December 18, 2001
Weyrling Training Area
Devoid of light and sunk
deep in shadows, an immense natural arch marks the entrance to the weyrling
barracks. The bowl floor has been worn
smoothly level from innumerable Turns and dragons' passages. A pile of wherhide strips stands under a
rocky outcropping; further down the wall lies the flamer station, all throwers'
nozzles clamped tightly shut. Firestone sacks, both tautly full and limply
empty, lean against the wall next to the entryway, some distance from the
ashpit and its greyly revolting contents.
Beside the ashpit hunkers a veritable hill of firestone, its color
ranging the gamut of shades from darkest black to a weak, whitened grey. Ancient lava flows have created several
natural bubbles in the stone, one or two possibly large enough to contain a
person or even more -- if a way could be found to enter a 'bubble'.
The brilliant colours of the
gold, red and orange leaves burst forth from every tree and the sweet smell of
late harvest hangs in the air as autumn in all its glory comes to Fort.
You see Pwylth, Dorvath,
Amnerith, Sullaketh, King, and Riaeth here.
M'lan, S'lan, N'cion, V'len,
and Th'nial are here.
Obvious exits:
Central Bowl Weyrling Barracks Feeding Grounds
Northeastern Curve
Taire
Shadow swathed is she, this
svelte girl is but a wraith in form with her sinewy build and dusky features.
With weyrlinghood comes sacrifice, thus her beaded braids are no more. Instead,
straight locks of russet-stoked seal are shorn fairly close in a pixie's fey
ruff, lacking but a single curl yet rich with silken shine. Autumn's fallen
beauty: sundered golds, jaded greens, and lost browns collect to pool in the
irises of her feline-lilted eyes, rimmed with dark lashes and set well above
dimpled cheeks. Figure is drawn with a height not many young women can boast of
as the burgeoning curves of adolescence are becoming rather pronounced. Yet,
she is a daring sylph by all accounts with muscles borne of an active life and
a silent grace not yet tamed.
Adorning her left ear is a
single earring of copper, a hoop of such indolent pride that the girl wears it
with equal brashness.
A simple knot of black and
brown braided with a single strand of brindled green is fastened to Taire's
shoulder, designating her status as a Weyrling at Fort Weyr.
Wherhide jacket is rather
simple, all told: cut trim at the waist and padded comfortably with fleece that
shows true at her lapels. A fine white lawn drapes loosely from her shoulders
only to be sinched close to her waist. Neckline plunges low, only to deny any
peeping view with a loosely criss-crossed shoestring lace as sleeves extend
down to just beyond her wrists with liquid ruffles. Simple, all told... 'til
you looks down at her legs. Its as if she was poured into them, sliding close
to her form to leave not much to the imagination. Iridescent periwinkle,
sun-stoked lime, haughty pumpkin, glossing to a depthless burgandy. Pants are
created of a patchwork of skins, showing the beauty that exists in kaleidoscope
of tunnelsnake skins. Rei perches on
Taire's shoulder.
Taire looks to be in her
late teens.
She is awake and looks
alert.
Drustanth exits the looming
shadows of the barracks.
C'ra slips off Drustanth's
back with a sigh.
Gwaedoliaeth exits the
looming shadows of the barracks.
Isryn exits the looming
shadows of the barracks.
Keryna goes home.
And so it is that the time
has come. It looks pretty prosaic, so
far, but then M'lan was always more fond of tradition than lots of bright
pretties. he's standing with S'lan in
front of the weyrlings, and asks S'lan, "All right, S'lan. Shall we do a final inspection?" In spite of the crowd, the man's not paying
them any attention. No, his gaze is
upon the weyrlings as they begin to file into place, his low baritone conveying
slight amusement.
S'lan smiles and nods to
M'lan even as his eyes roam over the weyrlings.
L'lia exits the looming
shadows of the barracks.
Th'nial files into place
along with his fellow weyrlings, but it's V'len that he stares at with a
stupified look. What's that get
up? Cocking his head, he shrugs. Seems things change a lot in two years. "Like the feather," he tells the
bronzerider casually before stepping up to stand beside Riaeth, ready for
inspection. And if his leathers are too
tight, blame C'ra.
Meelay appears from
**BETWEEN**
Taire patters out of the
barracks, somewhat trailing after the others. She isn't paying any bit of
attention at all to where she is going, far to busy tucking things in here and
pushing stuff down there. You know, the typical trials and tribulations of new
leathers... the pretty kind too. Fingers clutch onto the wait of her pants to
tug them up hard, nearly tripping into Th'nial as she does so. "Watch
where you stand," she mutters accusingly as she slides into line, fairly
done with her fidgeting.
C'ra actully turns and takes
an appriciative look at Th'nial's leathers, then blinks once she realizes what
she is doing with a bright red blush.
Putting a hand to her mouth, and clearing her throat, C'ra turns to the
other side, and offers a sideways grin, before looking forward, and waggling
her fingers at Yevgeth. Yevgeth, she
likes... M'lan, she's trying to pretend really isn't there. S'lan's not so bad... Clearnign her throat
again, C'ra adjusts her jacket, and half lounches against Drustanth, almost
looking sly.
N'cion sneaks out of the
barracks. Oy. He couldn't dissuade Amnerith from having him wear his new
leathers. Not off to a good start,
here. They're too tight. They feel that way, at least. Though other people say that's the way
they're supposed to fit. Ahem. Just...meander on to the back of the crowd
with Amnerith.
V'len is here, oh yes. After
all, these weyrlings are no doubt here to pay homage to him and his glorious
lifemate. He's looking dapper... well, he's convinced of it anyway, and he
stands with studied casualness by the other importants of the weyr. A smart nod
is offered Th'nial, feather bobbing. The feather is his very own touch, after
all.
L'lia walks in from the
bowl, quickly walking up to the other weyrling masters, standing and looking
over the weyrlings. Looking at the
leathers that are quite lovely. "Much
nicer then my first pair." She
looks over to V'len clutchmate and smirks a bit. Same as always. If only
he had impressed a green.
Isryn's spine is ramrod
straight, although not with the intention of standing at attention. She glances once or twice towards her
fellows, but the smile - if that's what it is - makes a very swift
departure. Fingers betray a brief,
uncomfortable twitch at the buttons - new outfits are an unknown quantity for
her - before she lets it be, eyes forward and twitching settled by a firm bump
of her heels.
M'lan can't help it: he
really can't. Looking over the
weyrlings, he murmurs, "Nice leathers, C'ra. Isryn..." He pauses,
and smirks at N'cion, "Good leathers there. I bet N'i likes them."
He continues to walk along the way, his footsteps quiet as he makes this
comment or that, before returning to the front of the line again.
Th'nial oofs slightly as
Taire plows into him. Turning his head,
he hisses, "Bah, you should watch where you wal-" He stops midsentence and lets out a wolf
whistle. "/Niiice/
leathers." And there's that old
Nial leer to go along with the words.
And just to make Menace feel better, he whistles at him too. Perhaps N'i's a bad influence. Winking at C'ra, he poses slightly before
turning his attention back towards M'lan.
C'ra is nudged slightly by
Drustanth, and manages a bright smile back to M'lan. Tugging at her jacket again, C'ran nods. "They work well," she murmurs,
flashing another smile to Isryn.
"Hey, girl. Loosen up, else
I"ll be forced to drastic measures," comes the comment with a
wink. C'ra's just trying to be her
usual nice self, right...?
Taire briefly considers
handing Nial a black eye to go with the one she gave him before. Fingers twitch
as if they would just love to ball up into a fist, but seeing as she is being
ogled at now by this person and that... and about to be graduated, she manages
to hold herself in check. But that glance she levels at Nial promises things to
occur later. With a sniff, she turns back about, looking a touch bored.
