Now Holding Auditions [First DOSKRUN]

[Lan]

Although she had plenty of warning of Dosk's run, Dota was still nervous. She didn't want it to happen. Dosk was her little girl and Dota was still used to the wher's childish behavior. With such behavior, some part of the handler had hoped that Dosk would never run. Yet, it seemed the cyan whers were going to turn out to be exactly like the cyan dragons. They were female fighters, and therefore they would be running. At the very least, Dota had not been idle in her nervousness. H'lios had been contacted and they had made arrangements. There would be some comfort for her in knowing that someone she knew would be there for her and she would not be spending the night with a stranger.

So, with her preparations in tact, Dota tried to pretend that she wasn't nervous. Each passing day as Dosk grew brighter and brighter she tried to pretend to sleep during the day as she fitfully tossed and turned. Each passing night she tried to pretend that she wasn't worried as she went out for patrol. Finally, however, she had to concede that she could not keep control of Dosk for long as she grew more and more unruly. It was beginning to affect Dota's ability to concentrate in other matters as well.

Finally, however, the fateful night came.

Dota was returning from a bath. Dosk had taken hers earlier and had returned to their shared quarters to take a nap. It had been a few candlemarks since their dusk shift on the Outer Weyr with Baharl and it was now early morning. In a candlemark or two many of the early risers of the protectors of the day would begin to awake, but in these still wee hours of the morning the Weyr still belonged to the dwellers of the night. However, this late after shift change there was not a whole lot of hustle and bustle as the cyanhandler made her way as quickly as possible through some of the less traveled tunnels to get back to her quarters.

When she finally was back at her room she closed the door behind herself and gasped a sigh of relief. Patrol clothes, already folded, were set atop the chest at the foot of her bed and she unwrapped her hair from her towel to rub it dry. Her gaze moved to where Dosk was sleeping on her whercouch, glowing brighter than ever. Yet, there was something still different about her. What was it? The normally jovial woman frowned and folded her towel in her lap as she contemplated over it. There seemed to be a fitfulness there, as if the wher was not really sleeping at all. Then, suddenly a sick feeling of realization struck her like a wave. Her faintly pruned fingers grasped tightly at the towel. The time had come. Oh, dear, the time had actually come! She looked to the door desperately, all but begging with her mind for H'lios to show up like some knight in shining armor.

Dosk opened her eyes.

DOSK'S DOTA! The cyan sprang to life like an actress suddenly stepping into a role. DOSK WANT... happy show! Yes! Dosk put on show for everyone!

Dota sat, shocked. "Umm... you mean... you don't feel like running?"

Run? RUN?! Why Dosk run? Run means nobody see Dosk. DOSK SHOULD BE SEEN! DOSK BE LOOKED AT! DOSK SPECIAL. She stamped her feet, then suddenly perked up again and looked at the door. It seemed like something clicked then OH! OH OH OOOOOOOOH! Dosk have plan! Dosk find place for show, yes? Yes! DOSK PUT ON SHOW! Dosk invite everyone! Yesssssssss. Fabu-YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS! Oh, Dosk be back, okay? Yes. Dosk gonna put on a show! The cyan scratched at the door and Dota moved to open it, still a bit stunned at what was going on.

This wasn't the way Dota thought that Dosk's Run would feel. She still maintained some of her faculties, first of all. There was an overwhelming urge to fight and flee inside of her that was building, but this wasn't the way she imagined it. It was strong, yes, and it was probably already clouding her vision. But... why wasn't Dosk running? She settled back into a seated position on her bed, her hand grasping to take hold of the towel she had left there previously. Somehow, she was aware of where Dosk was going, even while she was not physically with her. The cyan was going to the one place where she would get the most attention...

Heeeeeeey! Doskfriiiiiiiends! Dosk put on show! Need whers! BOY whers! Yes! BOY WHERS COME BE PART OF DOSK'S SHOW, OKAAAAAAY? She called out as she headed through the wherhandlers' tunnels and out to the Bowl. The stars shown down on her, the perfect backdrop to her MARVELOUS play. It was a shame it was too bright in the Dining Hall to hold the play THERE. That would have truly been FABULOUS. Even still, the Weyr Bowl was clearly a fitting place. Yesssss... a fitting place, indeed.

