Living Caverns - Ista Weyr
     Vibrant environs enclosed by smooth stone walls, these caverns are the very heart of bustling Weyr life. The largest is massive and designed to house almost the entire population of the Weyr at once, with tables and benches arranged in perfectly neat rows that run almost the entire length of the half-circle cave. Tapestries are flung from the ceiling, draping down in bright hues of Istan black and orange as well as colorful scenes of past heroics detailing all the fiery glory of Pernese history. Hearths line the walls, at least one of which constantly burning with a pot of stew and a pitcher of klah set there to keep warm.
     Tunnels branch off from these central caverns, leading deeper into various parts of the Weyr. To the east lie the infirmaries, both human and draconic, beyond a small wooden door to minimize the noise that will filter through. West are the kitchens and the storerooms from which emanate delectable smells at nearly all hours of the day or night, drudges bustling to and from with dishes and platters. Stairs lead down into the lower caverns while a man-sized tunnel cuts through the stone and back out to the bowl. Smaller tunnels diverge here and there as well.
 

Shaioni comes up the flight of stairs from the inner caverns.

Mally is sitting at a chair, legs stretched out in front of her, juice mug cradled by her hands in her lap.

Pausing to peer around cautiously, Tahayari emerges from the lower caverns. He makes for the sideboards almost immediately, steps brisk; intent on his evening meal preperations, the others aren't noticed -- or he pretends not to notice, anyway.

Mally notices the new arrival, as she sees some kind of movement out of the corner of her eye. She flashes a warm smile and lifts one of those juice-cradlin' mugs to wave. "'Lo there." Is called, albeit softly, so as not to startle.

Shaioni follows in silently behind Tahayari... not really following, just an amusing coincidence. Unstrung bow taps against the floor as the hunter nods around, moving for the nearest klah-pot.

But startle he does. He always startles. Head snaps up, eyes narrow, posture straightens; Tahayari peers towards the speaker and briefly offers up his version of a composed smile, which in actuality isn't that composed. "G'eve." Shaioni is spotted next, and he turns towards the familiar face with considerable relief. "Shai. Hi."

Mally grins and shakes her head. "Easy there." She mutters, raising juice mug to sip it.

" Yari," Shai grins calmly, noting the entire exchange. " Y'alright?" Klah is offered to her old aquaintance, a wink added on.

Tahayari assures, "Of course." Nevermind that's he's practically kin to those shy tunnelsnakes who bolt away when footsteps are heard. The klah is accepted with a trace of a grin, and while he exchanges words, the teen finishes fixing up his plate. "I visited home," Yari tells her promptly, skipping any formalities. "Just got back." And, obviously, his timidity around unknown people has resumed.

Shaioni wrinkles her nose. " Why'd you go and do that?" she grumps, taking a seat with her own klah and staring disgustedly at Yari. " Yer father sent you away for a reason, why bother t' go back home? Just stay here with us. We'll 'preciate you." Obviously, the home she and Yari share is /not/ one of her favorite places.

Tahayari's tone almost borders on heated as he forms a response, frown tugging at his lips. "I /like/ Igen," he informs her while gracefully seating himself in a chair opposite Shaioni. "I know people there." Again, a frown. "I'm appreciated. So were you. So's everybody." Forgetting tact after a sip of the steamy klah, he adds with annoyance, "You don't have to talk about my fa like that. 'Sides, he's yours too." A pause: oops. Was he supposed to say that? "I mean...er..."

Shaioni pales. " Liar," she spits quietly. " You don' know my fa any more than I do." Eyes flash as she regards Tahayari angrily. " Igen's a wasteland, with no good coming from it." Abruptly she softens. " Except you. And my foster-fa. And I was never appreciated there." She sighs. " I was just the bastard."

Ysbal comes up the flight of stairs from the inner caverns.

Tahayari bristles at Shaioni's first word, immediately protesting, "I am not!" He sneaks a worried glance towards Mally once realizing his tone is quite loud for his usual, but attention soon slides back to the other Igenite. In a quieter voice, almost inaudible, he mutters, "And I do too." Munching upon his lower lip, the teen adds in a disgruntled fashion, "I like Igen."

