As the draybeast walks...[Open]

[jack]

"Shards."
Flaet broke out in a grin as his teacher gave an exasperated sigh, rubbing his temples even as he guided the cart-bearing draybeasts to a fenced-in area, hand tight on the reins.

"I told you we'd never make it in time without a dragon." The teenager chirped as he swung his legs over the edge of the wagon, looking far too cheerful for a fellow who'd just missed his payday, and dropped to the ground, “It was just too far, Xordn.”

“Don’t rub it in, boy.” Thunderfoot replied with another sigh, following his apprentice and dropping to the ground, moving immediately to unhitch the exhausted draybeasts, “We didn’t have much of a choice anyway—Tsunae needed these beasts here, and we were the only ones coming. You know how she is.”
“Ugly as a packtail and half as sweet?”
“You’re pushing your luck today, boy.”
Flaet merely laughed, folding into an extravagant bow as an apology before taking the two beasts from his teacher, humming as he escorted the haltered animals into the small paddock, giving his favorite a pat on the rump. The creatures ambled over towards an empty bucket of water, snorting before turning their attentions on the half-eaten pile of hay and grasses in the corner.
“They’ll need water, Xordn.” Flaet called as he climbed up on the fence, peering over at the grime-filled bucket, “Want me to get some?”
“Nah—we’ll get a handler to do that. Come here and get your pack out of this wagon.” He gestured towards the colorful wagon and Flaet nodded, gracefully dropping from the fence and jogging to his teacher's side.

The dark-skinned boy was dressed a bit fancy for running around in the mud, and Xordn noted with disdain that the ends of the lad’s thin-pants were beginning to change from almost see-through cream to a grimy black. “Change clothes, will ya boy?” He grunted at last, crossing his arms over his chest, “That get-up is for performances, not everyday wear. Too fine for what you’re putting it through.”

Flaet gave a sheepish grin, having just noticed himself, and nodded, darting into covered wagon. Xordn joined him a second later, gesturing with a large hand for Flaet to hand over his pack. “I’m going to go see if I can’t find us a ride home. Too late to do anything here, and we can’t take these two with us. If we’re lucky there’ll be some beasts that didn’t sell. Or a runnerbeast or two they’ll lend us.”

The teenager nodded and quickly pulled out a set of less-fine dancewear, the cloth pants and under-sized red vest that he practiced in. While Xordn dug into the wagon—digging through the mixture of ‘what’s mine and what’s not mine’—Flaet quickly stripped and redressed, darting out of the darkness of the wagon with his good clothing carefully packed away. “Alright, boy. You watch the beasts so Tsunae won’t kill us for leavin’ them alone, alright?”
Flaet nodded and handed his mostly-empty pack over Xordn, who shouldered it as well as his own. The big man would probably be getting some supplies while he was in the hold, and as if to confirm his apprentice’s thoughts Xordn checked his pockets, making certain there were marks for trading.

The blackette gave a grin and pranced to the top of the wooden wagon, sitting on the roof with his legs crossed beneath him. He would wait here—watching as a servant came out and watered the beasts—until Xordn returned. He gave a sigh. Wait here and be bored…

[Admin]

I can't believe it's been a year,
Since I kissed my fears,
On their salty lips,
And said to them I love you all.

A searching we will go, a searching we will go, oh ho, a searching we will go! Annith sang out with her sweet mental voice as she appeared from between high above the hold. It was only audible to her rider but he joined out loud on the next go around well she began her descent. "A searching we will go, a searching we will go, oh ho, a searching we will go!" His voice wasn't nearly as talented and sweet as his dragon's but the both of them continued there repetitive singing as the yellow swooped lower and lower. "A searching we will go, a searching we will go, oh ho, a searching we will go!" P'nay was grinning from ear to ear, fully enjoying himself and amused with the utter simpleness of the song. Oh, how he loved his cheerful Annith! She'd decided that today they were going searching and she was going to make it fun. That was just how he, and she, liked it

The rider changed it up as the yellow swept around, just over the tops of the buildings, one last time, looking for a place to land; she fell quiet to listen to him. "We come a searchin'! A searchin', searchin', searchin'!" His wasn't very musical with it. He was more just yelling in a very rhythmic way at the people below him, grinning over his dragon's shoulder at them. Pausing in his singing, he chuckled to himself as he saw holdbrats go running - some to try to follow the gliding dragoness and others to alert other members of the hold. They would see about finding a couple of new candidates here. The cheerful yellow always had a little trouble narrowing down the choices, but there would be eggs on the sands soon. They could use whatever candidates she decided on. He certainly wasn't going to go second guessing his dragon.

Finding an open field, out beyond the main cotholds, Annith dropped down, quickly tucked her wings against her body. Her rider slipped off her body, agile and bouncy with excitement; he hadn't bothered actually using the riding strap the yellow wore. Ducking under her neck, which she had low to the ground to be on level with people, he watched, with utter amusement written on his face and energy in his eyes, as young children scrambled down a bank to reach the rider and his dragon first. Most of them weren't even ten turns from the look of them; they weren't candidate material.