JUST LOOK! LOOK AT DOSK NOW! Dosk pranced about in the starlight. She twisted and turned, strutting about all mature and fabulous. OKAY. SO. Dosk be LEAD STAR, yes? Dosk be BESTEST PERSON IN SHOW. Boy whers be SUPPORTING show, yes? Yes? Ooh! Oh! Let Dosk pick ROLES for boy whers, yes? DOSK PICK BEST WHERS FOR BEST ROLES. Must audition, yes? SING SONG FOR DOSK. SING NOW. But wait turn, yes? NO UPSTAGE DOSK, HEAR? Dosk warbled as emphasis, then sat back to observe them with a mature and stern gaze.

[kireon]

She's doing it now, of all times? Honestly, so selfish. I can't imagine what she's thinking, H'lios.[/i] Nelideth grumbled, glowering down haughtily from his ledge with pale, sky colored tail lashing back and forth. Things were not exactly going according to plan, and there were things afoot that were causing him a good deal of anger, to say nothing about the current emotional state of his rider. Fangs bared, he shot a glance back into the glow-filled section of the cavern where H'lios resided, hunched over a scrap of hide meticulously hidden away whenever the man wasn't studying it and committing details to memory.

Things around the Weyr were buzzing, an undercurrent of dissent that the Wingsecond only knew would get worse as time went on- the Holdless were only the beginning, only the start of things to come. With the loss of Fajra and Kalith to the smokeweed's effects, the paranoid side of him had risen sharply and without mercy to the surface. Few outside his wing saw him, and those within his Wing would probably wish to see less of the man. The once solitary, gruff and strict man had been replaced by a merciless taskmaster only held by a thin veneer of control in the form of their Wingleader. Those under his jurdiscition were put through grueling paces in training, in drills and held to the kind of strictness that one might have expected out of Fort.

Complainers were dealt with accordingly, and Nelideth had heard rumors that there may be more than one individual who might request a transfer rather than continue to deal with H'lios' brutal training and methods in wing drills. H'lios held no love for the whiners and complainers- and any who vocally opposed the Holdless or decided to get into some sort of heated complaint regarding them were quickly sent to do something requiring enough effort that their mouths would be shut for a good deal of time. If one had time to gossip, to complain, they had the energy and time to be useful.

In some ways, this pleased Nelideth, it meant his H'lios had returned, leaving behind the grieving mask that had taken over him in the turns passed since Melinda and Curcath's Betweening. In other ways, it was concerning, as it meant H'lios was returning to the point that had landed him in the Infirmary back in their home Weyr to begin with.

Should I tell the cyan's handler you won't be there? His tone turned irritated, highly displeased with the way H'lios was neglecting his promises. Whether or not he approved of the cyanhandler and her currently mysterious place on the status ladder was besides the point; H'lios had given his word, and he was going to make sure the Wingsecond did just that- even if it meant eating that oh-so-important document.

Jerking his attention away at the snide tone in Nelideth's voice and the implied threat, H'lios glowered back in the blue's direction, noticing the eyes shaded to red glowing in the darkness. What about Dota? He didn't care for being interrupted, not in the least.

Nelideth turned slightly smug. Dosk Runs, you thick headed dullard. But I'm sure I'll have to explain what that means to you, unless you've come back to your senses?[/i]

"I will deal with your attitude later." H'lios snarled at him, shoving himself away from his desk and heading straight for the tunnels themselves to the Wherhandler's quarters. There were a few routes he could take, a few he'd studied and paid a well intentioned, young drudge to give him the secrets to. If anyone other than Z'an enters, eat them. He gave the blue the order. He wanted no intruders in on his lair while he was away. Nelideth would guard it like a red on the sands- experience in the past had proven that in the past.

It would take a matter of minutes, but as he had promised, H'lios was suddenly there as Dota had hoped. A knock on the door was the cyanhandler's warning before it opened and the man himself slipped in and shut it behind him. Ice-blue eyes landed on the woman, still towel-clad and hair freshly washed from her bath. Some of the cold left his expression, replaced by something a little softer, a little warmer than normal. "I'm here," H'lios informed her, voice gruff and hoarse as always. "I will not allow anyone unwanted into this room." A promise given, he would be as utterly vicious as the very beasts she handled were said to be.

