She adds with a shrug before nodding and looking toward the dragon. "He's having fun right now," she comments with a chuckle. "And I understand. I used to have to be drug around by journeymen and masters, remember?" D'baji gives an appreciative little hint of a blush, along with a modest roll of his eyes. "Well, thank you for worrying about me, I guess... I mean, very kind of you and all. Nothing like feeling l-iked." Little slur there. But with recent drudges, we don't want to aggravate anything. "And we'll just have to hope, then, that her Miyakath'll take care of that. And y'know, she /is/ still sorta young. Yuli, I mean, so maybe she'll grow out of that." And it's really odd for him to talk about Yulianna that way. So appreciate it. "Don't remember, actually, but I guess if you were in the hall... I mean, I remember you were in the hall, but I didn't really know, or at least, remember, your rank, so... Yeah." Blink, and he contents himself to look at Nverath. "So, any new gossip?" Innocent blinkings here. Kristiana catches that little roll on that word yes she does and opens her eyes wider, nodding slowly. "Right... with the whole l-iking and all," she jokes, trying to ease the situtation, as she grins, winks and elbows him slightly. "And of course... Everyone learns over time, I guess. I mean... I've just had to keep my head imbedded in diplomacy for too long to worry with arguing over a man. No offense, I mean, but... I won't do that." She chuckles softly before nodding. "I, dear D'baji, was an apprentice for five turns. Whee." Notice the sarcasm. "And nah. People are busy talking about that one bronzerider and his two women." She snickers. D'baji manages to supress a laugh. Sort of. "Not a thing to be made fun of," he chides, with just a touch of teasing. "I mean, l-iking someone is a big deal. And we're throwing it around just like it was nothing. Tsk for us." And here he breaks into a grin himself, oofing appropriately for her elbowing. "Diplomacy. Fun, is that... Well, it's good you don't do that though. It's... Annoying, or immature, or something like that. I don't like it. 'Specially when I'm in the middle of it." And here he sighs, putting his head against a fallen tower, and not caring that it might get sand all over his hair. Just scrub the scalp that way. "Five turns? No wonder you left. I'd've been gone in maybe two months." And he sighs, audibly, inr elief. "Good. Nothing about us then. Didn't know this bronzerider had /two/ women... I'll have to talk to Bert..." And befuddle the poor drudge. "Naughty naughty us..." Kristiana replies in a quiet mumble as she looks down at the sand, running her now-dry fingers across the surface. "Since we say things such as that so often..." She winks when she looks back up at him, nodding. "Well, you know, the whole harpers being a judge thing, and then making sure people in the pub don't pound one another into redfruit pulp." She shrugs. "And I see no need for it, no. And I'm glad you don't like it. I don't think it proves anything, really, that bickering. I'd have other ways to show you I..." She's trying to be braver. "care for you than by arguing over you." She laughs lightly, shaking her head. "No, I went into the hall at 14, came out at over 19, and here I am, 21. But..." She shrugs. "I was bred for the hall, so I thought itwas how it would be. I like it better out of it. And aye... I think you made some of the fishermen jealous. Some of them can't even get one woman." D'baji hmphs towards the affirmative. "Well, yeah, definately. We'll have to watch it around some people though, reallly we will..." Some people are downright evil. "Right. Judges. You forget some of the extra duties when you just run all over the place, sometimes... Cause of course, I /never/ got into the sort of trouble they'd need a judge for. Well, not really, unless they took it too far." An innocent little whistle is given here, for good measure. "Do you? Well, that's good. We've found a sort of agreement, or something. At least a mutual moral. It's good." At a snort from the water, D'baji stops analyzing the situation so much. "Good that you're happy out of it too. It'd be no good if you left and then wanted to go back. Talk about swallowing pride." Here he turns on his side somewhat, to get a better view of her. Look at the people you're talking to and all. "And according to most of 'em, they /do/ get women, even if it is terribly hard to believe. They're just very short-term women." Kristiana snickers and then chuckles. "Yeah... What you said..." she replies before just