Slowly, other begin to arrive - other children, preteens, craft apprentices, young workers and journeyman. Some older folks ambled over to watch. The teenagers, those thirteen to nineteen turns old, would have the most luck - they made up the majority of the candidatebase. There looked to be a good group and those eager, smiling faces, even of those younger ones who were just dreaming, was so wonderful. Still, he waited and watched, and so did Annith, to allow the stragglers to come around. Both of them beamed at the lot of them. The yellow dragon gave the general group a few practice sniffs. She immediately decided that she liked the lot of them, which caused P'nay to chuckle. Several of the hopefuls stared at him. He winked at them. There were a couple of nice looking older ones . . . And Ann couldn't search them all. The actual searching part could be a bit boring. The getting out of the little Weyr that he called home was totally awesome and wonderful.

I hope my mother and my father think,
That they raised a healthy boy,
Who needs the help of a shrink,
To even leave the house?

[jack]

Flaet--eyes glazed over as he daydreamed about who knows what--found himself blinking in surprise as a hoard of people swarmed past his wagon, excitedly streaming in a herd towards...well..something. Arching a brow curiously the boy laid back, head slipping over the edge of the wagon's roof as he stared upside-down at whatever had caused such a stampede, both brows shooting up at the sight.

Without warning he rolled onto his stomach and nearly off the roof, grinning boradly as he shifted to perch on the edge of the wagon, wide-eyes staring with equal excitement at the great yellow beast waiting just a little ways away. His toes curled at the thought of greeting the graceful creature--how grand it would be to be able to tell Xordn what he'd missed while he was searching for boring runnerbeasts--but as much as he wanted to leap off the wagon and join the masses...he knew that the consequences would be dire.

Xordn would no doubt tan his hide if he found out Flaet had abandoned his post--not that it was much of a post, who would want to steal ugly draybeasts when a dragon was here?--in favor of oohing and aahing over, as Xordn would no doubt say, 'a big yellow circus on legs'.

Flaet gave a soft sigh and slunched slightly, watching the growing crowd with a pout that suddenly curved into a grin. Of course...Xordn didn't have to know that he'd left the draybeasts. It wasn't like he'd be back anytime soon with half the Hold out by the dragon, and even if he did march his way back, he wouldn't be able to prove that Flaet hadn't been...accidentally swept up in all the chaos. Yes! All he'd have to do is make himself look like he'd been trampled when the dragon left with her rider and Xordn would certainly forgive him. What a brilliant plan!

Beaming with pride the youth slid from the top of the wagon, pausing to shush the draybeasts, both of which had perked their heads up at his sudden movement, before darting off after the crowd. He'd never gotten to see a Yellow before, just a couple Greens and a Brown whose riders Xordn had managed to cohort into carrying them from Gather to Gather on occasion, and his grin grew, bare feet quickly leading him near the front of the crowd. He soon found himself squished between a tall--and rather mean looking--lad and a girl about his age with obnoxiously curly hair, in a perfect position to watch the dragon and her rider without being too noticeable. The last thing he needed was for Xordn to be in the crowd and spot him. There'd be no explaining that.

[Admin]

Prescribed pills,
To offset the shakes,
To offset the pills,
You know you should take,
It a day at a time.

No one else seemed to be coming and P'nay was growing impatient. Annith probably could have waited till the end of time itself if she thought anyone else was coming but she set about her work once she couldn't detect any real movement heading their way. Stretching out her neck so that her head hovered a few feet from the front of the group. Slowly, carefully, she scanned along the row of people, first one way, and then the other, sniffing delicately all the time. Scent was important. Scent was useful. Why should she pick a candidate that didn't smell good? And it gave you a feeling of a person, at least it did for a dragon, or maybe just for Annith, in all the pale yellow, slender and lithe glory that was her. After her first inspection, which was mainly focused on the front row, she raised her head higher of the ground and looked down at the hopefuls to inspect them all, sniffing here and there. The first row held too many humanets. They were too young to care for young dragonets, though they were very nice, if sticky smelling.

Though he couldn't really understand what his dragon was doing, P'nay still found the flickers of things he could hear her thinking as she concentrated amusing. Smiling at her and the world in general, he pretended to inspect the gathered group like her. His criteria and interest were a little different though - seventeen to twenty-three, attractive, and possibly interested. He turned his charming smile especially towards one or two, and he was loving having all of them watching him . . . Or the very 'fearsome' Annith. However, none of them were that intriguing. Well, except for a light bronze skinned, brown eyed, black haired, lean boy of an . . . acceptable age, maybe a little young but still alright. He stopped in his ambling to tilt his head and grin charmingly at the boy. Opening his mouth . . .

Annith's head snapped around, gaze resting on her rider and his general area. Mine, I don't really think . . . Her attempt to warn her rider failed as he got out what he'd intended to say in the same moment she spoke. "'ello, darling;" he drawled to the boy, fighting to keep his eyes focused and unglazed as his dragon spoke to him. . . . you should talk to him, or any of them, quite yet; the yellow finished, but then, she was back to inspecting another general group of them. Which to pick? Which to pick? Which to pick? Well she tried to decide, P'nay went, not heeding of her warning, and continued on his interest in the lovely boy. What was the probability that Annith would pick him, and the hair and the entire look was so intriguing! The cool young rider was all charm and smiles. That was his style and it was all turned on Flaet.

Because your speech is slurred enough,
That you just might swallow your tongue,
I'm sure you'd want, want to give up the ghost,
With just a little more poise than that.

