Meet n Greet (Open regardless of post count)

[jack]

"Shhhh!"

The rather loud sound of scurrying paws stopped immediately, the intruder pausing in the doorway to glance back at his master. Flopped over ears were perked, one paw in the air and the other's on the ground as his docked little tail lifted. Behind him, a spazztic flail attracted his attention further, and he perked up further, tilting his head hard to the side. A subtle flail and his maw opened, tail wagging before he gave a mouthed yip and scurried on along.

The canine slunk his way into the kitchen with a rat-like urgency, walking very carefully so that his lengthy claws didn't make too much racket. Not bothering to spare H'loric more than a quick glance he shuffled his way into the kitchen, peeking in like a small child. With his head around the corner, he took a quick sniff...and then his butt set to wiggling and waggling. Yipping and yapping like a particularly excited baby wherry he scurried away from the doorway and bounced back to where he had come--although this time, he paused to snarl at H'loric--without a trace.

A long moment passed, and then he bounded loudly back across, barking happily as a white flit sailed along with him, giving soft trills of agreement. Javyk as on their heels, taking a moment to check out the dining hall before bolting after the two animals. "Crazy lady's out of sight!" She cackled, not seeming to notice H'loric at all, "There will be dinner here tonight~!" Happily humming her little tune she dived into the kitchen, snatching up some bread and klah before settling herself on one of the tables in the kitchen itself as she dug in merrily.

[jack]

Mouth filled with bread and a beggar of a flit on her knee, clutching a bit of bread of her own, Javyk was a bit slow to notice H'loric arrive. But when the man slid his way into the room, her eyes landed on and stuck to him. With a predatory stare she watched, following him--and his backside--to and from the soup.

"Oh yah?" She crooned after he turned around, her eyes a bit slow to rise to his, but glimmering with happy keenness when they did. She licked her lips, swallowing the remainder of her mouthful, then took a long swig of klah humming with pleasure at the flavor. "S'a good thing you have a backbone, huh?" A lop-sided grin spread onto her lips and she unfolded her legs, Moonii giving a squawk of displeasure and gliding off to a nearby counter, "Otherwiiiiise~" She slid easily from the counter she had been sitting on, swaying her hips as she slid to H'loric's side and reached up, "You might not let me do this."

Her fingers wrapped in his hair and she pulled him down, brushing her lips against his softly before opening her mouth lazily, tugging his bottom lip half-heartedly. Giggling--clearly pleased with herself--she spun away from his grip, scooping up her forty pound mutt and swinging him over a shoulder, "BEAUREGARD." She barked, and set him on the counter to speak eye to eye with him, "Go be good." With a snicker, she scooped him up again and plopped him down, shooing him away with a quick motion of the hand. He stared at her for a good long moment, then turned and stared at H'loric. His eyes narrowed, his tail went down, and a low growl started for a moment in his throat. But like a good dog, he turned and slunk out of the room, Moonii gliding along behind him.

"Well, no matter what Kalith thinks, I'm not an egg."

[purnip]

"Not so subtle innuendo."

Rhysia had just picked up a tray and passed by the two, balancing a bowl of soup and a cup of klah. Her eyes didn't even pass over them and she wasn't even turned to face them, but the smirk on her face gave her away just as loudly as her interjection.

She couldn't help it. Though anti-social, Rhysia always had a few words to add to any conversation; a meek reminder to the world that she existed, despite her attempts to limit her own existence. If it was up to her, she'd be somewhat of a poltergeist. No one would blame her for picking up things and making a scene if she disappeared immediately after, or remained out of sight. Such was she, slinking behind H'loric and Javyk like a ferret. Needless to say however, talk of 'dirty' things or even subtly 'dirty' subjects always took the ease away. Rhysia was still young; the smirk was juvenile indeed.

Unlike most occasions of this nature, the young Candidate sat in the table next to them, rather than avoiding them altogether. No, she wanted to see this. Maybe keep the big kids for misbehaving. She was bored, so bored, especially with few tools to work with. Keeping herself cooped up in the barracks was giving her cabin fever. She found three, count 'em, three objects in her pockets today, and that was only after this morning alone. Three objects that weren't there when she left her room: a razor, a spoon, and a pair of glasses. Lately it seemed her kick was shiny objects. Rhysia recalled another phase like that...she was caught taking a lady's necklace at a Gathering. She took a rather large bundle of objects from that event.

She sat guarded, as if prepared for an attack. The two would be likely to chew her out for being nosy, but Rhysia felt confident about her argument. There are kids around here, herself included. She didn't need to hear about how hard the dude was going to do so-and-such. Yeah...maybe they'll tell her something along the lines of 'if you don't like it, don't sit here'. Oh, that'd be gold. Rhysia will make sure to accidentally bump into them later. Hopefully she'll take something they'll miss.

She was startled then by something landing on her shoulder. She didn't have to look up, though she nearly choked on her bread, to know who it was. The Blue firelizard that followed her around. She glanced about the hall to see if this time she could detect the owner. There was no need however. The Blue flashed an image of a young boy whom she recognized somewhere. That's...whatshisface. Lyam, from Fort Hold. So he's here too. Maybe he'll come by to pick the Blue up, since he must be worried about him disappearing all the time. And if that's so, then he could also help with this situation, should it escalate.

Meh, Rhysia didn't regret her input. Not in the slightest. As if to applaud that, Suede gave a chirp.

[jack]

Just as her fingers slipped from Bodie's soft fur, she heard the snort of the rider, and glanced over at him. With one brow lifted and a hand rising to rest on her hip, she looked quite the annoyed sight, until a smug little smirk returned to her expression. Chuckling at the dragon and his rider combination, she sashayed to the counter once more, intent on savoring her klah before, with a squeak, she found herself gently wrenched away from her drink. Grumbling and chattering--more to herself than anyone else--about her loss of food, she still accepted the pull, and as she was clutched close, pressed herself even closer.

Smirking with lazy appreciation she lifted her head, resting her chin against his chest as her arms slid appreciatively up the smooth shirted flesh to wrap around his neck. "Well, no one said I had to stand," She corrected, a sharp canine flashing as she grinned, "But since you seem so dead set on me having a dragon that flies, I suppose I can stick around." Snickering, she let him snatch a kiss, but when she felt his tongue she opened her own mouth and leaned forwards quickly, snatching his into her mouth fully. Hungrily, she suckled at it, nipping at it before letting it slide from her lips, a manic grin sliding into place.

"Mm....s'that so?" She whispered, licking her lips softly, "Well, I trust you'd know, rider...but I wonder..." A leg slid between his, lifting up until the knee brushed tauntingly against the man's inner thigh, "...would you be willing to share such information~?" Cackling, she lowered her leg, looking down like hungry as she slid her arms ever-so-slowly from around the rider's neck. Her hands were firm against his collarbone when the sound of an intruder caught her attention, but rather than freak and flee like a girl should, she merely grinned, and turned to watch the newcomer.

Javyk stared with cat like intensity at the woman, her eyes raking down the other's form to memorize it before diverting once more to H'loric. No matter what the situation, the sexy rider would take eyes way before the female candidate. Even if her flit was adorable. "Subtlety's for the subtle." She announced, again glancing at the girl to wink, a tooth flashing as her hands continued along their way, slinking down that beautiful chest to slip under his shirt. Deviously, she stared at the girl as her fingers crawled up his skin, nails occasionally raking the flesh like hungry spider fangs before falling into a pattern of running up and down those beautiful ribs. "Sorry to burst bubbles--but I'm not exactly...the subtle kind."

[kia]

She needed time away from K`ber and L`ven at the moment, contemplating her very future. They would be graduating soon. Very soon. And Gneith was already very large for her size and becoming quite the flirt with males. Though Lynx had managed to keep the Green`s Flirts to Valleth and Detritath, Ripariath was not without looks too. Lynx did not mind that the Green flirted with the Blue. The Blue`s Rider was very interesting, both in looks and in personality, but she cared more for K`ber and L`ven. She sighed and shook her head. She put a smile on her face as she entered the dining hall, going to get some food.

She had barely entered when she saw some girl and Rider flirting with one another. She rolled her eyes and snickered inwardly. They were a lewd pair, but Lynx was not without having some stories of her own. She shrugged it off and proudly straightened up, showing her status well for who she was. She was Lynx, Rider of Green Gneith. The Green that held the attentions of the two King dragons. She could have laughed aloud. She might have. She did not care. She liked K`ber and L`ven, and that was all that matter. Though, secretly, she wished K`ber would show more signs of him being interested in her.