Shaioni sighs. " Igen's alright for you. I mean, yer /his/ son. You're protected. E'en if I am his daughter," and she clearly does not believe him, " I ain't. I'm still just a bastard, an' still hated by my own family." A soft sigh. " I can't ever go back there. Anyway, I love it here. It offers more... life... than Igen ever did."

Ysbal walks in with a indescrimanent look on her face. Heading towards the pots of klah, her face slows as Shaioni talks then she goes back to minding her own business. Fetching herself a mug of klah the girl also snatches up herself a few meatrolls then heads off to a table and takes up a chair and turns to eating.

"Protected?" Eyebrows lift, here, as Tahayari takes another steadying sip of his beverage. "From what?" The shyness kicks into gear as another enters the caverns, and he pauses uncertainly for several moments before his words resume. "And you are. I know. Some people always knew -- we just weren't supposed to say anything." Too late now for Yari. "Fa dinna want...people to make a big deal out of it. Remember Leneron? How he demanded holdings an' such for Turns before Fa kicked him out?"

Shaioni nods slowly. " But then I'd've had a father," she murmurs, lips pursed tight. " I wouldn't've had the stigma of having an unnamed father over my head. 'Tis bad enough, being illegitimate. But t' be fatherless, too?" A short laugh. " And you know what I mean. People won' talk about you like they did me."

At a loss of how to respond, Tahayari chooses to remain silent, head ducking down as he concentrates on his evening meal. He munches on a crisped tuber, popping food into his mouth so conversation isn't required. After a few moments, he realizes the ploy won't work for long and resolutely says, "Don't matter much now, hmm? I mean, you're here. Not there. Y'can't change things."

Ysbal stuffs half a meatroll into her mouth then bites into it yanking the rest off. Lazily she chews on it then kicks her feet onto a nearby chair, a finger drifts to her mug and slowly encircles the brim.

Shaioni sighs, tracing the rim of her klah mug with an errant finger. " True," she replies finally. " But it matters to me. I spent my whole life believing I was no one's daughter. Now you come along and tell me that not only am I someone's daughter, that I'm Someone's daughter, and I have a slew of half-brothers and sisters. Including you." She pauses a moment, then looks startled. " And Kaelen. Oh, jeez, Yari, no /wonder/ your father kept tellin' him I was no good for him." Abruptly she giggles.

Ysbal gets to her feet with klah and meatrolls and heads off towards the lower caverns.
Ysbal heads down the stairs, deeper into the Weyr.

Tahayari finds the humor in that, and his own quiet chuckle joins Shaioni's. "Mm. Yeah." But when his laughter dies, he ashamedly adds, "I'm sorry. Dinna mean to say anything about that to you."

Shaioni flicks her fingers. " No harm done. C'mon, Yari, you've known me for... how many turns now? Would I take advantage of a relationship like that?" She chuckles tiredly. " Not my style. I'll stick with feeding the Weyr."

"Okay." Tahayari's relief is evident in his tone, and he knows it. Hastily, as so not to offend, he adds, "I never thought you would. Nope." He shakes his head quickly: once, twice. "You're not like that."

Shaioni chuckles softly. " I should hope not. If I felt you did, I'd have to tell everyone about the time your father caught us running naked through the Great Hall as kids." Yes, Yari isn't /always/ this shy. Eyes sparkle mischeviously.

"No!" Horrified, Tahayari does his best not to gape. "I didn't do that. I swear. You're imagining it." A furtive glance is cast around the rest of the living cavern as the teen attempts to see if anyone heard Shaioni. "Shh! People'll hear."

" That's what you get," Shai grins evilly. " Or maybe I could tell 'em about the time you an' Shaile..." She trails off, leaving the rest unsaid. She's a nice sort of sister. Sometimes.

"No, no, no. No need for that," Tahayari swiftly tells her, faintest blush touching at sun-bronzed cheeks. He stands in one movement, nearly knocking his chair over, and adds, "I've, uh, got to run. Things to do. All that. You know." He whisks his dishes away before leaving, not bothering to signal a drudge -- that'd be human contact, after all -- and waves briskly before he dashes off into the night. Or the lower caverns, as is the case this time around.