On the Grassy Lawn [BRE CLAIMS EET]

[jack]

Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.

Bright eyes whirling with a cheerful blue, Doppelith kept a careful rhythm, alternating the sound of each movement by pounding his heavy paws and tail of different patches of ground harder of softer. He swayed side to side as he did so, occasionally stretching out his wing and flapping them to add in a sudden ‘woosh!’ which was always followed by laughter as his Mine—flowing seamlessly through well-practiced exercises—was blasted with cool air.

F’let himself was a few yards away from the massive dragonet, his eyes open and glittering as he went through the simple warm-up steps he had been taught.

Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.

The pace began to pick up, Doppelith feeling through His that the boy was ready and excited to go into more advanced steps. The Purple’s eyes were whirling faster now, his own excitement egged on by F’let’s. The teenager let a grin spread onto his lips, and without any warning, both he and Doppelith’s movements increased ten-fold. The dragon added the beat of a third foot, his soft trills filling the air with musical prowess. Run and Ram—who had been lazily perched nearby—lifted into the air, the twin Browns sailing effortlessly to F’let and setting into flying in careful background movements, matching the blackette’s turn-by-turn. And pretty little Queen, the sweet Green, lifted her head and sang along.

F’let’s eyes slid closed now, his long black tail of hair flowing with him as he twisted and twirled, his bare feet never touching the ground for more than an instant and his entire body jingling in perfect beat from the hundreds of tiny “coins” wrapped around his ankles, waist, and in the rich bronze chest-plat he wore on his bare chest. The cold didn’t seem to bother him at all, and even in his thinner, more performance-oriented dancewear, he seemed perfectly content, his bronzed skin no redder than any other day.

Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-dum-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-dum.
Ba-DUM-dum-DUM!
Ba-DUM-dum-DUM!

Their pace accelerated again, and F’let bit his lip in concentration, Run and Ram rocketing in the sky with matching trills as Theirs lead towards the finale. The boy’s legs were a carefully moving blur, the pale purple he had chosen making them look like a shadow of Doppelith’s. But just as soon as it got heated, the beat suddenly changed, and F’let arched back into a twisting flip, landing with one knee to the ground and his arms outspread in perfect timing with the end of his partner’s beat and song, and for Run and Ram to between, appearing just in time to make spread-wing landings on F’let’s arms.

A minute passed, and F’let took in a deep, long breath, grinning widely as he suddenly fell back onto the grass, Run and Ram squawking indignantly before settling in the crooks of his elbows. The blackette laughed—exuberated at his success—and Queenie flew other, landing on his chest with a delicate tilt of her pretty head. He smiled at her but didn’t try to pet her, the Brown weights on his elbows keeping him pinned.
That was fun, F’letMine!
“I know!” F’let replied in an exaughsted breath, “I can’t believe we finally got it right.”
Hahaha! Let’s do it again!
”Oh Faranth, Doppelith! Let me breathe first!”

[Admin]

Let's get reckless,
Dance with our hands to the beat,
Don't let this slip through our fingers,
It feels insane.

From across the lawn, someone clapped, loudly and clearly in the silence that came after Doppelith stopped his beating and the pair fell quiet. At a good, unobtrusive distance, P'nay sat on the grass, just watching. His expression was bright, confident to a fault in its usual facade, as he clapped, smacking his hands together with deliberate slowness. It was a stark difference from how he'd look while he'd just been watching. As he'd watched, he'd looked sad, face lined and long with a forlorn wistfulness. Annith, sunning herself up on the rim and helping the watchdragon, had been concerned. Her rider was still recuperating from his little breakdown, and, though he had R'ish and Lio and all his little trysts, she didn't think it was good that he was so sad to be watching F'let. It wasn't good for her P'nay to be all sad ever!

However, he looked quite the happy charmer he usually did as he clapped. He only stopped in the appreciative gesture to haul himself to his feet, having none of the grace of F'let. "A wonderful performance;" he called. He swayed along forward, starting to cross the open expanse between them. He had truly appreciated it. Nothing better to fill up his day with than stalking unsuspecting weyrlings, or somewhat unsuspecting weyrlings, as they did what they wanted to do in what free time they had between their lessons, chores, and still growing dragons. It was that, or finding someone else to jump, and the middle of the day seemed a tad odd for such activities when it would just be some random thing. Anyway, he was keeping an eye on Annith while she did her sunbathing. He had just happened to be there watching!