She grabbed some food on the go, not really planning to stay in the dining hall to eat. It was too nice of a day as Pretty sat on her shoulder, eyes whirling with green and anticipation to be back outside with her Mine. The trio was planning to have fun today. She was going to take time to find somewhere to hide and relax. Then she was going to take Gneith out for a practice flying. Gneith had to be the fastest. Lynx was the fastest girl she knew, therefore Gneith had to be the fastest Green in the Weyr. Also, Gneith needed to be fast to give those males a chase of their lives when she Rose. She grinned at the thought as she began to exit the dining hall, her eyes glancing over at the Candidate and Rider again. And, again, Lynx had the same reaction: She was not impressed by the girl`s tactics.

[purnip]

Javyk's comment actually caused Rhysia to choke a little on her soup when she chuckled. This girl's something else, ain't she? Rhysia never spent a lot of time with the other people her age in Fort Hold, but she sure could tell apart those she had barely spoken to just by the conversations they had with other people. There was a woman back at home who used to be just like this one...what was her name? Ki-something. Kisomething. So Kisomething used to bounce back and forth, from guy to guy like a moth flies from glow to glow, and she had absolutely no shame. Other women would be looked down upon for being so loose, but she was so dignified about it that no one could put her down in response. The end result? Hell, it made stealing from the men she slept with incredibly easy. It was those times and those alone that Rhysia stole with a song in her heart and no care in mind. She could just up and get away with it.

"More power to 'ya," Rhysia replied, almost jovially. Yes, memories of past success brought the better of her to the surface. Though Javyk still made her somewhat uncomfortable with her public displays of romance or lust or whatever kids call it nowadays {just put aside Rhysia's age for a moment and bear with her}, this young Candidate was responding to her nervous state in her natural way, through humor. All she had to do to maintain this stasis is not to look back. She couldn't help but eye-corner it. Like a rogue, it was in her nature to be aware of everything around her. The way they held one another was so vulgar that it was awkward.

Suede gave a rolling croon, trying to assure her that she was no intruder. Besides, public displays such as these can't just as easily demand privacy. To Rhysia, since the flit wasn't hers, she didn't process it that way entirely. It came across to her as the Blue being discomforted. The firelizard responded to the incorrect guess by flying next to her tray and plucking a stray piece of jerky off the place. His eyes flashed cool colors as he merely watched H'loric and Javyk with keen interest. Only to confirm that he was not, in fact, uncomfortable. Rhysia finally got the message. "You're a glutton for punishment, I think," she whispered to him. Suede seemed to flutter his wings a bit in response. He didn't think so. These humans were strange to him; all of them were. He had to pick what things were most socially acceptable. You know. Learn what works, what doesn't, so when he need to impart the knowledge to another, he can. He'll be a guru in no time. Just look at these two touching each other! Dragons never do that. Not often. Peculiar indeed.

Rhysia glanced up at the sound of the male's voice, only because it was deeper. A noodle was hanging from her mouth and she slurped it up to answer the question. She hadn't really bothered to chew the chunks much so her answer was a bit muffled. "Chyeah uh...Rhysia from Fort Hold." Then she noticed he was still fondling the other Candidate so she returned to eating. It got to a point where she managed to force herself into an aloof and daydreaming sort of state to get through this moment without the awkward atmosphere clouding overhead. All she could think about at the point was her hunger and the need to satisfy it and how she hoped that the spring coil she found in the Lower Caverns was strong enough to make the trigger for a trap she was building in her room, to keep the 'intruders' away. It was a game really. She wanted to see who the unlucky soul would be to walk into her room when she's not there.

"Is he yours?"

Glancing up again, this time in between bites and mouth empty, she shook her head. "Uh-uh. Belongs to this kid. He's been following me around, mostly for the Scavenger Hunt."

[Admin]

First teach me to walk,
And then I'll learn to dance for you,
Like an honest clumsy clown,
Tripping along the way.

An iron bulk landed a length from the main entrance to the dining hall. Detritath crouched low. He was almost entirely grown, the size of an average bronze. He wasn't a very big iron; he'd only clock up a few more feet from the looks of him, landing him on the lower end of the spectrum. However, he was strong, muscles rippling under his hide and filling out his form. He would be stronger than most. The young King would not like it any other way. He looked very healthy, deeply colored and metallic hide unmarred and rippling over his muscles. He was a perfectly attractive piece of dragon flesh. He appeared to know, though not exactly from ego. More from very cold confidence.

With a little pat to Detritath's shoulder, K'ber slipped off his lovely, hulking creature's back and onto the ground, landing lightly for his design, which was burlier. He'd been more graceful out of the water for that. He wore a happy smile. A nice little flight with his iron and some earlier swimming had him in a good mood. He also hadn't run into L'ven lately, even inside of lessons. He was oblivious to the actions of the bronzerider. That didn't hurt. He stretched out one leg for a moment, then turned to head into the dining hall. He stopped dead as he almost bumped into Lynx, just within in the confines of the dining hall. He blinked. What was she doing there? He saw that she was carrying food. Wasn't she going to sit down and eat? It was healthier to sit when one ate, or nicer. He couldn't really remember. He stumbled over himself and words.

"Hey Lynx;" he said hurriedly, still staring at her. She was pretty. Why did he always have to think that she was pretty? At least he had a shirt on for once in his existence, his flight gear, which covered his body. It didn't really make him anymore confident. The firm presence of Detritath behind him was more reassuring, but the iron had nothing to offer to actually help him except for a confident, insistent existence. "You going?" He sounded sort of sad, almost sort of flirting with her, dark eyes sparking, for a moment, engaged. He might have been alright. He might have actually done something. Then he looked over her shoulder, and saw Javyk and H'loric. He lost all thought and stared. What was happening? Oh Faranth, what was happening! What in the name of the Red Star! He started to blush in embarrassment.

Someone else offered their wholehearted support of the display of touching and feeling available in the dining hall, with a loud wolf whistle. P'nay sauntered by Lynx and K'ber, into the large room. Annith settled outside, near Detritath, away but visible. Subsiding to applause, the yellowrider grabbed a meatroll and then went so sit next to Rhysia, facing Javyk and H'loric. He wore an easy, confident, charming, devilish grin. He wasn't subtle. He didn't try to be. He could have been, but groping each other on a table? Not exactly subtle, so he wasn't feeling it necessary. He checked out Javyk, and H'loric, and gave Rhysia, Lynx, and K'ber a couple of glances. He wasn't that picky, though there wasn't a good one in the bunch. Newbie who he was fairly certain rode an iron and wouldn't swing, candidates, and weyrlings. So many strings.

Didn't keep P'nay from being P'nay in good company, and he could be quite flamboyant when he wanted to be such. "He is quite pretty;" he commented to Rhysia though quite loudly, staring quite intently at H'loric to make who he was referring to quite obvious. He didn't truly care whatever the conversation had been about before. It had been a war between possibly making H'loric uncomfortable talking about him, and possibly making the female candidate beside him uncomfortable taking about the other female candidate. Both sides lost, or won. Hard to tell which. "She's quite pretty too;" he added, using pretty without thought to gender and with a suggestiveness towards meaning 'shardin' fine'.

A poor, innocent, confused K'ber had looked on at all of them with a sort of horrified expression. It was partially just frozen in a look of mild shock. Finally, he remembered himself. He shifted, moving to half protecting Lynx for no reason and straightening himself up so he managed to look vaguely commanding. He was at least a little intimidating, strong and dark haired. "Oh, keep in your pants, P'nay;" he snapped, words mumbling half together. He looked cross for a moment, and then stunned and embarrassed by what he had said. He rubbed the back of his neck. P'nay appeared to find his hilarious and proceeded to laugh heartily. Annith offered Detritath a look of apology. The iron, however, appeared to be carefully considering this development with a hidden, stoic shrewdness.

Maybe all of this is simply amusing,
Cause I am reaching for you,
But my arms aren't long enough,
And I am running to you.