S'lan follows along after
M'lan and also makes a few comments on the leathers, and returns with M'lan to
the front.
V'len is eyeing the
leathers, too. Hmmm. Apparently, this crowd isn't into the rural woodsman look
made so popular down at Xanadu. "I have nice leathers, too. Just, well,
didn't feel like wearing them. White, with bronze trim." Elvis of the
weyr, yup. "But you all look quite nice. Zotzy even." Brow is raised
in Taire's direction, and a smile is flashed to C'ra. It'd be mighty nice if he
got shown some appreciation for all that time suffering on the sands...
especially now that they're graduating, right?
N'cion twitches silently,
not deigning to reply. Silent, imperial
dignity. Right. Why are they being paraded out like this,
again? Lambs to the slaughter, that's
what. His leathers /are/ sort of
foresty. But he doesn't look like a
woodsman. And neither does V'len. Twitch.
Twitch. Nervous? Of course not. Really. Twitch.
Chuckling softly, M'lan
looks them over, "Those involved here are going to be entering a new stage
in their lives. Not merely weyrlings,
you will be riders at the weyr-- full members who will have responsibilities,
and privelidges commensurate with those responsibilities. You will also be asked to join the Wings, as
the Wingleaders and Wingseconds decide who should go where."
Th'nial is all atingle at
that silent promise... Taire mad means he can probably sneak another kiss. He'll just have to make sure N'i's not
around this time. Black on black clings
easily to his wirey form, more muscular than it was two turns ago. As M'lan starts his speech, he straightens
his shoulders and stands proud and tall, Riaeth rumbling her approval next to
him. This is what it's all been
building up to, all the work and sacrifice.
Isryn's eyes dart swiftly at
C'ra, narrowing. "Drastic
measures?" she echoes, the question laced with a note of suspicion. M'lan gets the intensity of her gave then as
she tries to stand straight ... and twitches.
And fidgets. And tries to go
still as stone whenever someone looks her way, but not moving has never been
her forte.
L'lia looks over the hide
bound weyrlings, "For once I'd like to see the baggy look?" Baggy
clothes do keep in heat better... But is she one to talk? No. She has the tight
leather motif as well. She now listens
to M'lan, she must remeber everything...
Taire purses her lips,
leveling a glaze to V'len. What's his problem? Dark eyebrows arch showily for a
moment before just the faintest of tickles of a grin pull at but one corners of
her lips in a deliberate softening. Chin lifts as M'lan speaks, hands dropping
around to clasp loosely at the small of her back while listening to him. And
then she realizes that Nial is standing a bit straighter as well. Bleh. That'll
never do. And immediately shoulders slump, just to be contrary.
C'ra turns, grinning broadly
at Drustanth at this proclomation.
After all, that Blue is a flyer!
He was MEANT to fly, and he -CAN-!
No doubt everyone will be fighting over Drustanth. Looking up, just in time to catch V'len's
smile, C'ra actually smiles back, wrinkling her nose with the broad grin,
before tapping the side of her head.
"Loose the hat, V'len. The
rest isn't so bad," then she's leaning against Drustanth once more,
glancing over the rest of Weyrlings graduation. C'ra laughs at Isryn and winks.
"OH, tickle you, here and now... pillow fight when I find one...
ducking you in the lake. Haven't
decided it. Have -FUN-," she
comments, turning her gaze to N'cion.
Wagglinga finger, she takes him on, "And that means you, too. I wouldn't want to be forced to oh... say...
do a repeat of the Th'nial incident with you, would I?"
V'len nods sagely, feather
bobbing. "Priviledges. Yes. You earned them, so you should enjoy them, I
say. I encourage that!" L'lia gets a little glance and then a broad smile.
"You prefer the baggy look? Like.. this?" V'len nearly swirls,
showing off his outfit, but whipping off the hat, hiding it behind his back at
C'ra's suggestion. He'll lose whatever the womenfolk don't like. No problem
there.
Amnerith is quite the
contrast to N'cion. She's cool, calm,
collected. Serene and tranquil. Insert poetic name of japanese water lillies
painting here. N'cion twitches, glaring
at C'ra. "You try, and
I'll..I'll..I'll..." Pause. "You'd better not try pulling anything
cute or funny. Or you'll regret
it." Twitch. He casts a furtive glance towards
Amnerith. Nope. She's not glowing yet. Phew.
A wry smile flickers over
M'lan's features at C'ra's words: he
shakes his head to himself, before chuckling, and turns back to both. His hands are outstretched, and he murmurs,
"Now, you will be assigned your weyrs in the next sevenday or so. Expect them to need some work, though."
S'lan watches, listens and
smiles as M'lan begins to speak in a mode that even he has always found it hard
to stay awake in. He glances as all the weyrlings and wonders what is going
through each of their minds. HE grins as a bunch of unspoken looks seem to pass
about the group.
Th'nial cocks his
eyebrow. Th'nial incident.. there's a
Th'nial incident? The things he misses
when he's not looking. "Weyrs"
Nial mouths silently and grins at Riaeth, winking at his dragon as he carries
on a silent conversation, looking over his shoulder once to peer at Taire and
laugh softly before turning his attention back to the green and nodding. Cocking his head, he flushes slightly and
peers towards M'lan and nods again.
Isryn turns a look on C'ra
that can only be described as frosty.
"I don't need to have fun," she mutters in a voice meant for
the bluerider alone. "This is an
important moment." Freeeee! Free at last! But though she may be thinking it, she won't say it. "Painting," she murmurs under her
breath. "Lots of it ..." And ideas begin to glimmer briefly, plots
and plans.
Taire begins to fidget.
Standing and listening to M'lan speak about the glory of becoming a rider isn't
exactly how she would prefer to be spending her day. But, this is graduation.
Fingers pluck at the bottom of her riding jacket as she waits for him to get on
with things. C'ra's words are afforded yet another of those eyebrow-arches as
Nial is so deliberately ignored that its obvious.
C'ra shrugs off Isryn's icy
tone, only to flash more of a smile.
"You need any quilts, let me know.
You know I'd love to help. And
I'd offer to help paint, but it'd have to be when Drustanth is feeding. I don't -dare- let him loose with paint,
just yet." Wrinlking her nose,
C'ra winks again, obviously the woman didn't notice the frosty look or the
tone. Ahh... now Taire needs some
comforting. Glancing back to the front,
C'ra offers Taire a wave, a smile, and a wink, before pretending to
listen. Where is that sharding
pea-shooter when you need it?
L'lia holds back the laugh
she has been mustering, the five-o-clock shadow is what through it over for
her. "Oh it is lovely. Maybe I should go for something similar?"
Said to V'len regarding his outfit.
"I'm sure it would make you mother proud." Or maybe not?
Hmm. Turning back to the weyrlings she
continues to listen.
Of course, M'lan would
rather be elsewhere, too. But
traditions have to be upheld, after all.
He nods at each, and asks, "All right, I want each of you to be
sure to be careful-- more accidents happen after this point than at any other
time. Who here has looked over the
weyrs around the bowl?"
Th'nial has and therefore
raises his hand. Hey, he can play the
ignore game to, and studiously ignores Taire as he tries to impress M'lan with
his diligence.
Fun is something that
happens to other people. Rumors
alone. Friend-of-a-friend-got-it type
things. N'cion's never heard of the
word before. Standing stiffly at
attention, N'cion raises a hand silently.
Taire quirks a rather
quizzical glance C'ra-wards at all of this attention. Ah, but that rather
infectious grin of C'ra's seems to be catching upon this greenrider as she
flashes a dimpled grin right on back. Weyrs? The girl perks at the mention of a
place for her very on. She only has never had one, ever. Trust her, she has
been looking. She begins to rock back and forth, back and forth, rolling from
the balls of her feet to the heels and back again. And her grin is still
ghosting at the edges.