[jack]

While Flaet's eyes had been locked studiously on the dragon, he did not fail to notice the sudden attention directed towards him. Blinking he turned his head, expecting to see either the annoyed stare of Xordn or a little girl who wanted to tug on his hair--both were ridiculously common results--only to meet the gaze of something...distinctly more interesting. Brows up in mild surprise he tilted his own head, shooting back a cheerful smile of his own as he gave the man a quick once over as though to prove that he wasn't just imagining that a dragonrider was smiling his way. Ha! There was mud on his boots. Dreams didn't have mud--they were far too glamorous to stoop to that level.

Now, why on earth a man with such a gorgeous creature--and no doubt the world at his fingertips--would bother a glance at the dancer outside of a performance--where it would be rude to not watch--was a bit more than he could think up, but he had an inkling that it was his overall look. There was no doubt that he was an oddball through and through; he supposed it wasn't too far-fetched to think the other was curious, having no way to know that it was Flaet's trade rather than just a fashion statement. But that was fine with him--he chose his craft because he loved to be different, loved to perform and stand out. Nevertheless, it was nice to be noticed by someone so high above his own rank.

"Hello yourself." He chirped back with a bright grin, eyes alight with intrigue, "Your dragon is beautiful," Flaet added after a moment, smile broadening subtly as he put a hand on his hip, turning his attention more to Annith before looking immediately back to P'nay, expression bright and curious, and suddenly sheepish, "Ah. I have no manners today." He dipped into an entertainer's bow, careful to avoid hitting the people behind him or at his side before he straightened, "My name's Flaet--its an honor to meet you, Rider."

[Admin]

The universe just vanished out of sight,
And all the stars collapsed behind the pitch black night,
And I can barely see your face in front of mine,
But it is knowing you are there that makes me fine.

The boy was smiling back at him and he was fairly certain that he'd just been given a once over, how wonderful! P'nay was gleeful, like a young child on the eve of his turnday. He liked the light in eyes of whoever this was; he liked the way he chirped a reply right back. He certainly didn't mind having a comment about how beautiful Annith was, though he already knew it. He loved the look of the boy with his hip. One could say that he was enamored. If you knew him, like, say, his dragon or a few other people he'd know, one would know that he was often enamored. He was the sort to live in the moment and he felt anything he could grab at completely and utterly, pushing back inhibitions to ignore those digging concerns.

"It's lovely to meet you, Flaet." The yellowrider returned the dancer's bow, fluid and graceful in his movements. He certainly was physically competent and he had a bit of practice with the move. It was very dashing, according to some. "I'm P'nay, and the beautiful yellow behind me is Annith;" he said, voice louder now so that everyone around him could here. He took a step back, arms wide and framed by the giant yellow canvas that was his dragon. Despite moving away from the hopeful, he gave a wink at Flaet. There had been some people staring at the two of them, and he couldn't that.

Annith had been inspecting and inspecting and inspecting. Finally, she had made a decision. Hers was so smart! That one. Confused, P'nay turned to look back at her, and then at all of the people around him. Which one? He didn't even have to properly think the question for her to understand. The one you were talking to, Mine, of course.

[/i] Oh, she had to be kidding, he thought to himself. Did he have some sort of sense like the one that dragon's had that drew him towards good candidates for hatchings? Sighing to himself, his eyes fell on Flaet again and he beckoned towards the boy. Another soul that he wanted, but he couldn't have. Life was so unfair.

Maybe it's the warmer climate,
Maybe I'm a smarter primate,
Maybe it's the beer I'm drinking,
Maybe I've stopped over-thinking.[/center][/size][/blockquote]

[jack]

Although Flaet's eyes had been shining before, they practically glowed when the other bowed. His grin broadened and he resisted the urge to bow back, although he did allow his hips to sway eagerly. This rider was clearly athletic, and knew at least a smidge of an entertainer's flare. He tilted his head, hands folding behind his back as he bottled up his energy. Maybe, if P'nay was bored and needed something to do, or if Flaet ever got to see him again, he'd see if the rider wanted to dance. He certainly had the body for it, and maybe he'd agree! He nearly bounced. It wasn't often that the Apprentice managed to snatch up a dance partner--the ones who performed with him knew his nature, and most of the ones who didn't didn't want anything to do with it. Party poopers.

"A lovely name for a lovely dragon." He replied with a smile, letting his gaze wander to Annith for a moment, "And a name fitting of a handsome rider too." He added after a moment, grin back in place as he watched the other walk back, expression not falling despite his eyes dulling slightly. Would be a shame to see them leave--he wouldn't deny he was curious about this P'nay..

But that's how life was. Perhaps if he was lucky he'd see them again sometime...or maybe no--huh?

The dancer's face lit with confusion, brows coming together quizzically as he tilted his head, staring at the dragonrider with a subtle frown. "Me..?" He asked after a moment, after having glanced to the side to make ure he wasn't mistaken, "But..." Although surprise was beginning to overtake confusion he still had a lost look on his face, and he suddenly turned to look over his shoulder towards the wagon..and winced. Xordn was already there, looking around the wagon with a pair of runnerbeasts tethered nearby.