[kia]

Lynx looked up at K`ber when the IronRider nearly bumped into her. She gave him a smile and was about to speak when she noticed his attentions had turned to H`loric and Javyk. She rolled her eyes shook her head. Javyk had no sense of pride. Sure, Lynx was quite a flirt herself, but at least she had pride in herself. She was not that blatant in public. Now, maybe, if K`ber or L`ven was with her alone, in private, somewhere where the public eyes did not reach them, she might give them a little something to remember her by, but she knew how to play the game. She reached her free hand out and curled her fingers around K`ber`s arm. She leaned closer to him. "Just ignore them," she said to him, her eyes still saying she was not impressed with Javyk but saying she was glad for K`ber`s company. But K`ber still had moved much from where he stood. Pretty chirped at K`ber, wondering why he was just standing there. Lynx looked up and saw P`nay talking to another girl. She had seen P`nay walk by him, but her attentions at the time had been with K`ber. She did offer P`nay a small smile. She liked the YellowRider on the few times they had passed by. He may have been a flirt to the men like her, but he was kind and good-hearted, a perfect example of Dalibor`s goodness.

She felt K`ber move under her fingers. He had moved somewhat in front of her, almost as if to protect her. Lynx turned her smile onto K`ber, completely happy to see K`ber actually taking interest in her. He did like her. A lot, she still hoped. But, even in one movement, she had seen that he liked her. She pulled herself closer again, this time with her chest almost against his arm. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, knowing this display would be so small that it would more than likely go unnoticed. "It is okay, K`ber. I am not really bothered by this. I don`t really care for people with no honor in themselves," she spoke to him again. Then she looked up at him in the eyes. "Were you getting some food? Maybe you should get it to go with me. I was planning on finding a nice and quiet place to sit and eat. I would really enjoy it if you would consider joining me," she spoke. Pretty chirped in agreement, thinking the idea was grand. But, the Pink also knew that her Mine might send her away after a bit so she and K`ber could have some alone time.

[Birdy]

Where was that lovely smell coming from? Paralee hummed to herself as she rounded a corner. No, not here! Quite annoyed she continued down the hall. She’s already been at the Weyr a day but still couldn’t remember the way to the dining hall. How had she been able to find those rooms deep in all those holds so easily? Oh yes, she remembered a devious grin appearing on her face, there’d been a reward then. Well now the reward was food wasn’t it? The brunette made her way closer to the smell, it had to be around here somewhere.

Paralee peered around the corner and was delighted to see tables and benches- and food! Thank Faranth there was food! She shot towards the kitchen, managing to score some stew from the drudges and a cup of klah too! Quite pleased with herself for getting so much food (usually she had to split with seven brothers) she surveyed the area looking for somewhere to sit. Sure, there were plenty of open seats but that was no fun was it?

She surveyed the tables, there seemed to be a lot of girl/guy romance going on. That was no fun! She couldn’t do that! Frowning she found one table to her liking. She strode over sitting down next to Rhysia. “Hello hello,” she chirped, mostly to Rhysia but also spared a glance at the others at the table.

[jack]

Even as Javyk was concentrating most of her attention on H'loric, she never took her eye off this latest Candidate arrival. Eyes intrigued, very much clued in on the flit, she watched her a bit like a hawk, before giving a soft hum as she was lifted. Wigging her bum against the cold of the counter, she gave a soft murmur of displeasure, before turning her attention on H'loric once more. "I never said flits weren't pretty." She replied almost curtly, clearly finding the insult of her dog rather...annoying, "I have one, remember? Moonii. But Bodie is gorgeous! And fluffy and fuzzy and warm and fantastic. You're just mad 'cause he wants to take a chunk out of you."

Clearly pleased with herself, she leaned forwards and pressed her lips against the rider's forehead, her fingers lazily threading through his hair. But her smug movements paused at the arrival of the newest girl, her eyes narrowing sharply. A hold brat and a wanderer, she'd learned to recognize when someone thought down about her. Brows furrowing, she stalked the Greenrider with her eyes, her fingers just barely tightening in H'loric's skin. Her tongue lolled out, licking along her lips, and she curled her toes, swinging her legs lazily. "Javyk. Hold-Hopper." She murmured, her voice directed at Rhysia even though her eyes never left Lynx.

Reluctantly, however, brown moved to meet green, and Javyk smirked, looking oddly vicious even as she leaned forward to kiss H'loric softly. Deciding that this female rider was a threat, she immediately set up a wall in her mind, deducing that she wasn't worth a moment of her time. This ironrider, however, was fun. And fun was to be had! Nodding physically to her mental decision, she shifted and stood partially up, bracing her feet beneath the counter as she put her weight on the man's shoulders, her arms straight and her breasts just to the side of H'loric's face. "Oh! So he isn't yours, but he follows you around?" She exclaimed, genuinely interested as she squirmed to get a better look, "That's so weird. I have a white flit, but she hates being around other people. I never knew they would do that. S'very interesting."

Humming with amusement, she plopped her bum back down, seeming to be in a much better mood now that Lynx was nothing but a brick wall in her mind. "I thought you said Jren didn't like them though. If you think they're pretty, does that mean you like 'em?" Smirking, as though she'd found a chink in his armor, her attention diverted again, the multitude of arrivals making it difficult for her to concentrate. A mini-iron rider came in next, although she was distinctly disinterested in the shy fellow. Shy men just weren't any fun. You couldn't play with them, and lewd comments made them turn as red as an angry flit's eye. The Yellowrider was much more interesting, however, and she watched him keenly even as she let her arms slide around H'loric's waist, and she rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Oh yes, he's very pretty." She agreed, giving a lop-sided grin as she winked at the man, "You should see him shirtless! Daroooool-worthy." Cackling to herself, she withdrew to grin at H'loric, her expression cheerful but her eyes mildly annoyed. Much as she loved putting on a show, this was three people too many for a good roll. But even if she was growing displeased, she wasn't about to say anything. Let them watch! It wouldn't hurt her. But then that scrawny girl of a rider had to open her big mouth, and her hands tightened sharply on the rider's ribcage.

"No honor." She repeated, a downright cannibalistic grin spreading on to her face, "Have you ever heard of such a thing? A girl with no honor. Kekekeke. Well. I guess I should take her word for it--it takes it to know it, now doesn't it?" Cackling, she took a moment to glance at Lynx, a brow lifted in 'oh yah, I have great ears bitch' smirk before it shifted to more of a 'but since I'm a great person and have more tact than you, I'm going to ignore your very existence. BYE WALL' expression as she turned back to H'loric. "So. Now that we've been dubbed the latest attraction...how about that random object?"

[purnip]

Lifting her spoon she pointed at Javyk with one eye in a squint. Her right cheek was filled with chunks of meat, and it was simply evident at this point that she had a bad habit of talking with her mouth full. Manners weren't exactly dictated to her as a kid. "This flit's amazing, but I know it's just 'cos of the hunt. Once it's over he'll be over it." She believed it, one hundred percent. Suede was distracted already. His eyes were on Paralee, who was just entering the kitchen about now. The Blue's deal was simple. If he sensed someone was interesting nearby, or if someone seemed to desire companionship and he was around, he'd be the flit to provide it. Why? Gave him something to do. Lyam wasn't particularly demanding, and he was always talking to people. He wanted to make like His and socialize. It wasn't as if he wouldn't zip on back when His gave a call anyways. Plus, this had the added bonus of flight training. He was still a growing boy.

The arrival of more and more people didn't phase Rhysia. It was eating time now. Only natural for the cafeteria to get full. Her only deal was that she didn't wish to be too snug with these strangers. So far she was able to get away with pilfering unnoticed, and mostly by accident. That was until someone sat to her left.

Rhysia would truly, TRULY be enjoying P'nay's company right now, only because right off the bat she was taken by his brand of humor and his save from the possible level of lewd that would evolve before her had he not spoken a word. But she couldn't. He sat next to her, and to top things off, so did Paralee, to her right. Both were people she did not know, and both were close to her in proximity. Needless to say, she was staring at her hands as she ate to make sure they weren't having a free-for-all. These damned mitts were possessed.

But she chuckled again only because she agreed, the both were pretty indeed {though she wasn't quite sexually attracted to anyone or thing}. She admired their beauty in a different light, yes, when she wasn't trying to avert her eyes from their acts. But it seemed like enough to cause H'loric to move on. Thank Faranth indeed. Thank her, because Rhysia would no longer have to endure smut. It's just as bad as walking through the halls and seeing a couple making out, only she was eating and couldn't quite move anywhere. Paralee had greeted her, and being in a better mood after the Ironrider's departure, Rhysia was able to reply with a chipper, "Heyo!" No food in her mouth this time, but she managed to burn the tip of her tongue with the soup. She eyed the spoon as if it offended her for a moment before putting it back in the bowl, just keeping an eye on both those hands. "Entertainment's gone just when it was getting to the part when mom would cover my eyes. Does that kind of stuff happen a lot here?" Her question was directed to anyone who'd answer, if they answered. It didn't matter because it's hard to direct a question when you're looking down at your hands.