Isryn is caught off-guard,
staring at C'ra for a heartbeat before chin jerks up and her gaze continues to
focus off in the distance.
"Maybe." But ... the
bluerider *winked* at her? What exactly
is going on, here? It takes her a
moment to hear M'lan, but her hands goes up with the others.
C'ra stretches casually, and
just happens to leave her left arm in the air.
"Oh, yes. Drustanth and I
just LOVE flying, and had to check out the open weyrs. Need to find a proper launching point, after
all." The right hand scratches at
Drustanth's eyeridges. "Oh, yes, I
did see that. Perhaps you -SHOULD- show
her how well you fly. That will impress
anyone!" she comments quietly, but more loudly than she intended, to her
lifemate.
M'lan shakes his head to
himself: he watches ISryn curiously, noticing her changed demeanor before
smirking to himself. "All right, I
want everyone to come over here. Isryn
first, then C'ra, then Taire..."
He lists off names. "S'lan
will be presenting you with your new knots..."
Th'nial jostles everyone to
line up right behind Taire... he likes the view from this angle. "Hey Taire," he comments almost
casually, "Never noticed how pert your - oof." Riaeth nudges him, sending him bumping into
the other greenrider. Straightening, he
frowns at the adventerous green.
"You did that on purpose," he accuses.
C'ra saunters forward, then
pouts slightly as Th'nial is paying attention to Taire. Turning, C'ra nods emphatically at
Drustanth. "I know, I know. Don't worry..." As she walks past to line up behind Isryn,
the bluerider actually snakes her hand out to attempt to pinch Th'nial with an
innocent whistle before smiling deviously at Isryn. "Those leathers really look good on you, Isryn. Want me to come by sometime and plait your
hair? We could put in some beads to
match the leathers, that really would be lovely, and it -was- so much fun durring
candidacy."
Taire briefly unclasps her
hands to reaches up to comb fingers roughshod through her hair, which only
manages to ruffle it up beyond any sort of order. She glides into place behind
C'ra, casting the bluerider a most pleased wink. And then Nial had to go and
ruin her sweetly sublime good mood, but opening his big mouth. Head cocks back
as she mutters over her shoulder to him, "And that's about the only view
you'll get. So you better enjoy yourself while you can." As she comes back
around, its really hard to miss that wolfish grin.
Isryn glances over at M'lan,
gaze flickering more past and through him than regarding him before she moves
on ... though there is definitely a note of, "what the shells are *you*
looking at?" in her expression. She
takes a deep breath, hands betraying another twitch of nerves as hastens to the
fore of the group. She's got her back
to C'ra, perhaps not entirely by coincidence.
"I don't need beads," she says without looking back.
N'cion twitches again. "Well, I don't know, I think you would
look nice with beads in your hair."
he comments innocently.
"Add a touch of...um.
Beadiness to your outfit?"
Twitch. Quick glance: Good.
Amnerith still isn't proddy.
S'lan smiles as Isryn comes
forward with the other weyrlings in tow. He reaches out and removes the knot
from the shoulder and replaces it with a new one, one that designates her as a
full rider of the weyr. "It has been a great pleasure.
M'lan watches each weyrling
as they step up, and nods to S'lan as they each get their knots. He gestuers, and waits for S'lan to do as
planned. The knots are thrown high in
the air and with a *WHOOSH*, Pwylth suddenly exhales firestone. The weyrling knots are burnt to ash, and
M'lan nods his head: so he likes a bit of drama now and again. As ash falls, M'lan says to the weyrlings,
"Congratulations."
C'ra is nearly touching
Isryn, but then, it could just be eagerness to graduation. Instead, she leans forward and to the side,
even as S'lan is talking to Isryn, and looks at the greenrider curiously. "All right, no beads if you want, but
come on, give me a smile, hmmm? We're
friends, right?" Then, with the
hint of a shrug, C'ra leans back, stretching again, to look over her shoulder
and smile at Taire with a soft chuckle.
"I doubt he's going to leave you alone... I think he's ...
desperate," she murmurs conpiritarily to the former messanger.
Menace is making Nial's eyes
ache with all that twitchiness. Turning
from the other greenrider with a shrug, he gives Taire his own form of the
wolfish grin, "Oh, I can live with that.
After all, it's a very nice view."
And the Taire can't punch him from this angle, either. All in all a good deal by his
reckoning. As ash rains down on him, he
forgets Taire and just enjoys the moment, whooping and hugging Riaeth's muzzle
as she leans down to croon at her rider.
S'lan has disconnected.
Taire blinks as her knot is
wisked off and burnt to a crisp? But she wanted to save it and... use the
thread for something or another. Ah well. As the heat from the flame wafts over
her. She smiles to C'ra as she speaks, and then the girl's jaw drops, obviously
insulted. "What do you mean by desperate?" Oh! She shoots a glance at
Nial, casting quite the scathing glance up and down his form before her nose
wrinkles. She might even stamp her foot at C'ra's comment, but instead pouts
'til Sukie nudges her with the dragon's muzzle. *huff*
Isryn jumps back at Pwylth's
burst of flame, composure shattered at the unexpected move. This causes her, however, to bump against
C'ra. "Faranth!" She pushes away with unwonted haste, arms
tight around herself. "We're
friends, right ..." she confirms in an undertone. "And graduated!" This last is a whisper, covertly touched
with wonder.
N'cion jumps a few inches
into the air at the whoosh. Slightly on
edge. Who, him? Of course not. Merely..um...gaining altitude to check for any dangerous
fires. Right. "Graduated."
Menace mutters with an undertone of disgust. Freedom for N'i to chase him.
Oy. He glances at Isryn. Looks like he isn't the only twitchy one.
M'lan set your short title
to 'Dragonrider'.
You paged Aryion with: From
afar, Taire grins. Isryn is proddy. And when Drus is around proddy dragons, he
gets 'proddy' too :)
Aryion pages, "really?
Thats great.. hehehe.."
>> (Fort Weyr) Riaeth
slips in on a triumphant breeze, her bugle echoing through the weyr. <<We are done! We a full riders and dragons, now!>>
<<
>> (Fort Weyr)
Drustanth thinks, << Drustanth rumbles like distant thunder, an echo of
Riaeth's sentiments. <<Yes! Now we can -REALLY0 fly!>> >>
<<
"All right, then. You're all free to go. I'll be taking care of certain things,
there's a party in the caverns. Eat,
drink, and be merry." M'lan adds,
"I'll be in in a little bit."
Riaeth hikes off towards the
center of the bowl.
>> (Fort Weyr)
Amnerith filters bright sunlight through a canopy. << In title, at least.
But what's in a title? >>
A rider by any other name would still smell as gross? <<
Riaeth enters the Weyrling
area, wary of ... things.
C'ra starts to reach out, a
hint of concern on her face as Isryn bumps into her. But as the greenrider pushes herself away, C'ra blinks, and lets
her arms drop to her sides.
"Drustanth doesn't smell like firestone, or something, does
he? You're jumpy. Wanna get some wine? That might calm you down a bit, Isryn. This isn't like you." For a moment, C'ra seems her old self, but
then she hears Taire's comment and looks over her shoulder with a large
blink. "Oooh! No, I didn't mean to insult you, Taire. It was meant to tease Th'nial... " A glance at Isryn, then a glance at Taire
and Th'nial, and the blue rider ... actually looks ... torn between what to do!
Riaeth disappears into the
expansive barracks.
M'lan goes home.
Th'nial looks stunned for a
moment, then grins again and heads towards the living cavern for the
celebration.
Th'nial hikes off towards
the center of the bowl.
