I Just Wanna Soak Up The Sun [Jack]

[Kila]

Outside in the Weyrbowl, by the shore of the lake, Sol lay in ecstasy in the rays of Rubkat. The candidate lay face down on her stomach on a large rock lodged in the ground by the side of the shore. The day was warm and the rock was warmer, for before she had come out to bask it had soaked up Rubkat's rays greedily, it's dark color like a magnet on the earth.

The Weyrbowl had been empty except for a few people on the far side going in and out of the tunnels, so Sol had laid herself luxuriously out on the stone. She loved the outside. She loved weather. She loved any kind of weather. So this sunny day was the best gift that anyone could have given her. Since the only people out and about were far away, Sol was not concerned about anyone coming over, so she stripped off her tunic and down to her undershirt to maximize her human photosynthesis.

Her newly impressed flitter, a sad, shy Black, lay nose to nose with her. He had been clearly nervous at first when they had hiked away from the safe closure of walls and darkness and she had placed him carefully down on the rock. He had stayed curled in the same spot, frightened, until His had laid down and things remained still for a while. His head moved about fist, and then, spurred by curiosity and lack of danger so far, he uncurled and began to explore the rock, never straying far from Sol. His inky black hide shone handsomely in the sun and subtly reflected the dark blue tones that were also present. Finally, appeased with his surroundings, he laid himself out on the rock opposite Sol, his snout touching the tip of her nose.

Sol smiled lazily as he closed his eyes, clearly pleased despite his initial anxiety. "Hey dearest, I still need to find a name for you."

[jack]

It was a rare thing to see B'rak walking along the edge of the lake, his puny Bronze nowhere to be seen, but he was doing so now, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his eyes downcast, a subtle frown cast upon his lips.

Shoth was back at the weyr, laying on his side with his head tucked under one wing and his legs spread out. He was positively drenched in numbweed, the pain of the Flight finally hitting him. It was good that he was asleep, B'rak thought as he let his mind drift to the slumbering--and oddly artistic--drawls in his partner's sleeping dreams, the grumpy dragon would feel better the longer he snoozed.

The man paused next to the lake, casting his eyes upon it with a tired eye. There were circles beneath his eyes and he yawned, rubbing his face wearily. He'd been up most of the day and the evening before, struck with the demands of Shoth and the splitting hangover even a drop of wine could give the white-haired man.

A figure, laid out comfortably on a rock, caught his eye and he tilted his head, messy locks falling into one eye. He'd never met this one...and while without Shoth he didn't usually bother to barge into anyone's private time, he gave a soft sigh and ambled over. It wouldn't hurt to say hello.

The man leaned over the rock with a tired smile, giving a lazy wave. "Sorry to interrupt.." He mumbled, "But I don't believe we've met?"

[Kila]

Sol thought she heard the wind brush through the grass in her sun-entranced state, but it turned out to actually be a sigh. Her flitter was alerted before her, sitting up straight in alarm and shooting underneath her at the sight of B'rak. Opening her eyes slowly as a result of his skittish movement, Sol was just in time to see B'rak lean into her vision. With a tired smile he excused his interruption with a lazy wave. He didn't believe that they'd met. "True. I don't believe we have, sir."

Unperturbed by his sudden appearance, for she had not expected to see another person around the lake, she regarded him through still sleepy eyes. "You look sad," she observed. More like herself in this setting, her natural blunt observations resurfaced. She didn't think about having said it. Sol had not intended to be mean, she merely called what she saw. Sad, perhaps, but very relaxed. And that was how people should be on days like this.

"Why don't you sit down? You're not interrupting," she offered and reassured. Inclining her head to the space on the large rock beside her, her messy blond curls tumbled carelessly over her shoulder. There was plenty of room, for the stone was wide as it was large. "It's very warm," she enticed him, resting her cheek against the rock lazily and smiling.

[jack]

B'rak blinked, eyes widening subtly. "I look sad...?" He repeated, tilting his head subtly as though surprised the other had come up with such an analysis, although...he wasn't about to deny it was true. "I suppose I am...in away." A gentle smile curved onto his lips and he chuckled, eyes closing in a pleased line, "But arent' we all? Somewhere?"

The Bronze-rider nodded and sunk down to the rock, giving a pleased sigh at the warmth as he laid back, arms folded behind his head. "It is warm." Very warm--the heat going up into tense muscles and sore ones and loosening them gently. It...was nice.

"My name is B'rak." He mumbled, eyes closing then opening as he turned his face away from the sky and glanced to Sol, "Of Bronze Shoth. You?" The white-haired boy paused, noticing the black nose, "And who is your little friend?"

[Kila]

"Yeah... I suppose we are all sad in our own ways," Sol agreed, mulling over the thought lightly. It floated into her head and wandered around it aimlessly like a falling leaf. It did not stick or spark any connection particularly, it was merely present. On a day like today when she was so warm and content how could she think about being sad?

Sol smiled as the man sighed and settled down on the rock beside her. He agreed in no time that it was a warm spot. "B'rak?" She repeated his name, pleased that he had introduced himself. There really were a lot of nice people in the Weyr- she liked it here. And then he turned to face her and added his title before asking her own name in return. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her soft eyes widening in suprise. "You're a Bronze Rider? That's amazing..." She studied his face with obvious admiration. She made no concious attempt to hide her feelings, only realizing and wondering later if her candor had caused him any embarassment. "His name is Shoth, you said? Wow. Where is he?" She paused. "I'd love to see him sometime."