Suede hopped over before Paralee like a bird would, eyes on her with great interest. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the Blue liked this person a lot. She looked like fun. Maybe she and Rhysia could be friends! If he could instigate that...it would be good for Rhysia and Paralee. Then his job would certainly be done here and Lyam could stop making offhand insults regarding his loyalty.

[Birdy]

Paralee smiled at the girl’s response. “Pleasure to meet ya!” she chirped, extending a hand. “I’m Paralee, just Searched here a day ago,” she added. Much to her relief the pair that had been so interested in each other had left. She hadn’t been bothered much by the what they were doing, jut that they were doing it in the middle of the dining hall when SOME people were trying to eat.

The brunette giggled at Rhysia’s response. “Such a shame,” she said sarcasticly, watching them leave. “It was almost at the good part,” she added with a laugh. She didn’t respond to the question, hoping to the man on Rhysia’s other side would be able to answer. He looked more like a rider. She turned her attention to the man on Rhysia’s other side. “Hello to you too,” she said with a wave.

She saw a flash of blue out of the corner of her eye. What…? “Oh!” she exclaimed looking at the little blue. “Aren’t you cute?” she laughed cocking her head much like a bird as she looked at him. She leaned in, offering him a piece of meat from her stew.

((No muse today))

[Admin]

Pick a side, pick a fight,
Get your epitaph right,
You can sing til you drop,
Cause the fun just never stops.

K'ber had thought that H'loric might be alright, even if he didn't exactly feel comfortable with him commenting about the coloration of his skin, which wasn't very deeply tanned. He merely liked the off hand comment about Detritath. However, then he and the girl he was molesting had to go after Lynx, who had simply commented on their display, which was a bit much. He was fine with the life of a Weyr. However, he doubted Fajra or O'sho would appreciate if they found the pair making out in the dining hall, and he was fairly certain that the Weyrwoman was Weyrborn! He wasn't even holdborn! He was a crafter's son, a dolphineer, or he had been! He felt insulted, and he felt the strong urge to defend Lynx, because she had been insulted even more! She was honorable, even if she did like L'ven, which was obviously a gross oversight in judgment.

If K'ber was going to ever punch a girl at that point in his life, which he probably would given his sisters and how he knew girls could act except that they had taught him it would be futile, he would have done so to Javyk. She didn't look much like a girl, even if P'nay said she was pretty. Lynx was pretty. Javyk was not. She'd probably bite him, and punch him. Detritath told him not to do such a thing. He knew not to such a thing. He wouldn't do such a thing. He was just a sheltered craftborn child. So he said nothing. He took the higher road. He turned to Lynx. She was speaking to him. About then, he realized she'd kissed his cheek. However, his faint blush didn't worsen. He only felt faintly amazed, and quite enamored, and he simply blinked at her. He forgot about all the other stuff that was happening. The offer she spoke was tempting.

However, shyness nagged at his mind, the urge to flee the sight of a girl in front of him, and he felt put off by the entire scene in the dining hall. Detritath, nearby, only greeted Jrenrienth with a cold dip of his head. He was not a sentimental individual, and he disliked the other iron's method. Still a weyrling or not, he wasn't exactly going to back down, all firmness to his manner. "I'm not feeling that hungry anymore;" he said, trying to muster a grin for her that she might find amusing. "Det and I can at least give you a ride, though;" he told her, very chivalrously. He paused for a moment. Then he leaned forward the lightly kissed her cheek. Taking her hand, he pulled her towards the iron, who expectantly crouched. He clamored up, and extended a hand to help her. Detritath more than approved. He would take them anywhere.

P'nay let things play out, laughing faintly at it all. He did look forward to a possible chance to see H'loric without a shirt on from what had been said. He would have to speak to that Javyk girl about making it happen. He munched his meatroll, and glanced to the side. Everyone had left, and all that was left were two candidates, both of them girls. He didn't mind girls, but they were candidates, ew! However, they didn't seem so bad, Paralee and the other girl with the stalking blue flitter. They seemed to have questions for him too, older experienced rider that he was. He laughed, which wasn't out of place since he'd never really stopped laughing, though it had grown very quiet, a slight puffing of amused noise. He wasn't that old, even amongst the youthful riders of rugged Dalibor. He supposed he had been there a while.

However, he felt he might be a disappointment. He lamely took another bite of his bit of food. He did have some stories to tell, he would suppose. He had something to say. "No, not quite like that. Usually, new transfers with be shiny dragons don't feel candidates up in public. He can say as he wishes, but that ain't any proper Weyr etiquette;" he told them, pulling out his voice, trying to remember he was an uncle or something of that sort. "However, Dalibor is quite the exciting place. We've got crazy renegades! We've got the only cyans! We've got Kalith, which is more than enough! We're like an attraction for travelers to come and ogle. Basically, you'll have plenty of fun, and some stuff of the sort you saw does happen;" he told, with great enthusiasm. A big grin threatened to show on his face. He hid it away for a bit.

"I will not ruin your innocent minds with the things I have done in this very hall. At later hours, when it is slightly more appropriate. Slightly." He trailed off, eying nothing in particular innocently. Then he grinned at them. Oh, Hustafer! Oh, R'ish! Oh, not having a shirt on at convenient times! He had such fond memories of so many wonderful occasions. He sighed wistful, then thought to make some conversation. "So, where are you two from exactly?" He'd missed a bit of what had been happening. He glanced at the blue firelizard, who seemed to have gotten quite a bit of attention given what had all been going down. He knew the refined creature. He'd been at his hatching, seen him bond to one of the male candidates. "I hope you know you're going to please all the lady flitters when you're older;" he informed the blue as matter of fact.

It bears it's teeth like a light,
And spits me out after days,
But were all gluttons for it,
We know what's wrong and it's right.

[purnip]

It seemed like everyone was attracted to the show, because once H'loric and Javyk were gone, it looked like others were also taking their leave. She wouldn't know this of course, if she hadn't taken her eyes off her hands. Rhysia quickly looked back down at them again, but they were innocently placed. One by the bowl, another still clutching the spoon. As much as she didn't trust them, she'd give them the benefit of a doubt.

But she processed everything that was being said, as distracted as she was. Looking to Paralee wasn't hard if she could be certain her hands were in the right place, and they were. "A day ago?" Her brows rose at the thought of it. It only reminded her how long she had been from home. There was nothing for her back there, but she had to endure about five days of homesickness before she could get over it. Since then it was all a blur. "Feels like only yesterday since I got here."

Not that weyr life wasn't exciting. As P'nay later mentioned, this place was a spectacle in itself. Rhysia had spent some of the warmer afternoons outside to watch the dragons in the sky. All the colors up above zigging and zagging in intricate patterns when dinner was near ready never made her dizzy. She always traced her gaze around them to determine which private weyrs they were destined for. Mental sorting. Even chores weren't all that bad, except that she had to always be aware of her every movement as to not 'disappear' something by accident. But until now, never had she seen public displays of affection here. Paralee seemed to have found it interesting...guess it was. Sort of. It still made eating a bit uncomfortable.

"It was interesting," she agreed. Such a flexible adjective. "And I saw the Cyans earlier today. I love that color," she said with a nod. "It's the boldest, I think." Blues in general stood out more because blue was her favorite color. She had no idea what it meant for a dragon to be blue or cyan in color, but only that they caught her eye more efficiently than others. Oh, those and Purples. Because to her, blue and purple were very unnatural colors for animals. Berries maybe, but on the hide of a living creature it looked painted. She couldn't help but compare the shines of Kings and Queens to slimy things. The only shine she had ever seen she associated with the fish she watched her mother prepare. As for the marks, father always handled them and most were dull from the exchange of hands. So shine was like slime in Rhysia's eyes. Only until she touched and confirmed otherwise. And if it was small enough, into her pocket it'd go.

When P'nay mentioned the events in the hall, Rhysia blushed just a bit. She might be young and somewhat innocent, but she wasn't remedial. "The halls don't seem that comfortable." Or perhaps her opinion was biased since she always felt most uncomfortable walking through them herself. Faranth forbid she bumps into someone.