"My master's waiting." He gave a half-grin, looking back towards P'nay and unsuccessfully trying to hide the eagerness to go with the rider in his eyes, "I can't just...leave him...like that."

[Admin]

Do you dream, that the world will know your name?
So tell me your name,
And do you care, about all the little things or anything at all?
I wanna feel, all the chemicals inside I wanna feel.

This was driving him crazy. The boy had called him handsome! He'd complimented Annith twice! This wasn't fair, and, yet, a nasty voice idea in his head kept telling him that this was utterly fair and he deserved this all and it was all his fault. Candidates should not be allowed to be cute. They should be butt ugly and stay that way through their weyrlinghood until their dragon was fully grown. They should have horrible acne, buck teeth, greasy hair, be horribly proportioned, and either abnormally pale or a disturbingly dark or splotchy tan. They should not have silky black hair, deep brown eyes, and beautiful bronze skin. They should not be pretty at all!

P'nay smiled a slightly sad and melancholy smile at the boy, trying to keep his humor at the his confusion."Yeah, you, Flaet;" he reassured the boy. With a wave of his hand and a commanding air that the rider could summon up from the same place his fake confidence came from, he cleared the couple of people in his way out of it and stepped forward. Resting a firm hand on the new candidates shoulder, he pulled him out of the crowd. Annith rumbled happily, reassuring her rider. This was happy! This was good! He should be glad, not sad, and why did he keep ranting in his head about how people looked? She never quite understood.

"I think your master will be waiting a long time, candidate. Unless you don't want to be a candidate? I don't think you should leave him like that, of course. You should probably go tell him and fetch your things and everything, but . . ." He lowered his voice. "Annith picked you and she'll be sad if you don't want to come along with us back to Dalibor." He winked at the boy again, restraining the urge to sigh just one more time. How many times was he going to violate the rule that you weren't going to the rule where you weren't supposed to flirt with the candidates? Faranth, he hated going searching. It always ended more tiresome than anything.

Don't tell me if I'm dying, 'cause I don't wanna know,
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go,
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon,
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon.

[jack]

Still sporting his "I can't quite believe this is happening it must be a joke" face Flaet turned, staring at the hand suddenly on his shoulder before rolling his eyes towards P'nay, head still faced away. His frown deepened ever so slightly as he was navigated out of the crowd, mind obviously whirling.
Becoming a dragonrider was a Pern-wide dream, every boy and girl had a moment where they thought 'Wow. How awesome would it be to become a dragonrider?' and Flaet was no different. But not that the opportunity was upon him he was struck with what he'd be losing in the process--his dancing and his constant travelling..and those lulls in the evening where Xordn gives him the reins and its just him and the beasts, travelling on while the stars shine. He'd have the chance at so many new experiences, things his parents and his teachers could only dream about, but would he lose all of those things for good?

He bit his lip and let his brows furrow again, obviously at an impasse. Again he glanced over towards the wagon, watching as his teacher paused and stared towards the crowd, hands on his hips in the all-too-familiar, "That boy'll be dead as they come if he's in there" look. A small smirk spread onto his lips and he turned back to P'nay, cracking a lop-sided grin. "Think I'll still be able to dance?" He asked, eyes serious and clear as a bell. If the rider said no, Flaet would decline, performing had and always would be his life. "On stage, I mean. I...I just can't give that kind of thing up, y'know?"

He turned away as the rider spoke, staring again towards Xordn, but a downright devious look spread onto his face as P'nay finished and he turned, head tilted and eyes narrow as he crooned in a bold little voice, "Will you be sad, P'nay, of Yellow Annith?" Okay. Maybe a bit of a twist on his dramatic moment, but when it came to Flaet...well...he couldn't miss a moment like that.

[Admin]

Listen to me,
Listen, listen,
Listen to me.

P'nay waited with an outward sense of patience. He's charming demeanor and utterly relaxed attitude that he was displaying on the outside were not mirrored inside, as thoughts and doubts swirled in his head. Was this boy actually going to decline being a candidate? Oh Faranth, he was so cute, biting his lip like that! Why did he have to fall in love, or into his state of adoration, with half the stupid candidates here? If Flaet was saying no to being a candidate, he was so kissing him. Would that be too forward? Well, it wasn't exactly like he was trying to be subtle or anything. How long would it be until he could kiss him if he did become a candidate? Oh, jays, that would be turns, at least two probably!

The yellowrider blinked when the boy asked a seemingly random question. However, as he explained, it finally registered in his mind and he returned the big, crooked grin that he'd taken on. He tried to think of a good answer to the question, an honest but specular answer to it. In the mean time, he got the lovely, heart stopping privilege of having him croon the question of whether he would sad if he didn't choose to be a candidate. "The answer to that is a little more complicated than that, but I'll just say that the answer is 'no';" he murmured back, barely managing to get it out properly.

"Anyway, I don't see why you can't still dance, in between your other duties. I think you'll find something better too;" he said, talking more audibly then. At the last part, he fondly remember his first flight with Annith, and it showed in his voice. When your dragon spread their wings for the first time and took off with you on their back, it was you spreading your wings as well. He hadn't a clue what this boy's attachment to dancing was but nothing could be better than that . . . Was his heart beating in that odd matter he could hear now because of his memories of that moment or still from Flaet's question about whether he would be sad or not? "Go and get your things and tell your master now;" he said hurriedly, shooing the boy away so he could collect his thoughts on the matter and stop himself from having a sharding heart attack.