Taire clearly frowns at
C'ra. She and funky Isryn can have each other. Desperate? Pah! "I'm cute.
I'm a very nice catch. Guys /like/ me -not /desperate/ guys" She speaks
this outloud more to convince herself, what with all of the failed propositions
lately. *sniff* And so she stalks off to the caverns to drown her sorrows.
"Wine!" Isryn
exclaims in a suddenly fervent voice, a grin finally making an appearance
across her features, though a painfully brief one. "I'm fine," she continues in a testy voice. "Just fine. Wine," she repeats in a firm voice. Good idea, this.
You hike towards the center
of the bowl.
You hike towards the Living
Caverns.
You head into the living
caverns.
Living Cavern (#400)
Flawlessly carved archways
highlight the uniform walls that extend upwards into the cavern's near total
darkness above. The night hearth abides
beside the largest egress, while along the northern span a handcarved staircase
ascends into the kitchens. To the east
a dais supports the long Weyrleaders' table; smaller table-boards align the
walls nearby. The heart of the room is
distinguished by gray flagstone flooring, whose skillfully interlocking slabs
have been worn level by the passage of countless bootheels through the ages.
You see Wing Assignment
Board here.
Th'nial is here.
Obvious exits:
Bowl Lower Caverns Tunnel Kitchen Game Room
Sullaketh> N'cion
snickers at Taire. "So you
wish. All I've seen is your abysmal
failures." Ouch. Cruel, no?
With relief, he slips across the bowl towards the Living Caverns. Looking slightly mournful. It's times like
these that he wishes he /did/ drink alchohol.
N'cion walks in.
Sullaketh> C'ra blinks
and looks between Isryn and Taire, her mouth dropping open. OH no!
What did she say now. Gulping
and looking back at Drustanth, C'ra hesitates, then ums... "I'll see you
there, then, Isryn," before trotting off after Taire. "Hey, Taire, wait! It was a misunderstanding!"
Sullaketh> C'ra hikes off
towards the center of the bowl.
C'ra comes in from the bowl.
Sullaketh> Isryn hikes
off towards the center of the bowl.
Keryna comes up from the
outside tunnel.
C'ra comes running in,
having left Drustanth to go off and try and impress the dragons. "Hey, Taire... wait! I mean it!
I didn't ... well, I didn't mean what I said 'bout Th'nial... not
applying to you. But I do want you to
stop and talk to me. Come on... what'd
I do!" C'ra's blue eyes are wide,
and looking like she's about to burst into tears or something she's so
upset. Eyes flash around the room, and
she runs forward, grasping at some fruit.
"Come on, I"ve been practicing my juggling, that's got to
cheer you up, watch!"
Taire is just going to curl
up into a little ball and die now. She did just catch N'cion's comments as
well, just as she was leaving, and they didn't help matters any.
*sniffle-sniffsniff* "Where is that fardling wine?" she practicly
demands, stalking over to wherever it is placed to simply help herself. C'ra's
calls are heard, and ignored. Be happy that she isn't going to take a swing.
Isryn comes in from the
bowl.
Sullaketh> Drustanth
looks around, watching his lifemate run after Sullaketh's rider, before looking
over at the Green. <<She was just
trying to make a joke...>> he rumbles, before looking at
Gweadoliath. <<You look nice, is
Isryn oiling you every day, or is that your natural tone?>> Okay... so hanging out with Yevgeth wasn't
the best idea he's had.
Th'nial settles in admist
the feast and listens to the music, enjoying the relief that comes with finally
being a full-fledged rider. His fellow
weyrlings are greeting easily as Nial makes himself at home and flirts outrageously
with the female serving girls. Is Taire
watching? He's heard about her little
quest and is a bit affronted that she never thought to ask him. Raising one brow, he drawls, "Well
Taire, didn't know you cared." As
for C'ra's claim, he doesn't dispute it.
Nial is desperate... and he's going to binge on everything!
Sullaketh> Sullaketh
doesn't even deign to respond to Drustanth's commentary. Nope, she just turns
her head to the side and finds the buzzing of vtols so much more interesting.
The sisterhood shall remain united.
N'cion slinks in on the
fringes of the crowd. "Watch out
for flying fruit." He warns the
room at large. "C'ra's going to
juggle." Time to indulge
in...prune juice. Who bets that he'll
be the only sober rider an hour or two from now?
Sullaketh> Amnerith
flicks her tail idly. << Now
now. Calm down, dearies. It's perfectly all right. Make an effort to be more cheerful. It's healthy. This is a joyous occasion, remember? >> She directs a slightly disdainful look at
Drustanth. Ugh. Pickup lines. And awful ones, to boot.
C'ra blinks at N'cion, and
tosses one of the pieces of fruit at him.
"I've been practicing!
Honest!" Then she turns at
Taire with a deep sigh, and walks towards the rider, holding out a piece of fruit. "Come on, eat up. What's bothering you so much? You know I"m not gonna laugh, no matter
what it is. I didn't realize I could
say anything that would upset you, Taire, honest."
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
croons softly, the cool undertones in the sound turned to gentle ripples. <<Thank you ...>> And green casts an almost covert look back
at herself before her head snakes around to the fore again. <<Both.>> Somehow, being mysterious doesn't work quite
as well as it might.
Sullaketh> Riaeth exits
the looming shadows of the barracks.
Sullaketh> Kourin
disappears into the expansive barracks.
Keryna steps in quietly,
doing her best to not be seen. She had
stood at a far distance at the riders' graduation, curious more than
anything. The small herder takes a seat
in a far corner, her first voluntary venture out of her stables and room. She idly wonders where Fyn- F'ox is at but
dismisses it rather quickly. Keryna
smirks as the greenrider warns about flying fruit, a light smile dancing on her
face. Quietly she takes a glass of wine
and sits back, watching.
Sullaketh> Drustanth
rumbles a chuckle. At least it was a
response. Shrugging his haunches,
Drusanth bobs his blue head at Amnerith.
<<And of course, you got the heart of the matter right on the
first guess. Do we really need to be in
bad moods and rub off on our riders?>>
Drustanth lounges slightly, <<They are still
impressionable,>> he comments knowingly.
And, with a large draconic grin, Drustanth looks back at Gwaedoliath,
<<Well, she has taken very good care of you. You should be glad for it.>> Then, with a hint of playfulness, Drustanth addresses everyone
else in general, <<Shall we let our riders be the only ones having fun,
or shall we do something entertaining?
I've been trying to stand on my forelegs, everyone could watch and laugh
as I fall down... I don't mind.>>
"Juggling?" Isryn
inquires in a dubious voice, cutting a path through the room to the wine and
pouring herself a full glass with a shot look around her that just dares
comment from any brave soul. It is a
little-known truth that wine is also useful as a weapon, if need be. She takes a sip, and a positively blissful
sigh sneaks out unawares.
"Perfect."
Taire practically drops into
her seat, huffing as she does so. With her inattention, whatever wine that she
managed to get a hold of laps at the rim of her glass, dribbling over to stain
her fingers. The girl's gaze locks onto Nial, but isn't really seeing him...
and then C'ra continues on. The bluerider wants to know. Well, she'll find out.
"I don't wanna be a virgin anymore. And nobody wants to help me with that.
And then you said about being desperate, which obviously a person has to be to
be interested in me. And I try and try and try and here I sit... a virgin. And
Sukie is gonna go proddy at any time now," *glance to Isryn*, "and I
really just wanna pound some sense into people." *sniff* Well, C'ra asked.
Sullaketh> Riaeth cocks
her head as her rider might, having picked up that little tick of his. <<Is it hard, standing on your
forelegs?>> She's the adventurous
sort. <<Let me try to... you
first, so I can see how it's done.>>
And the smart sort. <<Then
I'll try.>> But not too smart.