Then came a rather run-of-the-mill question. It was easy to answer but it felt like the question was too common to be taken seriously anymore. "I'm from that way." She pointed to the East. "Some old place called Fort Hold." Well it was and still is an old place. Rhysia had only missed it because she missed her mother, but her mother was no longer anywhere.

Suede took the offering of stewed meat and practically inhaled it. Food's good. Food's always real good. He wasn't the kind to overindulge, but regardless of having been fed earlier that day he couldn't resist another piece when it's dangled in front of him. He gave a croon in his contentment before hopping on to Paralee's arm and perching on her shoulder. Rhysia gave a small chuckle at his antics. "There he goes. He's got a new favorite." She didn't feel abandoned. Suede wasn't even hers. She was grateful for whatever time he spent with her. She giggled at P'nay's comment, wholeheartedly agreeing. "I bet he'll be a stud."

The Blue didn't understand what they meant about that. He didn't show other firelizards nearly the same amount of care or attention as he did show people. He also didn't really understand because he was still just growing up; what did he care about lady flitters? He didn't even know a single one, aside from his sisters. He gave a small chirp in response to P'nay's comment, thanking him though he didn't know what exactly for. Humans did that and he wanted to show off what he was learning about human mannerisms.

[Birdy]

“Yep, I was brought here by some purple. Kerath I think it was,” Paralee said. She had only been away from the caravan for a day and was already seeing the perks. She could wake up and sleep when she wanted to within reason. There were no more long, boring days of traveling across the same landscapes she’d seen since she was boring. Sure it was pretty with the hills and groups of fire lizards but she’d seen it all. There was one thing she would miss about visiting all those holds but surely she’d be able to make up for that later.

”Well that’s good to know, she said with a laugh to the rider who’s name she didn’t know. It had seemed a bit extreme for the bronze rider to be feeling the poor girl up in the dining room. Then again she hadn’t seemed too bothered by it.”Though I’m sure a little bit of that isn’t too bad right?” she added with a grin. That is if it didn’t involve men. She hid a look of disgust form her face. Well…maybe if they were both…yes, she decided, that would be alright. As for his innocent comment, well yes she was innocent if you were talking about her and men but…

Blinking, and returning from her daydream, she smiled at the rider. ”I’m not really from anywhere, live in a caravan,” she said. I’ve never been to a weyr before, we came close to Southern once though, she added looking around the room. She’d never seen so many dragons in one area before in her life. The only things she’d been used to flying around in the air were wild firelizards who made a game out of stealing her ribbons. She had to resist the urge to cover her head every time she saw a dragon in the sky.

Speaking of firelizards, the little blue seemed to have taken a liking to her. Paralee was afraid to move in case she scared him away. She’d never had a firelizard on her before. It was odd, she could feel his tiny claws on her arm. She giggled offering him another piece of meat with one arm and sipping her klah with the other.

[Admin]

Now there you go again,
You say you want your freedom,
Who am I to keep you down, down,
It's only right that you should.

"Oh, Kerath and W'al are a good pair. They're weyrlingmasters for the juniors, the Freedomfighters;" P'nay mentioned to Paralee with a grin. "Bet you might Impress well if they went picking you!" He winked, just for fun. He didn't particularly think that. Kerath wasn't the sort to go out searching just for Queen candidates if he knew anything about the purple. Still, it seemed like the encouraging thing to say. The pair of them quite amused him with all they had to say. He liked Rhysia. She had some wit to her. He watched the blue flitter dub Paralee as his new favorite. It was such a shame that they were both candidates. Such a shame. That, and it was a bit of a shame he had a one track mind that could go back to that thought even as he thoroughly enjoyed himself like a normal, sane individual. He kept on grinning at them.

Despite his wavering thoughts, the conversation still felt comfortable, playing between them all and playing between subjects. He felt good, the way it all flowed washing over him and through him. They were comfortable with the talk, comfortable with how he was. It was the beginning of friendship, an understanding between the three of them. The ironrider and his candidate gone, the situation had actually seemed to have gotten better, and that seemed a miracle to him. Though maybe it was Lynx and K'ber gone. They'd been more negative. Except he'd never seen a problem with either of the two. He liked Lynx. Her taking on Javyk had seemed good, fun, interesting. Taking another bite of his meatroll, he considered what to say, what to address. It was nice to consider, to choose, even if he was only bothering to think because he was busy chewing and didn't wish to speak with his mouth full. He couldn't talk and grin well with his mouth full.

Outside, Annith shifted her position, lying more comfortable, watching them with one blue-green eye. She was happy and content. The others going off, leaving hers and the two candidates he sat with in peace, she was quickly in a completely good mood again, worries and concerns about confrontations fleeing away to a land in her mind where such things slowly disappeared all together within her. She considered greeting the candidates, dragonless as they were so it wouldn't be rude, but didn't wish to go scaring them or interrupting. Inside, she sent the little blue, who her rider and one of the candidate's said would be a charmer when he was older, a faint greeting, figuring he could use something to briefly make him focus. One of her outer lids slid slowly shut for a moment. She felt very peaceful, though that was really the state of being she was almost always in since she had been born. However, she particularly serene then, not worrying at all.

"You couldn't be attracted to them because they're shiny and new? There's only three cyans in all of Pern - Topeth, Eccolath, and Rhyolith. There aren't even that few coppers, and Kalith is certainly a select individual." As he innocently and teasingly pressed the fine candidate for the reasoning of her past words, there seemed to be some double meaning and joke in those words he had for the Queen. The copper was easy to admire, easy to fear, but easy to poke some fun towards. "There are even less cyans in all of Pern than there are yellows, and Annith is quite a very special dragon;" he continued, with a grin. He was being entirely honest about the yellow, who, along with being a rarer color, was his life. However, he didn't expect either of them to understand. Neither of them even had a firelizard of their own to start to fathom their bond.

The yellowrider wasn't really looking for answers with his teasing, looking for any response at all. He danced right on into subjects beyond the ones they already had, which included groping riders, handsome flitters, holds and caravans, and W'al. In his opinion, it was quite the wonderful conversation. "Anyway, Kalith was caught by Daidoroth again. She'll be clutching. This is gonna be the hatching to see if cyans were a freak accident from the pair. Fancy yourself a cyanrider?" He grinned at her, really inquiring about what she thought she would Impress. He didn't bother to hazard a guess. With her, he didn't see any clear color. Perhaps a cyan would be for her! The cyanriders didn't seem to be all that similar to each other. "And what about you;" he pressed lightly, turning to glance at Paralee, curious and still grinning an easy smile. He rarely ever acted serious.

Here I go again, I see the crystal visions,
I keep my visions to myself, yeah,
It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams,
And have you any dreams you'd like to sell?

[purnip]

Despite the discomfort of having to watch herself carefully, Rhysia enjoyed friendly company. A long time loner by both nature and misfortune, she still appreciated having some decent people to speak to for a change. Paralee struck her as a fun type to be around with, as did P'nay. She never thought she'd become buddies with a dragonrider anytime soon, but it was still possible the friendship wouldn't stick. What would a guy with his sort of standing want anything to do with a spark in the pan like herself? She was hardly a star pupil type. The sort like herself rarely go noticed by people who have long since moved on. Perhaps this was just a fluke. A good one, but one nonetheless. Nothing special or unique but certainly appreciated.

Even those that had searched her seemed to have second guesses. Trith was the dragon's name; she could hardly ever forget the names of dragons considering that she had met so few. Though he was kind, his rider didn't seem to have a whole lot of faith in her. When she was chosen from a group of females, it had been right after Benden Weyr had searched there, so the pickings must have been slim. The Bluerider was somewhat reluctant about her aura or whatever and the dragon was persistent. Why, she'd never understand. Rhysia was nothing special. She couldn't craft as well as her perfect sister or keep her hands to herself, she couldn't make friends comfortably and she couldn't stand her initial introduction to flying or the cold space of between. A drudge working somewhere in this weyr may pose a better Candidate than herself. Needless to say, her self-esteem was never so high. Her wit, one could say, was simply her best defense. Like a hermit crab that has one nasty set of claws but only has a small shell to hide within. She was not the strongest brick in the wall.

But people like these and company like this always kept her on her toes and out of her quarreling and nearly self-loathing mind. P'nay was certainly a treat for the ears and mind with his manner and his knowledge. It couldn't prevent a smile on Rhysia's face, only provoke one. She wanted to ask about the rider who searched her, but she couldn't remember his name. Anyways, she was sure that Trith's rider had no interest in meeting up with her again, even though until now he was practically the only other person she spoke to here. She listened to P'nay talk of the riders who searched Paralee with vague interest, even though she wouldn't recognize them by the lack of description given. Names don't just get put on pins and stuck to shirts around here.