**

Dosk run.[/color] Cilisk informed Cilia out of the blue, raising his head from the padded cloth he rested on. Stitches still lined his rough, glistening hide and bits of oily lintament was slathered on to help the wounds heal quicker, and to prevent itching and stinging from occuring when the muscular bronze moved. He'd gotten absolutely shredded by Ausk in response to his overbearing attitude, and rightfully so once Cilia'd gleaned the rest of the story from him. Forcing a subqueen, a red at that, was beyond the bounds of okay as far as she was concerned. Even though he'd won by default as a result, Cilia'd let him have it through the entirety of his check up and injury treatment by the Healers. Most of it wasn't said aloud, but there were some points she made sure others heard as well.

Despite the harshness of his scolding, she did congratulate him in her own way- the mysterious appearance of a thickly padded covering in his favorite place to lay in their lair was one such gift, even if she claimed it was to prevent him from getting dirt and grime into his healing wounds.

Seriously? After the thrashing Ausk gave you? She looked up from the repair she was making on one of her running boots. Audren had been quite the surprise, and one of these days, she'd go get that cranky brownrider and give her a ride between the sheets as well. Rivalry was a potent aphrodesiac and the stand-offish type were always a favorite of Cilia's to pursue. Half the fun was in the chase, after all.

Cilisk considered, and sighed, lowering his head. Suppose too soon. Not want Ausk eat Dosk.[/i] He admitted, though his eyes shifted to the door anyway.

**

Impask lifted his head, scenting the air and gaped his mouth in a horrendous looking smile. Dosk Run! Go get, plenty chase, heheheh![/i] He was off before Impa even had a chance to tell him otherwise, disappearing into the shadows like the oversized rubbery looking terror he was. Skidding and tumbling snout over tail, he landed on his chin in a skidded stop in front of Dosk, eyes whirrling as he chortled to himself.

Impask here, Dosk! Make laugh, BEST laugh! Be HA HA HA! He stretched out and rolled on to his back, mouth agape and trying, though failing, to produce his equivalent of a laugh-song for her pleasure.

[Lan]

"You're here." Dota confirmed, still surprisingly alert. She knew he was here. She knew what he was saying. It was just all a bit cloudy, with bits and pieces of Dosk making her head hurt. "O-...kay." Her tone was not a fearful one, but one of blank distance, unsmiling. This moment had become just a moment in time that would pass quicker than she would believe. Yet, despite her emotional distance, there was something building there that was not wholly her. There was an anger there, as if all the emotions Dosk were not feeling were being heightened in her own self. It wasn't her emotions, though... it was inexplicable. As she reached out her hand to hold tightly to H'lios', she felt a sudden possessiveness heighten of her space and of him. If anyone came close, she would cause them harm.

Physisk best sing! Listeeeeeeen to Phyyyyyysiiiiiisssssk voooooooooooice! The blue yodelled with his physical voice even as his mindvoice tried to reach Dosk's own mind. He danced about, prancing around Impask as if to upstage the black. Then he stopped, in a perfect sexy pose of attention, and showed off his very masculine features to the beautiful cyan.

Dosk was not pleased with this show-offy behavior. She was the star! Not Physisk! She was the MOST IMPORTANT WHER. NO! BAD PHYSISK! DO NOT LIKE PHYSISK SING. UGH. Dosk call Physisk. Physisk no call Dosk. NEXT.

Physisk slinked off, looking not unakin to scolded puppy. Dosk so mean to Physisk... Physisk just want to help...

Next was Impask, the shadowy black that Dosk had long forgotten was a clutchmate of hers. She watched him with a skeptic eye, her tail moving cat-like behind her as her head tilted from side to side. Ugh. He was soooo... provincial. She grumbled, standing up and looking for any others who would audition. There seemed to be no takers, though. Well... FINE THEN. She would take Impask and make him a STAR and then everyone would be JEALOUS.

Impask! Be Dosk partner, yes? Yes. No say no. No allowed. COME HERE! Do scene with Dosk. ROMANCE SCENE! Dosk direct, yes? NO TRY UPSTAGE DOSK! And, with that Dosk lead her partner off near the lake for the PERFECT MOOD LIGHTING.

Dota turned to H'lios, unaware of how short or long the time was that had passed between his arrival and the end of Dosk's run. "She... I think she's chosen..." The cyanhandler tugged lightly at his hand, suddenly anxious to have him near. "H'lios..." Her voice trailed off, the rest of her sentiment unspoken, as she moved spontaneously to meet his lips with hers. She misjudged the distance, however, and a spark of pain filled her eyes with tears as her nose crashed into his. "Sorry..." She exhaled sharply, then tried again.