Listen to me, hear what I say,
Our hearts can be nearer each day,
Hold me darling, listen closely to me.

[jack]

A subtly hurt look spread onto Flaet's face and he scrunched his brows together, bottom lip sticking out into an unconscious pout. Overall, he looked a bit like a puppy that'd just been denied a game of tug-of-war, "Oh.." He mumbled, glancing away with a subtle frown, "Guess you don't want to see me around the Weyr then." He gave a half-grin, "Shame. I'd love to see you around."

Quick to abandon the issue he sighed, swaying back and forth thoughtfully, "Oh I doubt that, honestly." He chirped, smiling sweetly, "Dancing is my life--odd as it may be for a boy. I can't imagine anything better." He paused, glancing towards his teacher once more, still looking quite indecisive and unsure.

P'nay spoke again and Flaet turned once more, frowning in a distraught manner as--as quick as he'd turned to P'nay--his eyes darted back to Xordn. It was clear he still had not made a decision, but...he would approach Xordn nonetheless. The walk would let him think and...he winced...the approach would be just enough time for Xordn's temper--and voice--to boil over.

"Ah..." He wheeled on P'nay, a far too cheerful look on his face as he snatched up the other's hand, kissing it charmingly with his eyes twinkling mischievously, "As much as you may or may not like me, Mr. Dragonrider," He crooned, unsuccessfully trying to keep his hips from swaying, "Perhaps you could escort me to my master..?" He took a few steps back, fingers brushing along the other's palm, but never actually letting go as he put distance between them, "I figure a dragonrider will put a bit of a pause on his temper." He winked, "After all, I'm supposed to be guarding draybeasts right now, not drooling over a gorgeous dragon and her knightly rider."

[Admin]

I wanna ask for direction,
But I don’t dare to disturb,
I got a thing with affections,
Yeah, that’s why I’m walking alone.

Flaet was not being helpful. Grinning at him and saying 'shame, I'd love to see you around' was not helpful at all. Not feeling quite so confident about speaking anymore, he gave a smile and a shrug in response to the boy's comment about how dancing was his life, specifically doing it when he was busy looking back at his master. He wasn't a naturally confident person. He was a falsely confident person. When he got shook, he got really shook. So, he'd decided that he should just be very quiet and keep mentally poking Annith to make sure that she was still there. She hadn't move at all recently, complacently waiting for her rider to get the nice candidate to gathering up all his things and come along with them. Her inaction had caused many of the older folks to move away.

The smile that he wore had become natural, which was the only reason it stayed on his face as his brain slowly registered the next series of events - Flaet wheeling around, kissing his hand, crooned out convincing words, hips swaying, fingers brushing against his hand, a wink, more convincing, beautiful words. I'd love to meet your new friend's master, Mine, as long as you don't, er, 'jump him' like you keep thinking. I don't think you're supposed to do that with the candidates either . . . Oh Faranth, she was talking to him and Flaet! P'nay was fairly certain he'd just died . . . wait, not quite.

"Annith, you do realize, first off, that you're a thirty-four foot, sexually mature yellow dragon, and, second off, that you really don't need to make comments of everything I'm thinking to anyone you happen to think it might possibly relate to?" The yellow cheerfully nodded that yes, she did know that. Brow furrowed to hide his embarrassment, he quickly got a firm hold on Flaet's hand and started to drag him towards his master. Behind him, Annith stood and ambled after them, sending children and teens scattering with shrieks. She was a bit worried about her rider, but at least he appeared to be very adamant in his thoughts that he would do not such thing to Flaet. That was very good; she didn't want him getting himself into trouble.

Sunlight creeps in between the curtains,
Lose the sheets there’s no time for sleep,
I lie, I pretend ‘til I’m almost certain,
It’s a beautiful world.

[jack]

The man was oddly silent. Had Flaet upset him or something? He'd just been teasing..but some people took offense to things like that. Flaet almost frowned, but then the dragon's voice echoed in his mind and his eyes widened, his worry melted away as surprise took center stage. But surprise and Flaet never got along for very long, and it wasn't too much of a shock when it was pushed aside, a wickedly devious look taking its stead.

Much bolder than Surprise, Devious was fast-acting as well, and as soon as it took hold, a smug look came over Flaet's face, melting to a sweeter, definitely-up-to-something smile as he was dragged off by the embarrassed rider. "You know.." He chirped as he met the other's grip on his hand with a grip of his own, "I'm technically not a Candidate~"

Grinning wickedly he winked and slid to take the lead, cheerfully swaying along the pathway towards Xordn, who took quick notice of the newcomers and their...giant....yellow...escort.

Blinking with confusion the man put his hands on his hips, frowning intently at the group with a nagging suspicion that he knew what was going on. "Care t' explain, boy?"
Flaet grinned, refusing to let go of P'nay's hand, and gave a sheepish laugh, "Sorry Xordn. I couldn't resist seeing what was up."
"Ay. I'm not surprised." The man turned his attention to P'nay, clearly expecting an explanation from the rider.

[Admin]

A daydream spills from my corked head,
Breaks free of my wooden neck,
Left to nod over sleeping waves,
Like bobbing bait for bathing cod,
Floating flocks of candled swans.