But when attention was back on her earlier statement, she was surprised at how the color she had fancied most just so happened to be the rarest {from what she was understanding}. She blinked, appeared a little taken aback by the knowledge. She didn't know a whole lot about dragon colors and castes, but she guessed that the larger the dragon, the less likely she'd impress it. Cyans were small and even in the distance they looked as if about the size of a Green or Pink. "I didn't know they were that rare. I thought I've seen more of them. They aren't strikingly different than Blues a first glance..." She started to gesture with her hands, which was another exercise that she practiced to avoid accidental pilfering. "But I love the color, rare or not. It's my favorite." She had a quirky manner about her now, but it settled as soon as she peeked at how little of her food she had actually taken the time to consume. She took another bite and slurped up another long noodle. It always seemed to taste better to eat them this way.

She stopped focusing on Suede, who at the moment took the newest offering of meat daintily and chomped it down in a single bite. He didn't want to drop it on Paralee's shoulder. His eyes were swirling with vibrant colors, much like a dragon's eyes when in a jovial sort of mood. He had picked up Annith's greeting and returned one of his own on a high note, even so much as audibly crooning in a near purr of a sound. This was the first dragon to ever greet him and he felt honored; he was starting to believe a dragon's greeting was as difficult to earn as any semblance of respect. He was thrilled.

The purring croon didn't catch Rhysia's attention too much since she was faced with something familiar. The dazzling eyes of a dragon beyond the window. She hadn't seen eyes like those since Trith's, and these were slightly larger and more impressionable. Her lofty thoughts drifted to daydreams of giving the Yellow a scratch on the eye ridge, or perhaps a young and awkward dragonet of her own. She'd make sure to concur that fear of heights and grow tough against the cold between. It'd be worth it, all the way.

Were Cyans being considered freak accidents? Rhysia didn't want to believe that. Not that she would be vain on the sands. She wasn't going to try and force impress a Cyan should one hatch near her. She's stare it down and maybe try to reach out for it with happy thoughts or whatever would work, but in all honesty she was willing to impress any dragon of any size or color. She simply admired the peculiar hides of the 'exclusive' Cyans. "I fancy myself at the mercy of Kalith's future clutch. She's the one that flew recently, right?" She glanced up at P'nay. In her mind she was still daydreaming this and thats about caring for a dragon, learning to fly, playing some games, chasing some wherries about...she hadn't really realized that it was possible that she wouldn't Impress. Rhysia felt she had been chosen for a reason, despite her lower end of the spectrum esteem of self. Whatever position she'd likely to fall in, she'd still have a weyrmate about like P'nay over here. She was destined to, wasn't she?

[Birdy]

Paralee grinned at P’nay’s remark though he was probably saying that just to be nice. She glanced at Rhysia. “Not just me, I hope you Impress too,” she said cheerfully. “Then we would be in the same class together, maybe even be roommates that would be fun huh? “ It seemed like fun to her, she’d never roomed with a girl before. She’d had to share a room with her little brothers while she was younger. She didn’t want to go through that again.

She gave Suede another scrap of meat, wanting to keep the cute little blue on her shoulder. He seemed happy, crooning at something. If flits were anything like cats that was good thing. Taking a sip of her soup, she found another piece of meat for the little blue. Hopefully his owner wouldn’t be too mad that she was spoiling him.

While stuffing the little blue, she listened to Rhysia and P’nay’s conversation. She’d never really cared what color she Impressed, just Impressing a dragon seemed unbelievable. She hadn’t started to pick and choose what colors she’d like. Why not start now? She knew she didn’t want to Impress anything big and shiny, running a weyr did not appeal to her. Bronzes an such were out of the picture. As were purples and browns, though she swore she’d seen a girl flying around with a brown.

“I dunno, anything really,” she said thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t mind a blue like this little guy. Thoguh hopefully bigger.” She laughed at that, smiling at the flitter.

[Admin]

If you need me,
I will run to you,
And if you call me out of the blue,
I will run to catch you as you fall on me.

Annith flicked her tail happily when the blue greeted her back. He was such a happy, nice little fellow! Her rider smiled at her innocent amusement at the firelizard. He listened to the candidates chatter away in their silly little responses his questions. What was it like to be a candidate? It had been so long ago, and he wasn't going there. He focused on the present moment. No sad thoughts. All happy thoughts. Both of them seemed to not care. They wanted blues and cyans, little, pretty colors, not the dreams of the reckless. Good dreams for them. In the back of their minds, those were what they had dreams about, thought of, but they didn't care too much. They were willing to try. That was good. In the deepest recesses of their mind, in the end, they wouldn't. If a dragon chose someone, it was the right dragon for them. There wouldn't be any if, ands, or buts to it. Not everyone who stood got to Impressed. Most who did would ride blacks, blue, greens, pinks, not Queens and Kings. He was one of the lucky few. There was no true place in the world quite for a yellowrider. It was a lucky odd place of nothing though. His thoughts left him happy. He turned his head to glance at Annith, smiling at her. They were a pair of children, each in their own way. They were perfect for each other. They always had been. The fondness written across his face could be found nowhere else. Even a human love wouldn't compare to it.

Rhysia had asked about the last flight and what clutch was going to be next on the sands. He looked to her, then briefly at Paralee, blinking as he considered it. He supposed he was supposed to now about such things. He supposed he actually did. "Well, actually, yes, Kalith flew and all, but Nikianeth just did. She's an orange. She might clutch, but it isn't for sure;" he responded to Rhysia. He turned around again, looking out to Annith with fondness. She would know. They had felt the feelings, but neither was connected to either flight. They had kept to themselves, as much as either of them did normally, him being him and her being cheerful and friendly as she was. "Anni, love, who won Nikianeth's flight? Who might get to be a daddy;" he asked her. His eyes unfocused. They saw, but they were elsewhere, inside his mind and inside of another's as well.

Annith had been resting, cheerful and energized but resting peacefully, but she raised her head at her rider's keen interest at her to answer his question. Brown Duareth won. Kerath and bronze Shoth also flew well. As did bronze Valleth, but he is very young. There was a renegade too. A purple, like Kerath but not very similar aside from both being purple. He flew well too, but I do not think that a renegade will win a Dalibor dragon easily. So much has happened. When they talked, she liked to talk. She liked no one better than him. She loved him, though she loved many people. She was born to love. She loved him most. She loved him best. Her chattering made him smile. It made him reassure her when she let out a little sigh at the last bit. She didn't like the stress of the renegades, all the anger and aggression and confusion. It was too much. Too much bad, even with a little good. She cheered easily, though, and raised her head. Curious, she stretched her neck forward, to try to get a better look at him and his two companions. Few others that were around were bothered by the sight of a curious dragon. Especially Annith. She was a bit obvious, and a bit known for her friendly nature. They were a reputable pair. Do you think they will mind if I talk to them? She was a dragon who enjoyed speaking to others, but she didn't do it too much. It was rude, and she disliked being rude. So, she asked her rider, looking for him to ask and for his thoughts. They were a loving pair. They worked so well together. She crooned.

Smiling, P'nay blinked, breaking away. He turned back to his two new friends. "Brown Duareth won Nikianeth. If they do produce eggs, they'll be healthy. All the stuff with how oranges and red produce eggs is so weird. Half the time. Sometimes. There's a reason Queens get to be shiny Queens." He shook his head, blathering away. He glanced back at his dragon again, though he stayed in the real that time around. He spoke physically, and didn't try to make her hear for sure. It wasn't like she couldn't. She could see his head. She had perfectly fine hearing too. "Anni, dear, I don't think they could mind;" he told her. He grinned at Paralee and Rhysia, looking at them only out of the corner of an eye. There was a good chance neither of them would have heard a dragon truly speak before. Even if they had, it wouldn't have been the one and only beautiful Annith.

Annith settled back slightly, still not wanting to intrude too much. She didn't want to scare them. They didn't seem skittish, but she knew she wasn't small. She was bigger than most dragons, bigger than all but a few odd blues and every green in existence. Hello. I am Annith; she greeted them. Her voice was soft and sweet. The mental voice of a dragon could sound like anything, and hers reflected her nature perfectly. Most of the time, she wasn't complicated. She was sweet and kind, and her voice was exactly that as she spoke to Rhysia and Paralee. The hatching will be good. Daidoroth and Kalith's last clutch was nice and healthy. Twenty-three eggs isn't large, but it is good; she told them, attempting to answer all of their questions. She tilted her head slightly to the side. One of her faceted eyes caught the light. P'nay grinned at her, folding his arms across his chest, nodding faintly along in agreement to something more than her words.