Annith rose from her lounging. Gripping the edge of the rock with her claws in a light but firm embrace to get leverage, she launched herself from the rim. Her wings snapped wide. She dug them into the air, forcing herself up for a few strokes, and then she tucked them back against her sides to start to dive. Several times, she flared her wings, slowing her descent, but she was quite dogged with her intention. She landed near her rider, to the side of being between F'let and him. Hello Doppelith; she cheerfully greeted the young purple, as if she hadn't come to keep an eye on her rider. She liked to enjoy life. She had multiple reasons for coming down from where she had been, not just to watch P'nay. She trusted him. She hardly remembered the distinct details of him and F'let. He had just a tendency to be foolish, and she was concerned.

P'nay glanced at Annith, but continued his lazy saunter. He stopped a quarter of a dragon's length from F'let, his trio of flitters, and Doppelith. He wore a careless, lopsided grin, so natural and so sweet, even as he made sure to keep an appropriate distance. A season, two seasons, no more, then he could see. Even he wouldn't cross the sort of lines between them at that point. He had some morals, mainly thanks to Annith. "So, how have you been? You alright? I know three of your weyrlingmates died;" he asked gently. He considered that after he said it, and winced inwardly, realizing that was probably not the thing to say right off the bat. They hadn't talked in a while, not since well before Annith's flight. Wasn't fair for him to get prettier, standing there in his sparkling dancer's garb, since he'd last spent time with him.

It's ah, ah, obvious to me,
How it's gonna be,
Ah, ah, obvious,
When you come close to me.

[jack]

A wonderful performance;

F'let--eyes closed and an arm lazily over his face--shot up, his eyes wide and hopeful. Those dark eyes set on P'nay, and the boy's face erupted into a broad grin, his heart soaring in perfect timing to his flits, who immediately darted into the sky, chattering loudly. F'let, meanwhile, got to his feet in a whirlwind of soft cloth and jingling coins, "P'nay!"

Not seeming to care a bit about the 'personal space' laws set up by weyrlinghood, he nearly tackled the blond, wrapping his arms around the man in a strong hug. But he withdrew responsibly, taking a few steps back so there was at least a little space between them. Hands behind his back to keep them from wandering and a sea-foam green lizard on his shoulders--swaying from side to side with each of Hers's child-like motions.

Hello lovely Annith! Doppelith chirped in reply, getting to his feet to trot jovially over, plopping down with a dog-like insistence behind F'let. The Purple's eyes were whirling happily as he stared between Annith and P'nay, and he rustled his wings after a moment, trying to hold in a rather sudden laugh. F'letMine is so happy! He announced, grinning a draconic, childish grin at Annith, Things have been so down lately. Happy is much better, don't you think?

F'let laughed at his dragon's opinions, and reached his arms up, the Purple immediately shoving his heavy head into the hug. The rider kissed his partner on the nose fondly, grinning ear to ear as Doppelith--giving a flit-like trill--retrieved his head and returned his eyes to Annith. But almost immediately, he turned his head back to F'let, cocking it to the side with a confused expression. F'let's heart sunk at P'nay's words, the blackette's cheerful expression immediately disappearing as he shrunk subtly back, Queen giving a soothing chirp from his shoulder.

"A-ah...them." The blackette mumbled, brows knitting as he recalled that dark day. He hadn't known any of them well, true, and hadn't even understood what had happened. But he could still hear the dragon's screams, and that empty feeling when none of them returned. It was almost like...they had been sucked out of the world...and their very existence had gone between. "Uhm...I...I've been alright." He mumbled, chewing on his bottom lip as he began to wring his hands behind his back, "I mean...its been a bit..." He cut himself off, shrugging, and glanced away.

[Admin]

Through all your life,
All filled with strife,
All you desire has been torn up in two,
Because of ego you.

The hug was unexpected, but taken in stride. He had missed F'let so much. It did him good, too, missing someone he'd fallen for months before that moment where they finally met up again after so long. He stilled genuinely cared for the weyrling in front of him who had been search by his dragon, way back before Kalith's hatching. He supposed it was all a bit twisted, but he couldn't bring himself to dwell on the morals of their situation. He straightened his shirt as F'let stepped back, trying to hide his own mountains of excitement for that moment, not that he didn't fail to ruin that fairly quickly.

Annith thrummed her agreement to Doppelith's words, but that was all she got to provide before her rider bumbled it and the wonderful happiness of the purple's bonded fell. With Queen, she let out a comforting croon of her own, her voice stronger and more reverberating than the little flitter's due to her tenfold size, greater age, and simple basic nature of existence.

If he was alright, P'nay was a wher, and, in case one has yet to notice, he was not a wher. He winced. He felt like such an idiot. All of this was his fault! A frown creasing his normally brilliant face for a moment, he stared at F'let for a moment, shifting nervously, torn with what to do. Then he simply stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the boy, embracing him in a gentle hug. His arms rubbed along the purplerider's back, offering comfort in soothing contact. He made soft shushing noises, wishing he could make them as beautiful as his dragons but trying his absolute best.

