Ripples (Weyrling Gang Plot)

[4horseshowgirl4]

L'ven was oiling Verrath's bronze hide in the weak late autumn sunshine just outside of the Weyrling Barracks. L'ven was wearing a thick, utilitarian wherhide jacket, a plain dark brown color with small stains and imperfections across it. He had just cut his hair again, and bits of it stood on end, especially those near the back of his neck where it was especially hard to cut straight. The pot of sweet-smelling oil lay at his knees. The left side of Verrath was finished for now, and it shone with a particularly brilliant sheen whenever the sun caught the metallic hide just right. Of course, the unoiled side of Verrath wasn't cracked or dull; L'ven was far too assiduous to let the care of his dragonet go unnoticed until it got to that point. Verrath was stretched out in the sun, head and neck extended on the warm stone floor, eyes flickering lazily open for a moment or two to make sure His was still working hard before closing again.

L'ven was completely at peace. His utter delight and happiness following Impression had not yet fully faded, and, several days after the event, he began to hope that it never would with more and more conviction. Of course, being a Weyrling was not all fun and games: there were lessons, chores, and, of course, taking care of a creature that sometimes seemed to consist solely of a bottomless abyss for a stomach and a skin that was determined to dry out and dirty faster than the Weyrlings could oil and bathe it. Still, L'ven had never been afraid of work, and the reward was far greater than the sum of all of the toils. L'ven had never been in any sort of relationship, or felt any mutual love, before, and he could never have fathomed the security and joy he felt from simply knowing that there was someone there that would sympathize with him, no matter how bad things were. Valleth grunted as if agreeing. He knew he was amazing, but it was still nice when His dwelt on that fact.

{Typical Bronze ego,} L'ven teased Valleth, who did not bother to reply. He was far too dignified to take the bait and succumb to such a trivial argument. In truth, L'ven knew, the Bronze was really too sleepy to come up with any sort of retort, and he was rather disappointed. However, it was difficult to remain so, as Valleth's feelings of pure contentment seeped into him, and he, too, relaxed. As they had been together for such a short time, L'ven did not yet know how to separate Valleth's feelings and emotions from his own; he could do nothing but accept them and try to figure out whether it was Valleth who was feeding whatever he was feeling to him, or whether he was actually experiencing it himself. However, he had quickly grown to learn how to ignore Valleth's almost continuous hunger; well, perhaps 'ignore' isn't the best term, perhaps 'dilute' is a better one.

L'venMine, you missed a spot! Valleth quickly complained, twitching his skin where the offense had occurred. "Sorry, Valleth," L'ven replied, pressing his oily rag to the spot to placate the Bronze. Whenever he worked with Valleth, he was still upswept by surges of triumph. He had, surely, Impressed the best and biggest dragon of the clutch (well, excluding Callistath, of course, and possibly Detritath, but that was only in the category of 'biggest' and certainly not in 'best'). Sure, he was proud of himself. It wasn't every boy who Impressed a King! He would have loved Valleth had the dragon been any color, be he Gray, Green, or Iron, or any color inbetween, but his ambition continually prodded at him, reminding him of what was possible now. Sure, his Impression was partly luck-- luck that he'd come to Dalibor, luck that it had been Diadoroth to catch Kalith to create His, luck that Valleth had been healthy. And, while it felt rather like a jinx to hope to Impress higher colors, or even to Impress at all, during Candidacy, now that the big event was behind them, L'ven found it easier for his mind to wander to what he could achieve in the near future.

"I guess I mustn't forget that Callistath's and maybe, one day, Kalith's Flights will be somewhat based off luck, too," L'ven murmured to Valleth, who listened languidly but didn't respond. The sun was making him too sleepy. "But, then again, they'll choose Wingseconds and Wingleaders off of who has consistently put in the best work-- and that could be us, couldn't it, Valleth?" You're too philosophical lately, Mine,

[/color] Valleth rumbled in amusement. Can we plan our futures later and simply talk about amusing things and enjoy what sun we have left today?[/color] The dragon was teasing again. "We can laugh about how that wherrybrain K'mar was the only one who got mauled at the Hatching," L'ven said, savoring the image. I never understood why you don't like him, Mine,[/color] Valleth said carefully. "He's lazy, he insulted me, he insulted my family, and he insulted all of dragonkind. He didn't deserve to Impress. He said that he didn't want a dragon-- can you imagine?!" the anger was creeping back into L'ven's voice, a fact that wasn't missed by Valleth, who joined in. He insulted DRAGONS? Why, I'll show him![/color] Valleth sat up, seething already, before slowly calming down, filtering out L'ven's passion. Well, at least you got your wonderful, shiny Bronze and he only has that Black. We'll show them who's better, Mine.[/color] And with that, Valleth settled back down to continue his nap.[/right][/font]

[jack]

ooc: xD;; I admit...I have no idea if you're going to be returning anytime soon--although I sure hope you will!--but I've really been wanting to post in this thread lately...sonowI'mgoingto. P:

When ya get back, you'll have work to do, Shooow~ ;D

ic:

"S'awful mean to talk about someone like that."