So slow it down,
Take it easy,
If you want me,
I will be right here.

[purnip]

To Paralee's statement, Rhysia practically shuddered with excitement. A roommate? She's never had one, really, not a fun one. Candidates were not that tight this year so the only person she had to share a room with was...herself. She didn't like sharing a room with her sister back at Fort because she'd often be accused of stealing and that of course, was absolutely troublesome. No fun at all. Paralee was like her and she was like Paralee; maybe they could be friends. Maybe. She gave a sharp nod. "I really hope so too! I'll have a dragon and a human friend!" The idea seemed fantastic, utterly so. Eventually she'd have to tell her new friend about the klepto thing. Actually, it was probably best if she got that out now so she wouldn't regret it later. She tensed a little before speaking up about it. "But I have a problem I should tell you about first, just so you know."

Perhaps it wasn't worth telling. She might not Impress, though Paralee might. The other Candidate was way more energetic and positive than herself. Still, she decided it was better to tell. She had just noticed her hands were back to the table again as if they had done something. Watching them she finally confessed. "I sort of take things. I can't help it. If something goes missing though, I won't take offense if you ask me if I've got it. I probably do."

That...that felt good. Getting that off her chest. She wanted to change the subject though because she felt the confession might have attracted more attention than she wanted to have. "So there are going to be more dragon babies?" Rhysia lit up again. It didn't take much to get her spirit returning as good as new. Or at least, judging from P'nay's full answer, there might be. That sounded rather fantastic. And it really helped to get that confession out there, because suddenly she felt it was easier to speak and just a little easier to be herself. Before, she was even finding herself secretly hoping they'd go away. Now she hoped they would stay and not socially ostracize her for having sticky fingers. Her energy level only seemed to escalate from the anxiety of being pushed away for admitting her problem. They were still practically strangers to her, but they were just so friendly--unexpectedly so. She couldn't help but trust them based solely on the past several minutes, as if she just knew they'd go and understand.

Hearing Annith's voice was a treat. Rhysia seemed to listen for it as if she hadn't quite registered it, but putting the voice and the source together, she suddenly realized that a dragon was speaking to her. So Anni must be the dragon!

"Oh, hi Annith!" She said, looking out the window for whichever dragon may be speaking to her. She couldn't quite tell at first, but when it became apparent that only one of the dragons were looking in at them, she picked out the Yellow quick enough. "I'm Rhysia! It's good to hear from ya," she said with a smile. Must look a bit strange. She felt almost as if she was talking to herself a little. "And great news too...um..." Rhysia looked to her hands, but this time to use them. She mentally counted out how many Candidates she had seen about lately to the best of her knowledge, which truthfully was somewhere around fifteen. "Wow, that might be too many. Unless there's more Candidates than fifteen. I'm sure there are but...I don't see them often." Not that she looked for them or anything; she was mostly counting those she met in passing.

[Birdy]

“Ah! Two dragon friends, don’t forget mine! Well, if I Impress!” she replied. It would be fun to room with Rhysia. And she was sure she could convince any dragon she Impressed to like the other girl too. Well maybe not like her but at least not eat her. Yes, she was sure Rhysia would appreciate that, not being eaten and such. She knew she would.

She tilted her head at Rhysia’s next sentence. Problem? Did she snore, because she could definantly handle that. Maybe she was secretly a boy! Well that would be a problem but Paralee was sure she could help her or him keep it a secret so they could be roommates still. Her mind whirled with different possibilities. Some, alright, most of them were a bit surreal. So when Rhysia said what her real problem was Paralee giggled, “Oh? Well, I don’t have many things besides clothes. And if anything’s missing I’ll know where to look!” she chirped happily, sure it would be a slight inconvenience is all of her clothes were missing but she was sure she’d manage to get it back. Or she just borrow some of Rhysia’s and maybe find her missing clothes in the process. “But if I Impress don’t go stealing my dragonet,” she added with a mock stern expression.

Paralee was listening to P’nay but mostly her mind was stuck on visions of tiny dragonets and hot sands. As she didn’t hear the Yellowrider’s comment and was perfectly lost in her own head, she all but fell out of her seat when the Yellow’s voice popped into her head. “Woah! That’s weird!” she exclaimed looking around to see if she could spot the dragon. Then realizing that she might have offended the dragon, which she definantly didn’t want to do (too many pointy teeth) she continued. “Weird in a good way, I just wasn’t expecting it. I’m Paralee by the way, nice to meet you,” she said quickly and, spying the Yellow outside, waved. “Wow that sure is a lot of eggs! Better chances for us to Impress right?” she said, much more prepared for the Yellow’s second message.

[Admin]

Everybody, everybody wants to love,
Everybody, everybody wants to be loved.
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh,
Happy is the heart that still feels pain.

P'nay failed to pay much attention to Rhysia's problem. He put it down to girls. He'd never gotten girls that well. Sure, they were pretty, and they could be nice, like Paralee and Rhysia, but some were so confusing, demanding, and whiny. So, he thought of other things while they talked to each other. Food. R'ish. Annith. Flitters. Sleeping. Lio. More R'ish. Annith and Mikidith. He did keep paying attention, but the yellowrider mainly focused on the amusing excitement that came off the idea that there might be more dragonets in the upcoming hatching. He refrained from telling about how half of them were probably going to die when the pass started and how some of the eggs might be duds. He wasn't going to rain on their parade. Anyway, he wasn't really thinking about that. Sure, sometimes, but Annith and other people generally kept him on happiness.

It was pleasure to watch their reactions to his dragon too, and it was his pleasure to feel how she reacted to them. They were talking to her! Annith didn't mind that they introduced themselves to her, even though she already knew their names from P'nay and from listening. They were asking her questions! She felt so helpful, and that was a wonderful thing for her. She liked to help people; it was right. She crooned happily at Paralee, poking her noise in a little farther. Impressions aren't quite like that. Most dragonets find their riders on the sands, but each one is right for one person. No one really knows how it works, but there is only one rider of a dragon. I knew P'nayMine was Mine; she explained to them gently, not trying to discourage them but trying to make them understand the complexities of it. Impression was the most wondrous, special, and unique event!

However, if you are searched, then it means that you are fit to be a dragonrider, and, out of all the people on our great world, you're the best to stand; she kindly told them. She looked at them closely. They looked fit and ready to stand to her, with good minds from the conversation they were having. Neither had reacted badly to her voice, which was an advantage, since it suggested they had more open, feeling minds.Also, twenty-three would be about average, and there is a pass coming. Queens have been larger clutches for it; she added, in response to Rhysia's comment, even if they might have been directed more towards her rider. She was trying to be a productive part of the conversation they were having. She knew about the subject. It was something proper to know about. She could have babies too, and she liked little dragonets. They were so nice and good for the future of the Weyr!

"Yeah, we're talking well over two dozen. Coppers can't quite have as many as a huge gold, but Kalith is healthy. She could have over thirty. Of course, she could also have sixteen. Who knows. I'm not an expert on this. I just like talking;" he continued on for his dragon, grinning at them. He knew what he was talking about, but it wasn't some great well of facts. It was Weyr lore. He laid bets on eggs sometimes, all in good fun. There were traditions to thoughts on eggs and how it worked. "Anyway, there has to be more than fifteen candidates. You probably haven't meant Sprocket. He's scared of girls. Uh. I don't know that many of the candidates. Either way, there will be enough. There's some weyrbrats running around that could always get drafted;" he told them, with a smile and shrug for them. It was meant to be vaguely encouraging.

Everybody holds the love,
Everybody folds for love.
Everybody feels the love,
Everybody steals the love.

[purnip]

Annith's words were just the ones Rhysia needed to hear. Though her searchrider didn't seem to confident about her, she was chosen nonetheless. So perhaps this was her destiny, to find her dragon on the Sands. It could be one of...well, twenty-three! Or sixteen. Still, that was something. She could just imagine it now. Her hero, The Bandit, may be closer to her than just a figment of the imagination. A sister in arms. A friend. Herself.