"Welcome to the world, F'let. You just gotta believe it's going to be alright;" he whispered in the boy's ear, voice sad but with a resolve. When it came to facing all but his own demons, he wasn't a coward. Dragonrider true, dragonrider bold, he could offer his shoulder to cry upon and what comfort he had when he wasn't willing to lie about what he had seen in his life. Things were always nice, but one did their best, and he'd found one could always pretend. "I'm here for you." He hoped he wasn't lying on that bit without knowing it. He hoped he wasn't going to turn and flee at any point if F'let came to him in need of help in the future.

Time will show and time will tell,
What you need to make it well,
Time will show I know,
If I let you go.

[jack]

Just as F'let found himself thinking--remembering that day in stark detail--P'nay wrapped his arms around him and the blackette leaned into the grip, eyes closing as he pressed his face against the man's neck and slid his arms around the blond's back. Clutching his shirt quietly, the Purplerider simply forced himself to relax, taking in a deep breath of the Yellowrider's lovely scent.

Breathing in, he began to settle, and pushed back with a soft smile, his hands sliding to rest gently on P'nay's hips. He stared at him for a long moment, thinking deeply on some unknown subject. But the moment passed and he gave a soft smile, his hands sliding up P'nay's chest to wrap around his neck. He pulled him down insistently, and brushed his lips against the Yellowrider. But then he withdrew immediately, sashaying noticeably--his hips swaying perfectly--back towards Doppelith, "I know." He whispered as he stroked the Purple head shoved into his arms, "I...I really do."

Dark eyes turned, staring fondly at P'nay, and the growing boy smiled, running his fingers down Doppelith's nose, "But..it still hurts." He paused, his fingers curling on the Purple's nose, and a long tongue slid from the dragon's mouth, licking him fondly. F'let didn't respond and the Purple lifted his wings, curling them around His like a draconic hug. The rider reached up, running his fingers on the thin membrane, and finally glanced back at P'nay, "Your going mad..." His eyes were oddly sharp, and Queen was quick to arrive on his shoulder, staring as intently at P'nay as the boy's twin Browns had been from the beginning, "That hurt a thousand times more."

The dancer blinked, a soft frown on his lips, and shot a pleasant smile at Annith, waving before turning away from both, "I have work to attend to, P'nay. I will see you again...when I'm a full rider." And with that he was gone, sashaying away with his dragon and flits in tow. An odd anger was left in his wake, as though the Purplerider were truly furious at P'nay, not for being P'nay, but for not bothering to bother with the blackette until now.

[Admin]

Try to put an end to all our doubt,
Try to find a way to make things better now that,
Maybe someday we’ll live our lives out loud,
We’ll be better off somehow, someday.

P'nay smiled at the feeling of lips against him. However, then F'let drew away, and it all came crashing down around him. He wilted, flabbergasted, under the young purplerider's sharp gaze. He could hardly believe the words that he said. He could only stare, with Annith crooning a sad good-bye to the weyrling pair, as F'let sashayed away from him. He stood there, just staring, wishing he could say something when he knew he had nothing to say. Left speechless in the most awful way, he felt the anger of that last moment wash around him, breaking like waves threatening to overwhelm him. Yet, for some reason, he just felt very sad, and nothing more. Lonely, but with some vague sense of hope to it.

Mine, are you alright? There was Annith, concerned for him, worried that he might break but so hopeful and always there for him. He smiled, faintly, sadly, turning away from empty air to look at her. He stepped over to her and wrapped his around the corner of her chest. She stood stock still, crooning to him like a mother over her children. She had never clutched before. P'nay was her child. She would be his mother, his sister, his one truth, till the end.

I'm fine. I just feel a bit like crying. He walked away; he replied to her in a dreamy sort of voice. He was floating, but slowly settling. He wasn't crashing. He just felt like crying, but not even that badly. He let out a deep breath, stepping away from Annith. He looked up into her swirling eyes. Tell Doppelith to tell him I'm sorry when he thinks the time is good; he said with an air of finality. The anger still stung. It felt like too much an awful ending.

For a moment, she considered him, croon slowly dying off as she let him stand out on his own two feet. Then she turned her head to reach out for Doppelith. Tell Yours that Mine is sorry when the time is right. You'll both be old enough when you can tell when the time has come; Annith told the young purple. Her rider was walking away, simply away from that spot, without any particular destination in mind. She ambled after him, striding as best she could across the ground. She wished he would cry, but he wouldn't, not this time. He was already smiling again. However, she still found herself pleased. His sad smile was genuine. It was a good thing, for him. She felt proud of him, even as she shared his hurt.

Cause sometimes we don’t really notice,
Just how good it can get,
So maybe we should start all over.
Start all over again.