"My name is Sol," she said at last, having forgotten for a while in the fascination of the idea of her new accquaintence as a rider of a great big Bronze King. "It's really nice to meet you," she said with a smile. "I didn't think I was going to run into anyone out here. What are you doing all the way out by the lake?" She looked down when B'rak inquired about her flitter. He was still curled up pathetically against her chest. "Oh him? Well... I actually haven't given him a name yet," she admitted.

[jack]

B'rak gave a sheepish grin at her exclamation, having never thought too much about the honor of being a Bronzerider. With a dragon like Shoth as a partner, you didn't get to have the glory of the title--it was too busy being buried by the under-sized ball of pride's nasty reputation. "Yes well..it isn't as nice as it sounds," He mumbled, not really knowing what to say, "Its a job and its an honor, but it brings just as much stress as any other task--if not more."

He gave an absent shrug and dropped the subject, frowning subtly at the mention of Shoth. "He's in the weyr." He replied softly, eyes drooping sadly, "And as much as I'd love to say you can meet him, I honestly wouldn't recommend it." He gave a sheepish, apologetic grin, "My partner is not exactly...friendly. Especially not when he's half-made of injuries and lathered in so much numb-root that he can't lift his legs or belly--giving him nothing to do but complain and rant."

"Sol?" He chuckled, looking pleased to drop the subject of his grumpy dragon, "A pretty name. You're a Candidate, aren't you? You have that look to you." His smile grew subtly, "I can tell that you'll make a fine rider." He turned his attention to the little flit. "Nameless? Heh. You'd best find something to call him or he'll be responding to 'no name' and 'him' before you know it."

[Kila]

Sol could tell that the subject of B'rak's life mate was upsetting him for some reason. She did not want to antagonize the man, so she held back all the questions that had bubbled to the surface of her mind. How was Shoth not friendly? Why shouldn't she meet him some day? Why was he injured enough to merit so much numbweed? What had happened? B'rak's eyes now held a sad note, and Sol's empathetic heart gave a pang for his pained expression. "I wouldn't mind that he's not friendly," was all she had to say on the subject. "I often find people who are hard to get along with the best friends and strongest allies."

A touch of color tickled Sol's cheeks when they happily left behind the subject of Shoth and B'rak complimented her name. She was surprised at first when he pegged her so easily as a candidate, but then broke out in a broad smile. "Oh no," she laughed, "Is it really that easy to tell? I really haven't a clue what I'm doing most of the time here, you know." And again she was surprisingly pleased when he complimented her a second time, filling her head with ready dreams of being a rider. "You really think so?" she implored, her eyes wide and her hands curled into balls and brought to face-level on the rock. "I hope!"

Sol also diverted her attention back to her little Black. Reaching underneath her, she pulled him from his hiding place and placed him between B'rak and herself. Immediately shying away from the stranger, the flitt looked up at her with big, mournful eyes. "He's darling really- aren't you?" she crooned, reaching out a finger to tap his snout gently. "I was thinking about calling him Hally. What do you think?" The question was addressed to both the flitter in question and to B'rak. The Black gave a bashful chirp, probably from the gentle touch and affectionate tone, but gave an affirmative voice nonetheless.

[jack]

The white-haired rider tilted his head at her comment, a brow arching and a surprised look on his face. A moment passed and he broke out into a soft smile, chuckling low in his throat before looking away, gazing up at the clouds thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right." He mumbled at last, smirking subtly, "He's certainly steadfast when it comes to things he likes...that's one thing for sure."

The man chuckled again, looking quite smug as he turned back to her, grinning unabashedly. "Well yes, there is the cluelessness..but after spending time around weyrlings and candidates and even a dragon, you start to pick up on what makes people Candidates and what makes them not Candidates." He smiled fondly and reached over, patting her gently on the head before sitting up to roll one shoulder with a grunt. "You'll probably figure that out after a while with your own dragon. Shoth isn't exactly one for Searching...but even still...he's given me a glimpse of what he sees when he sees someone worth 'dragging off' as he says."

"Hally?" B'rak shifted, glancing down at the fire lizard with intrigue. He'd always liked flits...they were like tiny dragons..but had more than enough personality for one. The ex-miner had thought to one day get one..but with Shoth taking a distinct dislike for them, he'd given up that idea a long time ago, "Seems fitting..and he seems to like it." He grinned and rolled off the rock, standing with a stretch. "Well, Shoth's demanding more numbroot." He rolled his eyes, "I'd best get back to him before he starts yelling at Oveth or, Faranth forbid, gets up to find B'nyur himself." He gave a sheepish laugh and turned, smiling at Sol, "I'll see you at the Hatching, little-one. I wish you all the luck in the world."

And with that the rider tuned and shuffled off, hands stuffed in his pockets and submissive, 'I'm coming, don't eat anyone' thoughts in his mind.

ooc: Decided I'd better get B'rak out of there, since Sol already has her dragonet anyways. xD