Sullaketh> Amnerith bobs
her head graciously. <<
Precisely, my dear boy. Although some
of our riders may be sourpusses-->> a prim undertone of censure, there <<--there's
no reason for us not to treat this as a happy event. >> She directs another odd stare at
Drustanth. << How...crass. Surely we can think of more cultured things
to do. >>
N'cion ducks, letting it
splatter against the wall behind him.
"See what I mean? She
hasn't even started to juggle and the fruit is flying. Flee in fright." He circles around the fringes of the group
gathered there, sort of hiding. And
calling out comments every now and then.
He hides out near Isryn. She's
safe. Not scary like C'ra. Or Taire.
Riight. And she's far away from
N'i.
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
studies Drustanth half wary, half intent, before attention goes, perhaps too
smoothly, to the smallest speckle of dirt on her claw. Tending to this, she remarks, <<I am
very glad. There is no rider to equal
Isryn.>> If he disagrees with
this, he gets marks off on the green's invisible list. Amnerith gets a narrow look. <<Such as?>>
Sullaketh> Sullaketh
continues to find entertainment in the fluttery buzzing of a pair of vtols as
they frollic about her muzzle. If a dragon could go cross-eyed... She airily
adds in a comment here and there << I shall have to see you fall first,
before I can laugh well >>
Th'nial doesn't want to be
pounded, but the other bit... "Really Taire, I would've helped you out
with that little bit if you ever asked."
But she didn't... which rubs Nial raw.
Seems she asked everyone but him.
Rising, he goes to stand behind the sulking rider and adds in a soft
voice very close to her ear, "Who knows, you might even like
it." Straightening, he dodges
flying fruit and laughs, "How long have you been practicing, C'ra
dear?"
Sullaketh> Drustanth
chuckles and turn sto Amnerith, tilting his head to the side. <<We eat live herdbeasts and drip
blood everywhere. And you're calling
-that- crass?>> Then, attention
is turned to Gwaedoliath, his eyes narrowing.
<<I think every dragon in the weyr will disagree... C'ra's the
best for me. Isryn must be the best for
you. But C'ra is most assuredly the
best for -ME-.>> Some greens are
just odd, then he turns to Riaeth and Sullaketh, brushing his chin on the
ground in a bow. <<First, I pull
my tail up to my head like this, to get my body moving in the right
direction,>> explains the blue as he demonstrates, then wings are beaten,
to get some lift to his body, precarious as it is. Barely, he manages to get on his forelimbs, <<The tail is
important for bal....>> THUD!
Drustanth flapped his wings too hard, and tipped over, and is now laying
on his back.
C'ra blinsk a few times at
Taire, her cheeks starting to color.
"Um, yes, well that problem... you know, I understand, Taire. And... I'm older than you, so I've really
got no excuse I suppoes." Um...
how does one handle this situation... obviously not by one's self. After all, Taire's a girl, and C'ra's a
girl. That's -WRONG- right? Looking around, C'ra frowns at N'cion, then
blinks, before smiling at Taire.
"It's your choice... but I've got this idea... just... if you want,
ignore Th'nial for a little bit."
Turning around, C'ra winks over her shoulder. "Practicing -what-, Th'nial?" she asks a little
TOOOOOOO sweetly, before stalking off after N'cion.
Isryn shoots a look right
back at Taire. "What are you
looking at me for?" she demands.
"I can't help you with the virgin thing." One shoulder jerks up to form a small
barrier between herself and approaching greenrider. "I won't be your shield, N'cion," she says flatly,
sliding to one side. "Have at him,
C'ra," she invites, sipping wine.
Keryna goes home.
Sullaketh> Amnerith is
caught off-guard for a moment. <<
Ah, well, we could certainly... >>
She flounders for a moment before recovering her composure. << Take a nice swim in the lake. Go for a sightseeing tour of the surrounding
area. Discuss and exhort the virtues of
weyrs in certain parts of the bowl. >>
She shoots another dirty look at Drustanth. << Hardly. It's a
necessary function of life. If we did
not eat, we could not live. >>
Can't dispute her logic.
<< How clumsy of you. Perhaps you ought to practice more.
>> She suggests.
Sullaketh> Riaeth blinks
slowly before a draconic grin spreads across her dainty features. <<Oooh, that looks like fun! Let me try, let me try!>> Graceful as always, she rises and emulates
Drustanth's movements, but where he actually held the stance for a few seconds,
she fails completely, and just as gracefully, lands upon her back, letting out
a chortle. <<Oooh, lovely! What an adventure!>>
Taire continues to pout,
bottom lip coming out which causes her dimples to deepen. "Guys simply
must like me. Shardit! I'm cute!" She takes a long drink from her wine, it
more than likely going straight to her head for all of the denial of such
spirits for so long. Her lips twist to the side as Nial leans close. Instead,
the girl simply must have answers, so she kicks one booted foot out to send a
chair away from the table in a clear invitation for the fellow greenrider to
take a seat and then asks him point-blank. "Are you desperate?"
Notice the liquid puppy-canine look in her eyes.
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
sniffs softly, a flash of ire surfacing for a minute. And Drustanth takes a dive in her estimation ... but his clumsy
manueverings seem to hold uncommon interest, the green pondering something. <<The taste of live herdbeasts is a
rare pleasure,>> she remarks in a glowing purr of liquid purples.
N'cion blanches. Oh shards.
C'ra's heading his way.
"Hey! I don't need you to
be my barrier. This was just
a...comfortable spot to stay."
Sidestep again. "Errr.. Hi
C'ra." Twitch. "Nice weather we've been having
recently, isn't it." He clasps his
hands behind his back.
Sullaketh> Sullaketh
wuffles her nostrils, causing at least one of the vtols to disappear. Ohh, protein. As Dru contorts
himself, she cants her head to the side to watch for entertainment value alone.
<< No self-respecting dragon should do such. You look silly >> And
then he fell over << You're going to feel that in the morning >>
Sullaketh> Drustanth
looks around, moving his neck, even while he stays on his back. <<Yes, but admit it... each one of you
thought about laughing!>>
Drustanth puffs up his chest at this.
Really, he -has- been talking to Yevgeth... though, Yevgeth would never
stand on his forelegs, nor lay on his back like this. <<I think we need to have a little fun, and laughter is a
good start.>>
C'ra gives N'cion a toothy
grin, and gives a shrug. "Not
really. A bit cold 'cept by the lake...
the steam off the lake is nice though... " C'ra wrinkles her nose, then steps closer to N'cion... before she
reaches out, grabs hold of the poor twitching green rider, dipping him low,
before smacking him with a big, long kiss.
Just as she pulls away, C'ra whispers, "That's from Taire.. you
should go return the favor..."
Why! Her tone was even sultry!
Sullaketh> Amnerith
whuffs. << I had no such
intentions. It was too rediculous to
laugh at. >> It looked interesting, though. She's going to drag N'cion out into the far
reaches of the bowl and make him watch her practice until she gets it right.
Th'nial was going to answer,
but then she told Taire to ignore him.
Silly C'ra, "Practice giving people ill-advice, C'ra. Why should Taire ignore me if I can... help
her?" Taking the invitation, and
being rather smart for once, he shakes his head. "Look, if I was desperate Taire, I wouldn't be here with
you, I'd be with one of the serving women.
You know how they like to get their kicks with the freshly graduated
weyrlings." In fact, Nial gestures
towards one brownrider practically panting as he follows a comely girl lower
into the caverns. "I'm not that
bad.. I have standards."
Really. Shocking, but true. "But you know," and Nial can't
believe he's saying this, "Your virginity isn't something to be gotten rid
of.. your first time should be something special, Taire. Something meaningful. Sex is empty without feelings."
