D'baji gives his lifemate a nod, settling to the ground to remove his boots while Nverath turns himself backwards, dipping his tail into the water and then following it with a well-practiced reverse from so many bathings. Boots are joined in their pile by that /lovely/ orange shirt, and pantlegs are rolled up, though more than likely in vain. While waiting for Nverath to go to the nicer deep water he enjoys, D'baji makes something of a point of stretching his back, rotating his shoulders, cracking his neck this way and that, and massaging somewhat blistered hands. Ah, the excuse of bathing a dragon to escape knot-making...

"Bathing your dragon to escape knot makin', eh?" He didn't honestly think he was going to get out of it without a word, did he? Nevertheless, N'ano's not going to say a word of reprimand. Rather, he tosses his own tunic to the side, pulls off his boots and crawls up to the bottom branch of the tree "Ever try jumpin' in?" he asks, striking casual conversation--probably a relief from all of the hubbub recently.

D'baji regards N'ano somewhat dubiously as his head tilts back upwards from one of those neck-cricks he so enjoys. "No," is finally admitted slowly, an eyebrow twitching, and an obvious fight going on to not raise it. Nothing like casual conversation to encourage suspicion in young hearts. "Is it fun?" Nverath, meanwhile, has managed to stretch out his wings so as to float around on the surface, turning in lazy circles, and keeping a relaxed gaze on the Weyrlingmaster. Just in case, as his rider's obviously minorly confused by the man for the moment.

"Yeah, it is," N'ano grins, tossing up a salute with a wink "Better get practicin' those... don't wanna get caught red handed 'gain, do you?" Though on the proper verbal greeting, N'ano lets it slide... just this once, anyway. Rather that jumping in to prove a point, he just kinda dangles there instead, leaning foward slightly on his hands "He's growin' fast, ain't he? 'be full grown 'fore you know it..."

D'baji fumbles for his own salute, the D'baji-Salute being somewhat slow, but precise enough due to the slowness. He's a bit behind on the hand-eye coordination thing yet. "I don't really need practice in doing 'em, so much as remembering. He doesn't help either," is added with an amicable grin for the older bronzerider, and a thumb-jerk towards Nverath, who has just discovered the joy of blowing bubbles through his nose. "Very fast, yeah... Having a hard time, recently, trying to find time for some other 'projects' between oilings... And it's amazing how much more of his couch he fills up than when he hatched." The branch is given a wary glance, and, seeing as Nverath is rather busy with his bubble-blowing, D'baji heads towards the tree. May as well try.

N'ano scoots over a little bit along the branch to make room "Aye--I remember my last few months of weyrlinghood in the barracks were spent either on the floor or squeezed into a little corner of the couch... then one of 'em weyrlingmasters suggested a cot. If it gets too crowded, just say, eh?" he grins, idly staring out at the water beneath. "There ain't nothin' worse than tryin' to lead a wing with a crooked neck and back, y'know?"

D'baji has just about overcome his fear of N'ano, at least for the time being, scrambling up to the branch and taking moving into the place provided with a nod of thanks. "A cot?" is snorted, and he shakes his head. "Nah, I'll be fine, I'm sure... Don't particularly like cots, and I think I've got an alright repertoire of stretches and sleeping positions that involve the ground. Though I guess if it gets too crowded I could let you know, if Nverath and I can't sort something. He may have to stop sleeping all stretched out, but I'm sure he'd be willing to make the sacrifice..." The bronze gives a snort from the water, and D'baji a hmm. "And no, I don't actually know... I'll just trust you. So you just... jump? Or is there a special style in leaping off a tree?"

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn ya!" N'ano half-grins, shaking his head. And onto the new subject on hand... "Aye--you just kinda... jump. Here, I'll show ya." Sure, he didn't really have any intentions of actually going swimming, but he's supposed to be some sort of role model. What better way to show such skills? With a grunt, he brings himself to a standing position on the tree, pulls out several objects from his pants pockets and tosses them to the sand below before jumping and tucking his body into a ball, flopping into the water with a cannon-ball splash.

"I will blame any crippling on myself, I swear," D'baji promises, quirking a bit of a grin as he observes the all-important process of flinging oneself into the water. Nverath watches too, more than a bit interested that this could be the same man whose making people run laps, and swishing his tail to get some momentum, that he might float on over towards N'ano's splash to investigate. D'baji snorts for the antics, not being nearly so important as to have anything in his pockets worthy of being emptied, and managing to almost stand up on the branch, a bit wobbly. "Alright, well... You might want to get out of the way then, my aim's been known to be off."

N'ano resurfaces just in time to hear the forewarning and to see a bronzen muzzle near to his face "Hi," he greets the baby, grinning as he dives back under to swim out of the way as fast as he can. Eventually, he just entirely pulls himself out of the water, shaking off like a wet canine before canting his head up towards the brance, waving a hand about "'water's all yours now!" he shouts up, backstepping now to get a good view.

Nverath blows some bubbles in return of the greeting, giving a swish of his tail in objection as N'ano swims away. He was checking him out, how rude! So, he of the Frothy Ridges starts paddling after the Weyrlingmaster while his rider gathers up any spare courage, and, with a deep breath, launches himself off the branch, attempting to tuck any limbs in as he hits the water with quite the splash himself, a bit of a yell cut off halfway thanks to the wonder that is water in the mouth. Nverath pauses in the shallower bit, eyes whirling as he rather pointedly focuses in on N'ano and gives a whuffle.

A few itty bitty waves are created as Nverath turns himself around so that his tail might have the chance to wind its way towards N'ano. Yes, the bronze explores with his behind. A rumble is given for the comment of growth, oh he's heard it all before, as he takes a baby-step backwards so his tail might be withing Weyrlingmaster-prodding distance. D'baji resurfaces with a gasp, and a moronic grin, giggling nearly uncontrollably. "That's... /Way/ more fun than just wading! Oh, Nverath, don't poke him too..."