Not helpful, not fair! Candidates should not only be butt ugly, they should also be utterly incapable of flirting in any way, shape, or form. His brain was arguing with itself. It did that sometimes. One part of it was trying to cling desperately to the statement that Flaet had just said, that he wasn't actually a candidate yet. Another part was trying to convince that part that it should just let that little thing go and tell him that he definitely, definitely, definitely shouldn't jump the candidate, because he was going to be a candidate. A third part wasn't being particularly helpful but kept telling him that he was a moron and an idiot, and he was starting to agree with that part of his confusing brain wholeheartedly.

Thankfully, his thoughts at least distracted him enough to not totally notice the sway in Flaet's hips as he took the lead to drag him towards his master. Or maybe it was just the looming presence of Annith as she ambled after them that kept him from thinking about anything like that obviously. And then they were face to face with Flaet's master."It's very nice to-;" P'nay began to explain to him when he looked at him expectantly. However, their large, yellow escort burst forth before he could finish and he shut up. He hadn't a clue exactly what he'd been going to say anyway.

It's very nice to meet you, master dancer. Your charge is going to be a candidate! Well, he hasn't actually agreed yet, but I'm sure he will; she told Xordn without a second thought, and she did sound very sure that Flaet would agree to be a candidate. She was beaming in that way that only yellow dragons could beam and seemed a mixture of just very happy and very proud of herself for having found such a wonderful candidate! P'nay wished the best of luck to Flaet about even thinking about refusing now. He could have fun explaining to Annith why he didn't want to be a candidate.

I'm very glad that he came over to see what was going on. He would have been very hard to find otherwise. I'm sure he'll love the Weyr. Mine has many friends there. The yellowrider winced slightly, knowing exactly what fell under the connotation of 'friends' with his dragon when she was speaking about him. And the best view is from the sky. Oh, and it gets such good sun this time of year . . . And Annith just went on talking. As long as it wasn't breaching etiquette, like talking to another dragon's rider, she had few qualms about talking to anyone she wanted to talk too. It was far too inconvenient for both her and her rider for him to try to relay what she wanted to say most of the time. There was so much to say sometimes!

They sang, “So our matching legs are, marching clocks,
And we're all too small to talk to god,
Yeah, we're all too smart to talk to god,
Oh, we're all too smart to talk to god,"
Legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs.

[jack]

Xordn listened with raised brows as Annith spoke, a bemused expression on the dancer's face as he tilted his head, sparing Flaet a glance. The youth shrugged and Xordn's eyes wandered, noting with amusement at the fact that his apprentice had a dead-lock on P'nay's hand.

A knowing look bled into his eyes as he looked from their hands to P'nay's face, a smug little smirk on his face as he chuckled and turned his attention to Annith, "Yes, yes, I can tell quite easily that he would get along quite well in your Weyr, if you and your rider are so happy there." He spared a glance again at P'nay, chuckling ever so softly. "Now--"
"Annith, sir."
"Ah, yes. Annith. A lovely name." He smiled, and put a hand on Flaet's shoulder, escorting the reluctant boy--who had to let go of P'nay to move--towards the dragon, "If you and Flaet would have a chat over there, I'd like to speak with your rider in private." He accented the word private, experience with chatty toddlers who spoke any word they heard telling him that if he wasn't careful, whatever he said to P'nay would be transmitted to Flaet through the Yellow.

Turning from the two he gestured to P'nay to join him by the fence, well out of earshot of Flaet--who he knew would try to overhear if they were close enough--before a sterner look bled into his eyes.

"I won't try to pretend I know what is going through Flaet's head." He rumbled, a subtle frown on his lips, "But I do know that he greatly enjoys what he does here. I'm sure you wouldn't understand it, but from the fact he bothered to even say anything rather than snatch his stuff and run, means he's hesitant. Hesitant means unsure. Unsure means easily influenced." His eyes narrowed, "Now I'm not saying I don't want Flaet to go, I'd be happy to see him excel in such a manner, but I don't want him to go and then be miserable."

Xordn straightened slightly, his broad form and large height giving insight into his nickname, "I should hope you aren't totally oblivious and can tell that he's already rather fond of you. Which means that the moment he's in an insecure area, he'll follow you around like a lost puppy until he's completely secure and content. Believe me--I know." His eyes narrowed, "If you can't help him feel at home and relaxed, I would prefer you didn't take him. He's an impulsive boy. I don't want him doing something he'll regret. Understand me, rider?"

[Admin]

I don't know what I've done,
Or if I like what I've begun,
But something told me to run,
And honey you know me it's all or none.

Annith wiggled when he complimented her name and nodded eagerly when he said that she should go have a chat with Flaet well he talked to her rider. Now focusing on the candidate, she lowered her head to have it hover right in front of him. Have you ever heard of a game called 'pat'? she asked him. To demonstrate the very basic idea of it, which was a silly little rhyme game where you clapped your hands with a partner, she waved one her front feet in the air well balancing on the other three. She'd been curious; her rider had mentioned it and, since she needed something to talk about, it seemed like a good time to ask about it. How convenient would it be if she could use her paws like humans could? Though they were good for things, like catching food and gripping for the perfect take-off.