The morning was nice, the sun warm and the breeze smooth, but as Durian and Mesreath--who immediately situated himself between the girl and the other two--exited the barracks planning for a nice visit to the lake, the day was looking much less lovely. The girl frowned, brows knit subtly together and head tilted minutely as she put her hands on her hips, not quite glaring but not quite hiding her opinion on the matter.
"People don't become the way they are for no reason, there's probably something that made him 'lazy,' 'insulting,' and maybe even a reason he didn't want a dragon."

Mesreath snorted, but didn't comment, seeming more intent on absently working his jaw as he glared at Valleth whole-heartedly.

"Besides! Are you really one to talk?" The young woman shifted again, giving an annoyed sigh as she reached up, the pink flit on her shoulders pressing her head insistently into her fingers. "Anyone who has time for bad gossip has time to do things that might help someone else. Right Mes?"

The Brown tilted his head, flicking his tail, and Durian smiled, happily rubbing the creature's eyeridges. I don't care. The boy smelled horrid and was in my way. Therefore I moved him. Growling to himself he turned, absently pushing at the girl's legs. Come, Mine. Let's go--we don't have time to waste with these imbeciles.
"Now listen to yourself. You sound like him."
A scoff. At least my intentions are better.
Durian snorted, but gave no other defense, turning towards the lake with Reggae giving a parting shriek. "See you around, Bronze Weyrling."

[4horseshowgirl4]

L'ven was finishing up his job, smearing the oil in the final few dry patches on Valleth's skin. Just as he was about to stand up to put the oil away, he saw the newest Brownpair approaching him: Durian and Hers. What was the dragonet's name again? Mesreath,

[/color] Valleth supplied, raising his head to see them approaching. Catching sight of his formidable brother, he hastily rose to his feet, his hide glistening with the wet oil still on his right side.

"Good morning to you, too, Durian," L'ven said, unable to keep a slightly sarcastic tone out of his voice. He couldn't help it; he was a bit ticked off that she had eavesdropped on a conversation strictly between boy and dragon. Well, you dimglow, maybe you should stick with telepathic communication next time,[/color] Valleth quipped unhelpfully, teasing His. L'ven suppressed the urge to give the dragon a good slap across the eyeridges. {Stick up for me for once, would ya?} he said crossly, but in his mind as the dragon had reminded him. Well, I will if you're not being stupid![/color]

"Durian, I don't know you very well, but you didn't have to be in a room with that wherry's behind, listening to him insult your work ethic, your dreams, your ability, and even your family's love. I've dreamt of dragonriding for Turns and Turns now! Not only did he disparage all dragonkind, but he said that I would never get a dragon!" he said, somewhat chokingly, but strongly nevertheless. He couldn't keep the anger out of his voice-- the memory was as raw and painful as it had been on that day. True, he had done his best to insult K'mar in return, but, though he longed to say that he'd done the same damage in return, he could only think that he'd, perhaps, succeeded in the logic but not in the hurt.

"It would have taken an awfully strong person to hear all of that aimed at him or her and been able to resist disliking that person," L'ven continued, more quietly, his hand seeking out Valleth's head to gain comfort from the touch of His, "and perhaps you could have been that person, but I know I'm not. I'll strive to be the hardest-working person at this Weyr, but I'm not going to pretend I'm kinder than what I am." L'ven bent down to grab the jar of oil, straightened up, looking stonily at Durian again.

"Yes, see you around." He turned to leave as well.
[/right][/font]

[jack]

Durian paused in her moving away, a hand gently stroking Reggae's head as she glanced back at L'ven, eyes glittering softly. She smiled as he finished, eyes following as he stood and nearly glared at her. "It doesn't take strength...or even kindness...you know." She folded her hands behind her back and turned around, walking up to him with a grin. "You just have to know who's the better person, right?"

Perhaps Mes had been wearing a bit off on her...but it had become a phrase she was beginning to really get. She was a humble person, honestly! But...when it came to the people who stooped to such lows....if it wasn't her own mind that had supplied the idea, then it was Mesreath's insistence--she would always be better than those who acted so far beneath her.

Cheerful to discover the reason behind the bronzerider's rude comments she gave a wink and wheeled around again, deciding that after she gave Mes some good attention, she would go visit R'ish for a bit. "Sounds to me like you're the better man, right? Why stoop to their level, when you can just look at them...and know how inferior they really are?" She glanced over her shoulder, smiling coyly. "It isn't a friendly or generous person who can ignore the foul mouth of another. Its a narcissist."

Laughing, she waved and set off, calling over her shoulder, "Mes and I are gonna go for a swim. Its great for cooling tempers. You're welcome to join us if you like...or you could go back to brooding. Either way." A tilt of her head in his direction and her attention was elsewhere, a shared glance between dragonet and weyrling starting a full-out race to the lake.