"Sure ..." Isryn's lips twitch into a cool smirk as she
drifts away from her clutchmates, wine-glass clasped in her hands in a
possessive fashion. She nearly manages
to drop it at C'ra's move. "Better
her than me ..." This from the
greenrider who might normally be sulking.
Brows arch at Th'nial's words, her voice coming out in a low drawl,
"I didn't know you were capable of such complete and utter hypocrisy,
greenrider ..."
N'cion twitches again,
pondering the advantages of backing up versus holding his ground. Pride demands that he stand his ground. "Yes.
Yes, it is.
Balm--mmprhph!!" He flails
for a moment, trying to break free.
Eeeekk!! Twitching violently as
he jerks backwards with enough force to land flat on his bum, he wipes his
mouth with the back of his hand.
"From..../TAIRE/..!!"
Ick! Eww! Ack!
He glares venemously at C'ra, shuddering. "I flatly will /not/."
C'ra looks around, and
shrugs at N'cion. "What? She doesn't bite... and don't yell like
that. It's rather rude, you
know." C'ra sniffs at N'cion and
turns halfway away from him. "You
know, I used to think better of you.
Now, I see you're as big an idiot as Th'nial, trying those stupid lines
on Taire. At least -YOU-, I thought,
would understand the predicament she is in, and would be ... kind enough to
eleveate her worries for her. She -IS-
your friend... right?"
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
continues to inspect her paw, making quite sure that everything is in order ...
ah. Yes. Quite well. A slow look
up at Drustanth before she concedes, <<it was thought about,
yes.>> Very soft, a hint of
timidity lingers in her mindvoice.
<<I've seen worse, Amnerith.>> And the bite is back.
Taire takes another sip of
her glass, practically slurping at the contents as she peers at Nial from
beyond the rim. Actually, some of what he is saying might even be effecting
her. Maybe she is that desperate herself. "Well... sure. I mean, that'd be
awfully nice. But... I dunno when Sukie is going up, and I'd really rather not
happen then so...like... what am I supposed to do, Nial?" Her voice nearly
trembles at the end. Good thing is is utterly and completely oblivious to what
is going on over with N'cion at the moment, far to wrapped up in herself -like
usual.
Sullaketh> Sullaketh
curls her head to the side as she continues to peer oddly at Drus <<
Sure... >> If a dragon could roll her eyes, that's what she would be
doing at this very moment.
Th'nial sprawls in the
offered chair and raises a brow in Isryn's direction, "What do you mean
hypocrisy?" Leaning back he
crosses his arms, "I'm speaking from experience, my first time was fast
and awkward in the loft of a holder's stable with his daughter. It was wonderful, but when it was over, it
was empty." That and Nial knew
little about technique back then.
"It's much better if you actually care about the person
first." Shaking his head, he
commiserates with Taire, "I'm not sure, it's your call. But don't do anything you might regret out
of desperation."
Sullaketh> Riaeth is
still on her back, unsure of how to get up.
But well, the view is so interesting from this angle. She's never seen the roof like this. Tucking her paws inwards, she studies her
fellow dragons from her new point of view.
<<You all look so tall when I'm like this.>>
Sullaketh> Drustanth is
quite happy, and the emotion filters easily through his rumbling chuckle. <<Yes... but there seems more sky to
fly in,>> he comments to Riaeth first.
Ahh... being the center of attention of a group of soon to be, if not
already, proddy greens!... Drustanth is in HEAVEN! <<Well, I just want to see people laughing here. Tension isn't good for the riders. They need to learn to have fun,
too...>>
Isryn quirks an
eyebrow. "It seems to mean that if
you can generate those sort of feelings for everyone you've slept with, you
must be badly devoted to half the world," she says to Th'nial, a trace of
poisoned sweetness in a cool voice.
"Either that, or you haven't learned to take your own
advice." She sips the wine
placidly, seeming serene in the midst of all this.
N'cion just glares up at
C'ra, flat on his rear on the floor.
Anger. Anger is good. Anger makes things easier. "/Me/?
What makes you think I would know?
Or have any sympathy? She's
annoyed me relentlessly since we first met!
Taken every opportunity she could get to humiliate or poke fun at
me. And what makes you think
I'd..I'd..." Shudder. "With /her/."
C'ra glares at N'cion, and
swings her foot into his thigh as -ard- as she can. "Don't you -DARE- talk about my friends that way!" Then, she spins towards Th'nial, her blond
hair bouncing with the force. Stomping
loudly across the room, C'ra glares at the greenrider with her blue eyes,
nearly burning red, until she is close enough to pull back her hand, make it a
fist, and swing at Th'nial's face.
"Shut up! Just shut up,
will you? You're scaring her! Just because you don't understand what she's
going through, doesn't mean I"m going to let you take advantage of
her!" C'ra is yellinga t the top
of her lungs, huffing now, with her anger.
How -DARE- they do this to -HER- friend! How dare they!!!
Taire frowns, heavily, most
of which is directed at Nial's direction. "And just how on farlding Pern
am I supposed to find a person that I /care/ about before Sukie rises? Eh? Eh?
Why do you think I've been asking all the guys that I know? And get turned down
every single time!" Nope, we aren't quite so sulky any more. Oh no, now we
are getting a mite ticked at the injustice in this world. Arms cross just under
her chest once more as she just sits there and... sits. Off in the background,
the buzzing of N'cion's voice continues to drone on and on. And then C'ra is
swinging at various people. Oh. Oh! "C'ra!"
Th'nial peers crossly at
Isryn, squaring his shoulders.
"And what do you know of my past?
Nothing... you're just making assumptions. All of the women I've been with, I've been fond of." Even Nial admits he never loved them, but he
truly did like them. "I'm not some
-" but Nial's words are cut off as C'ra's fist connects with his eye. Oy, another shiner from this. Taire's bad luck. Reeling, he rises, anger evident in his stance as well. "Now wait a minute! I'm not trying to take advantage of
her! I'm trying to do the right thing
here, and still I get pounded. You all
are shardin' mad, all of you."
Mad, he whirls and adds, "Oh sure, you ask everyone but me, don't
you Taire? And after you know that I...
I.. well... I like you." There,
he's said it. "You tease and
taunt, but anyone but me'll do, won't it.
Well fine, I try to be noble and I get a black eye for it... isn't that
the way of the world." Now it's
Nial's turn to pout.
N'cion howls in pain. Sharding boots. "YEEEOOOOWWWWW!!!!"
He grits his teeth, resisting the impulse to cradle his injured
leg. That's going to be one /big/ bruise
come tomorrow morning. Instead, he
climbs to his feet, wincing at the sharp stabs of agony from his leg. "Come back here, you!" he growls, hobbling after C'ra with fire in
his eyes. Time to administer suitable
chastisement. (Insert ominous crash of
thunder here).
Sullaketh> Suddenly,
Drustanthe is spinning, getting up to his legs. A deep rumble sounds in his throat, and the blue wings and
hop/flies towards teh Central Bowl.
Sullaketh> Drustanth
hikes off towards the center of the bowl.
"Some? Some what?" Isryn demands, leaving her
pedestal perch by the wine to stalk over towards Th'nial, though she stops
pointedly on the other side of the table, eyes flashing, glass held like a
weapon. The fact that another argument
riots through the room has escaped her attention, as has Taire's
interjections. She wants an
answer. It may not even be about her,
but she feels entitled to egocentricism.
Sullaketh> Riaeth rises
quickly, if a bit less gracefully than normal and speeds towards the bowl,
rumbling her dismay. <<Mine is
hurt!>>
Sullaketh> Kourin exits
the looming shadows of the barracks.
Sullaketh> Riaeth hikes
off towards the center of the bowl.
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
hikes off towards the center of the bowl.