Politely quiet, P'nay moved towards the fence with Xordn upon his direction. He listened motionless to what the dancer had to say, even as a sinking feeling settled in his chest. The last thing he needed was to be responsible to take care of someone! He really didn't need to end up spending any more time than he had to as it was around Flaet. Yes, he had noticed that the boy seemed fond of him; he'd been trying to ignore that and suppress it though, and he didn't need it thrown in his face. Suddenly, he was feeling horrible. He was a horrible, horrible person; he was sure of it. Everything was all his fault and how in the world could he be so moronic and foolish?

All of the confidence he usually held about his evaporating, he looked down as Xordn finished speaking and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He felt this entire conversation was like one of the times when he got a stern talking too for dropping someone because they were suddenly boring. At least he hadn't been punched, or slapped, or kicked in any place. "Well, er, you see, sir;" he attempted. Then, taking a deep breath, he finally managed to look up and just get it out. "To be honest, sir, I'm a wherry's behind. I do things I shouldn't and I never stick around long enough for anyone. I don't want to lie to you and say that I'm going to take care of him. But, Ann, Ann likes him and she'll do right by him, even if I don't. She wants him to come; don't hurt her on my account." His voice was plaintive, for the sake of his dragon.

There were sounds in my head,
LIttle voices whispering,
That I should go and this should end,
Oh and I found myself listening.

[jack]

"'Pat'?" Flaet questioned, staring up at the dragon with wide eyes, a curious look on his face, "I think I have," He grinned, tilting his head to the side, "But I know I've never played. Is it the one where people touch hands and sing or something?"

His eyes lit up and he eagerly moved closer, grinning energetically up at the other, clearly unfazed by her size, "Do you know how to play? Could you teach me?"

Xordn was silent as the other spoke and for a good while afterwards, his eyes narrowed and arms crossed as he simply stared, not a flicker of his decision in his gaze. Instants turned into Moments, Moments into Seconds, Seconds into Minutes...and then..he smirked.

Thunderfoot's bellowing guffaw was fitting for his nickname, and Flaet looked up at the sound of it, blinking wide eyes as he peered around Annith in the failed attempt at catching a snippit of the conversation. "You're a good lad." The man bellowed, giving a half-grin as he put his hands on his hips, giving a pleased nod to P'nay.

"I like honesty, and your dragon seems sweet--so long as there's someone there for Flaet to talk to, I'm sure he'll be fine." He shifted, glancing at Annith with a smirk before directing his gaze once again to P'nay, "Nevertheless, I do hope you'll spare him a moment or two once and a while."

[Admin]

Now I'm in love but I don't know how
I'm in pain cause I want it now
As I sit watching her eyes close,
I slowly open mine.

Annith nodded (which was a move she'd come to love after learning it from her rider) to confirm his description of the game. When he moved closer, she set her foot down for a moment so as to rest it and again her balance. She didn't want to fall on Flaet on accident! No, I don't, but Mine does. He used to play it with his older brother, when he was little. They don't ever talk to now. I've never met him. I'm sure he's very nice; she told the new candidate, just a little bit sadly. She'd wanted to meet her rider's clutchbrother sometimes, but she generally forgot about him; he didn't think about Tonar often. However, she was very sure he would be very nice, given that he was related to her rider.

P'nay waited nervously as minutes passed and their was silence between him and Xordn . . . He chuckled nervously when the dancer started to laugh and then told him that he was a 'good lad.' "I'm sure I can spare him a moment or two;" he replied to the huge man with a grin. In his head, the part of him that was still feeling horrible added 'in between Felicia and C'lin.' However, his confident was back and he was all smiles and charm again. The yellow immediately interjected into their conversation as soon as she got the feeling that they might be done talking. Dancer boy is going to come with us? And, P'nayMine, can you teach him how to play pat? And me too?

"Oi, dancer boy, are you comin'? I can't teach you how to play otherwise;" the yellowrider said, ambling back over towards his dragon and their new friend. His grin was lopsided and slick as could be. Once again, he seemed to know that he was hot stuff. Annith knelt, perfectly synchronizing it with her rider, so he was running as soon as she was down, flashing a smile towards the boy and then slinging himself up onto her back. Hooking one foot over the top of her shoulders, he leaned down a remarkably long way, so that he was perpendicular to the ground, and offered Flaet again, acting as if this was the most simple thing he'd ever done and still grinning.

Did you know that everything,
She ever does is for you?
So it goes, the story of a broken heart,
Comes true, comes true.

[jack]

Flaet tilted his head, a subtle frown on his lips. He didn't want to be prejudiced or something, but he got the feeling that P'nay wasn't as interested in seeing his brother again as Annith was. But he didn't say a thing, his grin replacing his quiet little frown as he nodded, laughing, "We'll just have to bug it out of him then, won't we?"Xordn drifted off as P'nay darted off to his dragon, smirking at the wide-eyed stare of Flaet as he watched, and then glanced back just in time to get a facefull of his stuff. Xordn gave a barrel-chested laugh and shook his head as his student held his bag with his feet, having yelped and tumbled into a handstand to dodge, scooping up the bag after a moment.