Not entirely likely. She knew for sure that Whites were very rare. She mostly chose a White for her imaginary character friend because they supposedly have good time sense and it's vital for someone like The Bandit to have a dragon with that sort of ability. Rhysia would be happy with her destiny dragon, whatever the color may be. She was also making a human friend, which added to her excitement. Paralee registered her 'little problem' and shrugged it off as if it were just that. Paralee still wanted to be her roommate, should they both Impress. As long as Rhysia didn't go stealing her dragon, but to that, she gave a laugh. She knew her new friend was joking but she felt she should mention this. "Normally it's small things I got to watch out for. Anything too big and I'll notice it before it goes in my pocket."

Rhysia continued to listen, but her mind kept wandering. All she could think about was Impression, naturally. All she could think of was caring for a new life-long friend. The future looked so much more romantic than the present that she started to lose interest in today and only wanted tomorrow to come faster, just so they'd be another day closer. But the eggs weren't even on the Sands yet. She had a long wait ahead of her and it pained her to wait like this. Her hands were folded now, just to keep them from doing anything she would regret, but she felt so uncomfortable all of a sudden. Even though she admit her problem to the two beside her, she felt as if she was still obligated to try her hardest not to offend them. Perhaps they were being friendly, but that didn't mean much. She could still offend them, in due time. Only she hoped that she wouldn't.

Riding on a dragon's back, soaring through the skies, visiting distant lands, and perhaps even discovering something new...just like The Bandit. Just like a real true blue dragonrider. The life she imagined was borderline renegade lifestyle, only she did not wish to do any wrong. All she wanted to do was be herself without having to worry about a thing. She felt that horizon was just beyond her reach. Only a few sevendays to go.

But still listening, she was not surprised to find out there were more than fifteen candidates. She figured there were. However, upon hearing of a particular kid who was afraid of girls, Rhysia's curiosity returned to the conversation. "Scared...of girls? Why?" She knew that sometimes girls could be very mean, but she also knew that guys could be just the same. Well, girls were a little more unpredictable. She was the perfect picture of unpredictability herself. Rhysia was prone to having constant mood swings, but that had only to do with the stress she put herself under to fit in and not be a bother. If she wasn't stressed, she would be the ideal lofty-headed personality she can be when enjoying her alone time. Boys were easier to figure out, but they could be too rough. Rhysia had more friends that were boys when she was back at Fort but they liked to play rough games. She wanted to play with them, but they always went easy on her and it was no fair. So she couldn't understand why someone would just be afraid of a gender. There's good and bad in both lots. "Why is he just scared of girls? That's a lot to be scared of. Mommies are girls," she couldn't help but think of her mother a little, which made her a bit more defensive. "And moms are the best ones." She gave a nod. Obviously she didn't grow up knowing anyone with a bad or absent mother. Rhysia believed that all the women who had kids had to have had some good in them to have healthy children run about. Maybe the Sprocket boy didn't have a mom. The thought made her a little sad.

[Birdy]

Paralee giggled at Annith’s comment. Impression had to be special if dragon’ s couldn’t explain it. The whole Searched part made her feel better, not that she’d been horribly worried before. She’d be more worried when it came closer to Hatching time. But wouldn’t everyone? She was just enjoying herself at the moment, talking to P’nay who seemed very nice and happy and Rhysia who was adoable.

She made a face at the mention of Thread. “Icky stuff, Thread. Or so I’ve heard, cause no one’s seen it this generation right? How many turns till it comes?” she counted on her fingers, concentrating for a moment. “Four? Three?” She shrugged, that was a long time from now. Well to her it was.

“Pocket sized? Well that make sense I think I’d notice if my bed was gone,” she chirped thoughtfully, then laughed. That sure would be funny sight, walking into the barracks to see her in the process of trying to get the bed out the door. Seeing that would probably make her day, maybe her week.

Devious thoughts popped into her head at the mention of the Sprocket character. “Plenty of guys are scared of girls, nervous little wherries,” she joked. Still, she thought meeting this Sprocket character might be interesting, if not extremely entertaining .

[Admin]

Everybody's gotta,
Get their kicks somewhere,
Everybody gotta fit in somewhere,
There's, an open road,
And I'm traveling down,
Don't know where to go.

At the asking of why, P'nay paused. He didn't know. He hadn't cared. Faintly, behind his smile, he frowned. Why didn't Sprocket like girls? He'd never asked. He'd simply tried to avoid the subject and convinced him that Annith was really a boy, and then the yellow had searched the boy to be a candidate. The question seemed needless. He couldn't answer it. He didn't particular care to answer it. What did it matter? About the whens and the whys? He believed in the doing, and what it caused. It was about the state as it was. He shook his head at the idea of knowing why, and just offered a shrug as an answer. Sprocket didn't like girls, and that was sort of that. He hadn't bothered to ask why. He'd just tried to get in the smith's pants, before he'd become a candidate, and a bit after that. It was what he did. Simple nature, and so life went.

The yellowrider paid more sharp attention to what Paralee said than what Rhysia said. Thread. Less than four turns, a little more than three. Every rider who believed in the return, and most did under the weyrleaders that currently led despite the lull of the many turns of an interval, knew how close it was. The Red Star could be seen in every dawn, if one looked the right way. In the older Weyrs, it was framed by the Star Stone. Wheel and turn, or bleed and burn. Fly between, blue and green. Soar and dive down, bronze and brown. Dragonmen must fly when threads are in the sky; he recounted the ancient words softly to Annith, the old words that spoke nothing of yellows or pinks or blacks or purples or irons or whites. It was a new age, and it would be a new pass. He couldn't imagine the idea of flying with Annith to fight thread.

Comfortingly, Annith let out a happy thrum, for all of them. She couldn't offer the minds of the candidates any perfect kindness, because they weren't hers, but she offered P'nay all she had, and showed him a peace. They would fly, when thread was in the sky. She could flame. She wasn't the quickest. She wasn't the strongest. She wasn't the smartest, but she was a dragon, and he was a dragonrider. They would be fine. Through her, he knew all that, and he went back to the moment, back to not thinking about the whens and the whys of their situation. He grinned like a drunken fool, looking over at Annith with utter adoration. It was an honor to be a rider. It was an honor to be her rider. Faranth, Paralee and Rhysia didn't have a clue of how lucky they were. He was pretty sure they would Impress. He needed to get marks on it.

Since her rider had failed to provide a proper response, Annith decided to answer them instead. She didn't know the answers either, to all of it, but she would try her best. Again, she thrummed at them, a happy, reverberating noise, not a hatching noise but a similarly welcoming and loving sound. It is a little less than four turns until thread is expected to fall again. Come next spring, three turns. Two more classes of weyrlings, at least, should be nice and grown before then; she assured them, especially Paralee, with a careful cheerfulness. Thread wasn't a good thing, but she couldn't muster aggression and hate towards it. She disliked it, and that was all. Sprocket is a very special case. He simply seems to scared of the idea of all girls. He will still be a good dragonrider; she explained to them. She sounded quite confident about the boy.

"Don't clump us together. I'm not afraid of girls;" was all P'nay said, after Annith, with a grin, to all that they had asked before he hurriedly shut up. Even he knew when to keep his feet firmly on the proper side of the line. For a moment, he sat there, beginning to feel awkward. He had been there for a while, and the little question and answer session, as fun as it was, felt like it was beginning to drag on a bit. "Well, I should probably go;" he realized aloud. He grinned at them and got to his feet, stretching as he stood. He began walking backwards. He almost clipped the table but he managed to just avoid. He offered them a friendly wave, giving them a fondly amused look, a twinkle in his eyes from his grin. Oh, yes, they were going to Impress. He was going to bet on it for sure. Then he turned around to head properly for Annith.

The yellow dragon was crouching, turning so that she was ready for him. Her wiggled up onto her back with an ease from knowing every crinkle of her hide over turns. She waited for him to settled onto her back, and then she turned her head back to the two candidates. Farewell; she wished them. Then, with one more happy thrum, she turned, moved up onto her feet, and then launched herself free of the ground. Her wings beat against the air, and she rose, a flash of warm yellow against the darker rock of the walls of the Weyr and the blue of the sky. Up and up, she pushed herself higher, and then forward. She dipped low again, twisting her head to get one last glimpse of Paralee and Rhysia. P'nay offered another wave and the flash of a grin. Then she soared across the bowl on the easy, familiar, short trip to their own weyr.

And I found that round here,
In this city,
That I won't disappear,
In this city,
I got nothing to fear,
In this city.