Sullaketh> Amnerith hikes
off towards the center of the bowl.
Taire is stumbling out of
her chair at all of the kicking and punching going on. "Hey. Hey!"
She is staring wide-eyed at Nial at the punch, and then at th words that
follow, and she is simply flabbergasted. In a somewhat weak squeak, she manages
beyond the cacophony, "You like me?" *blinkblink* And then she is
wheeling on C'ra for wounding him, "What'd you go and do that for?!"
Hand balls into a fist to aim in defense of Nial's honor, only thing is that
hand is holding her glass of wine... and so a very liberal amount of burgandy
wine is tossed in C'ra's direction.
Sullaketh> Outside the
Living Caverns
Sullaketh> The jagged rock face continues in its
endless quest around the great oval bowl.
Lava-pocked and mineral-rich, the walls climb ever up in their attempt
to touch the sky. The black maws of dragon weyrs dot the curved wall at odd
intervals, where brilliant flashes of draconic color brighten the sober
backdrop of granite and mica. Below
stands the entrance into the living caverns, its archway honed to perfect
symmetry and smoothness by ancient techniques long since lost.
Sullaketh> The brilliant
colours of the gold, red and orange leaves burst forth from every tree and the
sweet smell of late harvest hangs in the air as autumn in all its glory comes
to Fort.
Sullaketh> You see
Nidheith, Drustanth, Riaeth, Gwaedoliaeth, and Amnerith here.
Sullaketh> Obvious exits:
Sullaketh> Central
Bowl Southwestern Curve Hatching Grounds Living Caverns Ground
Weyr
C'ra stumbles backwards
within reach of N'cion as not only do Th'nial's words shock her, but the liquid
from Taire's glass lands mostly on her.
Blinking, but not bothering to wipe the burgandy away, she stares at
Taire. There isa pained expression on
her face. "But... but... I thought
he was just going to hurt you... use you and dump you... I just wanted...I mean..." C'ra whimpers and looks around, shaking her
head as she puts her hands over her ears.
"I was just protecting you...I thought you were my friend..."
she whimpers.
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
hardens for a moment, a narrow gaze cast towards Amnerith. <<I know that. Do you think I want humans squabbling over
me? But chaos is ... enlightening. Entertaining.>> And that, according to her tone, is that.
A green's rumble of dismay
is heard outside in the bowl, Riaeth having long ago grown too large to follow
her rider into the cavern. Still, her
dismay echoes through the cavernous room.
"I'm okay, Ria, really I am."
Nial takes a deep breath and calms down. "It's no worse than before.
Remember, when Taire hit me?"
Turning to Isryn, he sighs, "I'm not just some boytoy that goes
from woman to woman as a vtol would do a flower." Taire is given a blink of surprise and a
flush, "Yes, ever since candidacy..." But he wants to change the conversation and quickly. "I don't use women, I never
have." Or if he had hurt some, it
was unknowingly. "I try not to
hurt them, C'ra. And that's the last
thing I want to do to Taire." Nial
isn't the bad guy here... really he's not.
Sullaketh> Drustanth
turns to the two greens talking about him, snarling. <<I didn't ask you here!
She -NEEDS- me!>> And back
the blue's attention goes to the opening to the Living Caverns.
Sure he is! He's a meanyhead who needs to be
spanked. Spank him, Taire, spank him!
Wait...he'd enjoy that too
much.
N'cion isn't paying
attention to the sudden revelation from Taire and Nial. He's busy limping up behind C'ra and
grabbing her. "You're coming with
me, missy." he growls, dragging
her roughly off towards the nearest chair.
"You do /not/ hit people.
Over things like that. You do not
hit people. Period. Or kick them." The guard speaking, here. "And it's time you learned the
consequences of that." Limp. Wince.
Sullaketh> Riaeth is
stationed as close to the door as she can get, wings flairing in dismay as she
lets out a worried bugle. <<Mine
is in trouble in there. Why won't he
come out?>> Shaking her head, her
tail lashes with dismay as she bugles once again.
Taire is getting stars in
her eyes, and only for Th'nial. Ohhh, a boy actually likes her, and /admitted/
to it. This is a first. She examines his face most thoroughly before she comes
to the realization of what she just did. Oh...
She blinks from her wineglass back to C'ra, "But... but he said he
liked me and I just, I just didn't think, C'ra." She bites at her bottom lip
before reaching over to take up a rag and sort of offer it up to C'ra,
hopefully. But she is being wisked away by N'cion. "Hey! Hey there! Unhand
her, you beast!"
Isryn decides to use the
rest of her wine for her throat, swallowing it with a backwards fling of the
glass. "Buck up, C'ra," she
addresses shortly. "There's no
point in crying at the drop of a hat."
She slides away, escaping chaos for a moment for another glass of
wine. "Kiss him," she advises
further, over her shoulder. "It
distracts him."
Sullaketh> Amnerith
loiters further out, watching the other dragons. << It's nothing major, Riaeth, darling. They're just having a bit of a scuffle. A little rough and tumble. There'll be some bruises in the morning,
some ice needed, but everything will turn out for the best. >> Nice and cheerful. Congenial host.
Sullaketh> Gwaedoliaeth
hates to agree with another living creature, but she certainly stands on
Amnerith's side from her mannerisms, the way she curls up at a distance to
watch. The only thing that appears to
be missing is a dragon-sized tub of popcorn.
Sullaketh> Sullaketh
follows in after the others, nearly growling << So help me if any of your
riders dismay mine >> The wrath of Sukie shall be unleashed, and that
simply would not be a pretty thing. But it is a wrath that is quickly quenched
as she airily adds << This is all far to silly, if you ask me >>
C'ra offers a little yelp as
N'cion starts to haul her off, but she is blinking at Taire, looking even
-MORE- confused than ever. Taire just
threw wine in her face, and is now offering a towel. This distracts the blue rider enough that she only wiggles
slightly against N'cion. "You were
being mean to my friend... I protect my friends..." she repeats, the
phrase becoming a mantra to her.
>> (Fort Weyr)
Drustanth is far from amused. <<I will protect my rider!>> he says
with a deep certainty that threatens to shake the rocks from the mountains!
<<
Sullaketh> Drustanth is
ignoring the others. He wants to
protect C'ra. He wants to comfort
C'ra. He just wants to take her away
from this mess. She doesn't need
this. She needs to learn to relax, have
fun... amoung other things... not this.
Sullaketh> Riaeth's tail
still lashes... <<I disagree.
He's in pain.>> Cocking
her head slightly, she blinks her third lid slowly. <<But it is fading...>> Settling down on her haunches, she peers quizzically towards the
cavern. <<Lifemates are strange. Are they always this... volitile?>>
N'cion is armored in
forewarning. The same tactic won't work
again. Instead, he just shoots a dirty
glare at Isryn. "You stay out of
this." Drag. "Protect does not mean beat up other
people." he growls. "Especially if they're not offering any
sort of physical harm. You do not kick
or punch people. For any sort of
provocation. That's not protection. That was bullying."
>> (Fort Weyr) Nyrloth
rumbles irritably, awoken from slumber by the ranting and raving going on.
<< Silence! >> comes the hollow bass command, and swirls of black
ash spiral into whirlwinds, lashing out in anger. << Listen to your
betters. >> Unspoken, but not unthought, is the word brats. Fort's
resident tyrant is not amused. <<
If N'cion's look was dirty,
Isryn's is positively rank. "Why,
thank you, I think I will," she says, "and it seems we've all had
enough of this for the evening."
Dashing the wine glass on the floor, she grinds her heel on one of the
remaining pieces and sweeps for the exit in a way not in the least bit dampened
by the lack of a long, black cape or similar attire ... then pauses. "C'ra!
Get your dragon *out* of my way!"