grinning and shaking her head. She smiles softly, shrugging. "Harpers supposedly have the most assorted duties of any craft on Pern. But that's just boring detail." She grins at him, shaking her head. "I don't think keg stealing is much to call the MasterHarper about, D'baji, but we can let you dream," she replies, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder. "And right... I miss being able to say 'I'm a harper' and learn some of the things, but I'm happier now, yeah, and too old to go back, really, so it doesn't matter if I wished to." She laughs and nods. "Aye, they do! Except most of the women don't have teeth anymore..." "Do they really?" D'baji asks with an almost sincere interest. Mainly cause it's Kristiana talking, but that can be left more or less unsaid, or at least left to speculation. "The things you'll learn when you're hopping down to the beach." Cue Nverath to start wading from the water, hide all glisteny, and eyes whirling the most astounding happy sky-blue from his recent swim. "Well, you aren't ever /really/ too old to go back, are you? I mean, if you want to. Though it would seem a shame for you to go back just as I would be coming out of Weyrlinghood..." As he's taken it as established that there is indeed something of a thing between them now. "And some of 'em aren't really women either," he nods with a grimace and shudder. Nverath has come rather close now, enough that, if he came closer, he'd be liable to drip on someone's foot. "Oh... We're going, apparently. Not with Go'a this time 'round, and S'lide is done his business, and hoping to get back. A greenrider or something, awaits at the Weyr." And thus, Deba sits up. "So, goodbye I guess," he comments, extending his hand in invitation for a handshake. Kristiana mmhmms and chuckles, shaking her head. "You're in a right sarcastic mood today, aren't you, bronzerider?" she chides with a wink, grabbing up a bit of sand and pretending that she will throw it on him, though she refrains from doing so. Her eyes widen as large, drenched, and bronzed beastie returns from the water. "Oh, and I just got dried off, too," she murmurs, hoping droplets don't come splashing her way. She shrugs at his words, continuing with "Yeah, it really doesn't matter my age, I suppose, because that part of my life is behind me. It's time to move on." She nods at the mentioning of the older riders, looking around for them before remembering that signals get delivered differently in his 'world'. She looks down at his hand with a lopsided smile, then back up at him, then back down at him. "I could get a hug instead, right, at the /least/?" D'baji cowers somewhat from the sand, relaxation of his shoulders only coming as Nverath seems to provide a distraction. "Well, I always am. Just not curbing it tonight, y'see," he points out with a well-appreciated wink *player is still getting over the fact that he can do that*. "He'll be careful, he promises," D'baji puts in on his lifemate's behalf. "Moving on. Suprised you haven't heard those words enough recently," he notes good-naturedly. And let's not even get into his world. His world is scary. Or... Different, to say the least. For one, the blues don't come out too well unless he's got Nverath looking with him. Though that's physical... Moving on. "Oh, definately. I just didn't want to inconvenience you, of course." And so, arms are extended and he turns somewhat sideways. Hugging is always harder when you're not really sitting or lying down or standing, but somewhere in between. And for good measure, a quick kiss, mainly directed towards her cheek (hey, he likes the cheek) is attempted in the precariously balanced position as well. Cause he's seen her three times including this one, and hasn't been given the chance yet. "So take care. I'll see you soon, I hope, either at the Weyr, or here."
A long stretch of beach lies before you, gently sloping down to the water's edge, where equally gentle waves roll forward to kiss the shore. The far end of the beach cuts off abruptly at the tumbled ruins of a former Hold, where clinging vines cover the fallen stones, creating a seeming garden of peace and beauty. A couple of tidepools are set to the side, teeming with the varied sealife trapped within. Rocks, ranging from tiny pebbles to hefty boulders, are scattered throughout the beach, the more reasonably sized ones usually concealing a spiderclaw or two. Small sand dunes, pieces of driftwood and, of course, shells and pebbles of all sizes litter the beach, offering a sort of treasure hunt to adventurous residents.