"That was mean, Xordn!" He barked as he slid back to his feet, grabbing his pack with a grin before--slinging it over his shoulder--he turned his attention to P'nay. "I guess I..can come along." He chirped, smiling back at Xordn before waving and reaching up to take P'nay's hand, "So long as Annith doesn't mind giving me a ride, that is~"

[Admin]

Infatuation,
Not seeing the rest of you is getting the best of me,
It’s such a shame that you shot me down,
It would have been nice to be around.

P'nay felt elated inside when Flaet accepted, and that feeling chased away the feelings of doubt and horribleness that clung inside of him. He got that feeling that he was always chasing for a few moments, high on happiness. Once he felt skin against his hand, he gripped tightly and helped the boy up in front of him. "I don't think she'll mind;" he whispered in his ear, and then busied himself with making sure that Flaet and his belongings were secured with riding straps. He wasn't going to use them anyway - they were for guests and wing practice. It didn't take them long to secure them around him though; he'd had practice with guests.

As soon as he confirmed to Annith silently that their friend was secure, she rose to feet. Crouching down, she tensed and then launched herself into the air, spreading her wings wide and sweeping downward to keep from falling back. After a few more awkward wingbeats close to the ground, she was properly in the air and was spiraling upward over the hold. On her back, her rider was restless, thinking. Finally, he just went on impulse. Turning Flaet's head more towards him with gentle grip on his chin, he craned his head forward and pressed his lips against the boys. In his mind, he scrambled to hold onto a clear picture, but Annith got in and they were between before she could disapprove.

Three moments, all of which P'nay was still the new candidate in the dark void, and they were out above the Weyr. He quickly broke their contact, leaning back. "If anyone asks, I never did that;" he said, as sternly as he could well grinning. He could feel Annith's worry about them and her mild disapproval, but he ignored it. "Now, once she's landed, you get off and get settled in. The candidatemaster is in charge of you then;" he told Flaet as she begin to spiral downward. It would probably be for the best if they got a little bit of distance in between them for a bit. And, if he went over towards the barracks, he was way too likely to run into Felicia.

I’m so attracted to you,
The feeling’s mutual too,
And I get scared the moment you leave,
Get so hot I forget to breathe, yeah.

[jack]

Grinning cheerfully Flaet let himself be pulled up, although he was quite capable of scampering up on his own. Years of dancing and working with acrobats made him quite good at getting to places most people had trouble with. The tops of buildings included.

"Well that's good. I wouldn't want to bother her," He replied, watching curiously as P'nay strapped him in, following every movement with intrigue. He would have to learn this sort of thing anyways, wouldn't he? And then Annith was taking off and Flaet downright grinned, having always been fond of the rush of dragon-flight.

Eyes wide with enthusiasm he watched the skies, grinning ear to ear as he felt the dragon beneath him and the air around him and then...a hand on his chin. Turning his head curiously he looked at P'nay, not sure what to expect, but certainly not expecting the lips suddenly thrust upon his own.

His heart leapt to his throat and he inhaled sharply, eyes widening with surprise as a rich blush spread onto his cheeks and after an instant of hesitation he pressed back, eyes sliding closed.

The freezing of between came and went, and then that glorious contact was gone, and the teen shuddered, although whether it was from the cold, or the kiss he'd never tell. Flaet licked his lips as he let out a stream of air, giving a half grin back up at P'nay. "I suppose I can deal with that." He said softly, grin twisting to something significantly more mishievous, although he said nothing more related to the incident.

"How am I gonna find the Candidatemaster?" He asked after a moment, frowning subtly as he stared at the Weyr below, "I have a horrible sense of direction, I'll have you know..."

[Admin]

In the back, uh huh, I can't crack
We're on top,
It's just a shimmy and a shack, uh huh,
I can't fake, we're on top,
We're on top.

Seeing Flaet lick his lips, P'nay had to resist the urge to do the same, trying to act cool and composed, as if he was savoring the taste of the candidate on his mouth. He was pleased to see the boy shudder, not caring whether it was from the cold or his touch. It was a wonderful sight. Why did he have to be a candidate? Why did he have to so trust in his dragon's ability so much that he was sure that he would Impress? That meant that, if he wanted to have any real romance with Flaet, now would be the best time. He let out a sigh, a mixture of sad, conflicted, and utterly content.

"His name is O'sho and he rides the only proper bronze around here. Anyway, I'm sure that the other candidates can help you as well. I happen to know there's some very nice ones. Annith searched one named Alalbar. He's a bit sensitive and odd though;" he told Flaet with mock sternness. Close to the ground now, Annith gave it one more spiral and then broke of it to start to fly straight, heading for the candidates' barrack. She landed lightly in the ground in front of it. Gracefully folding her wings with a rustle, she knelt down to allow easy dismount.

"You go and have fun. I have to go and pretend like I haven't been breaking rules;" he said to the candidate with a little wink and a big grin, undoing the riding straps with a couple of expert pulls. "I'm sure you'll see me around;" he assured him as well. He gave him a wave once he was on the ground, cuing Annith to take off. She crooned a farewell to Flaet and then opened her wings, turning to avoiding hitting him, and then took off again, launching herself into the sky as she swept her wings downward. The brilliant yellow glided across the Weyr as his rider looked back.

We bring the bump to the grind, uh huh,
I don't mind, we're on top,
It's just a shimmy and a shack, uh huh,
I can't fake, we're on top,
We're on top.