Th'nial settles back into
the chair, watching Taire somewhat worriedly.
Well this is a first, he proclaims his feelings and she goes chasing
after another. Turning to Isryn, he
sighs, "I suppose it's too late to salvage the evening, isn't
it?" Studying the ruin of the
table, where puddles of wine litter the top, he adds, "I do believe we owe
all of this drama to your lifemate, my dear."
Taire blinks after N'cion
and C'ra, blinking at the bluerider. "That really was nice of you, but you
didn't have to do it. I can take care of myself." All of this comes out in
a rather sing-song voice. And then she start to wonder just what N'cion said
that she missed. The girl casts a glance back over her shoulder to Nial,
fleetingly. And now Isryn is storming about?
C'ra blinks a few more
times, now trying harder to get away from N'cion. "Leave me alone! I'm
just going to leave!" C'ra shakes
her head violently, "No, Drus, get away from the door." Blue eyes flash at Isryn, shattered reality
there. She thought Isryn was a friend
of hers... perhaps she really is all alone with Drustanth... though, he is all
she needs. It was nice thinking she had friends to protect, though. One fist is swung half-heartedly at N'cion's
arm. "Let me go you brute! I just want -OUT- of here!"
"Good." N'cion mutters, letting C'ra go. "No more hitting people,
understand? Or else I finish." Whatever he was going to do, at least. "Yeesh." He slumps into a chair, refusing to cradle his injured leg. "Shells. What a graduation."
Mutter.
"I haven't the faintest
idea what you mean," Isryn shoots over her shoulder to Th'nial, eyes
narrowing. "And it might not be
... if I had the slightest interest in you." An implied proposition, a slam and a self-compliment all in
one. Talent. She relaxes for a moment.
"Thank you, C'ra ..." she unbends enough to offer.
Th'nial sniffs at Isryn,
"You'll figure it out, Izzie."
Nial can be dreadful when he puts his mind to it, just ask Taire. "You're a smart girl." As many are making their exit, Nial rises
and heads out as well. Riaeth needs
consoling, and now he has to rework his tactics with Taire. He never meant to reveal his feelings. Now she has the control and Nial's not sure
if he likes that.
N'cion has disconnected.
Th'nial departs the cavern, walking
out into the bowl.
Taire is upon the cusp of
either quizing Nial more about this liking thing.. or running to C'ra's
defense... when abruptly she is apparently not needed in either quarter. So,
she just stands there looking rather silly. "Errrr."
C'ra turns, glaring at
N'cion for a moment, before she starts to wipe at tears falling now. Gulping deeply, blue eyes dark around
quickly, before she just turns and rushes off.
She needs her own lifemate right now.
Why is this all so hard? She was
just trying... Whimpering as she goes, at least she'll calm Drustanth down and
stop him from trying to open up the cavern.
C'ra departs the cavern,
walking out into the bowl.
If the argument has left,
Isryn has no reason to storm out, and so she slinks back in, her gaze off in
the distance as she moves to procure herself another glass. "Fun," is all she says.
Taire frowns heavily as she
moves over, slowly approaching Isryn. "You wouldn't happen to know if all
weyrling graduations are like that, hrm?" And Taire didn't throw a single
punch,but came awfully close.
Isryn shakes her head. "I don't think so," she admits,
staring deep into the glass before she pours it. "I mean ... what just happened, Taire?" she asks in a
tone that seems to think the other must have some idea.
Taire shrugs her shoulders
as she sidles up to Isryn to commiserate or whatnot. "I wish I knew. It
was one thing after the other.. and we are supposed to be full and responsible
riders now?" Just /what/ is the weyrlingmaster thinking?
Isryn stiffens as Taire
approaches, then relaxes with a small sigh and an ease of her shoulders. "I don't know," she admits. "I suppose maybe we'll get better when
we're in separate wings." She
looks drolly amused. "But what's
this about it being *my* fault?"
Taire vaguely remembers that
part that at no point was Isryn involved in any of the harsh words or swinging
fists. "Who said that?" she frowns, sighing deeply before tugging
here and there at her shirt to right it once more.
Well, maybe a few of the
harsh words, but only on the periphery.
Isryn jerks her head towards the not-so-dearly departed Th'nial. "He did," she explains briefly. "I wouldn't worry about it,
Taire." That ... seems to blanket
everything.
Taire frowns deeply,
"/He/ said a lot of things." And it is only now with the figure gone
that she is starting to come to her senses, whatever that might entail.
"We shouldn't take any of them to heart."
The old rider quips,
"He wants a piece'o ye. I'd give
it to that C'ra lass instead, throw 'em for a loop."
Isryn coughs softly, though
her eyes glint for just a heartbeat.
"I think the man has a good idea, Taire," she remarks, sipping
placidly at her wine for a moment. "And
no, we shouldn't. He needs a good crack
upside the head." A hint of
something bloodthirsty wanders through her voice.
Taire eyes the older rider.
That wouldn't exactly improve her situation any. She needs a /man/. And soon.
"C'ra? I... she's like one of my big sisters." And that just plain
creeps her out to no end. Wherry-bumps coarse up and down her arms and she is
quickly banishing that thought. "Well, C'ra sure walloped him good."
Isryn cocks an eyebrow. "And that sort of thing isn't done
except in the backwaters of Tillek ... you have a point," she allows with
an unusually precise tapping of one nail along her glass. "True.
Granted, in the wrong place."
"Maybe he'll have a
right fine shiner tomorrow. Maybe it'll get even more green than when I smacked
him one." Taire entertains this thought for quite some time, her grin
widening at the prospects. "Sullaketh just needs to hold off for a bit
more though." Maybe she won't go proddy at all? Wishful thinking.
Isryn snorts softly. "There's a sight I'd pay marks to draw
..." she remarks, a trace of a smile there ... and then gone again. She's almost through her glass, too. "Hmmm.
Well. No telling when any of
them will go up."
"No, there isn't,"
Taire agrees, eyeing Isryn warily. Something just isn't right here. "Sure
was funny how we all got so crazy like that though." With with a wink, the
girl takes a step in the direction of the exit to the bowl. "Who knew
being a rider could be so... fun." Ayep, only she would term what just
happened as fun. With a grin and a wink, she starts walking out.
Message 62 of 62 on *Rumors
(#1538):
Date: Wed Dec 19 07:14:50 2001 CET
From: C'ra (#3577)
To: *Rumors (#1538)
Subject: What a PARTY!
The Graduation Ceremony for
Fort Weyr's latest clutch of werylings seemed to go rather well. There were the usual distractions of trying
to keep the young ones, who have been cooped up far too long, standing still
and staying silent. But all in all, the
ceremony went smoothly which each weyrling, getting their knots of
full-dragonriders.
Things went bad at the
celebration afterwards. And they didn't
even seem to start out bad. There was
some boistrous behavious, some secrets revealed, in trying to patch up hurt
feelings. However, words were uttered
between the greenrider N'cion, and the bluerider C'ra, something about the
greenrider Taire, which left N'cion on the floor, with a grown bruise to his
thigh from a devious kick that C'ra delivered.
-THEN- the blue rider turned
on greenrider Th'nial, who had been talkign to Taire, something about: making
the first time special. As soon as the
bluerider was in reach, she hauled back, and landed a blow to Th'nial's face,
the man will surely have a black eye from that!
Things just degraded into a
general brawl as Taire threw wine a C'ra, then started appologizing, and the
bluerider going on about: protecting her friends. N'cion hauled C'ra over to a chair, and looked ready to spank
her, before finally he relented as everyone else was breaking up, letting the
bluerider run off, past a rather -ICY- and not-so-nice Isryn. (Who put a vtol in her leathers?)
Just another, typical
graduation. Right?