Dinner Impossible ( Bre )

[zeis]

It was late. Perhaps three or four candle-marks before the rise of Rukbat? Zeis didn't know, he had lost track of time. The Dining Hall was his own for the night, with the last drowsy late night snackers having retired some time ago, Baharl among them. He had tried to stay out of the overzealous girl's sight, but like a predator smelling fear she seemed to zero in on him. The young Baker had endured her company as politely as he could, and finally saw her off with a good portion of the leftover bread from today's meals. It was not that he disliked her, but it was probably due to her fast paced and often rough companionship that he found himself so exhausted now.

Now being where he currently was, leaning drowsily on one arm as he sat in the comfortable flickering glow of candles in the dark. He sipped idly at his dwindling mug of tea, and glanced down at what he'd been working on. A recipe that he'd been tinkering with for some time, the current version scrawled carefully on a writing hide, with previous unsuccessful attempts dog-eared and stained off to the side. The silence of the late evening and early morning was really best for this type of work, at least for him. Sleepiness had his mind feeling at ease, and the tea kept him warm and alert on this particular winter evening. With the smell of the Kitchens lingering around him, the only sounds being the scritch-scratch of his writing, and the dull clunk of his glass as he drank... It was a rare moment of peace for the often ill at ease, and busy young man.

"Maybe... Oh, no, I tried that before..." He whispered to himself, and sifted through the past versions of his current work in progress. The cake in question had been largely unsuccessful, and sometimes disastrously so. It had gotten to the point where he really wasn't sure anymore what he had tried to improve his creation, and what had succeeded or failed. "Yes, there it is..." He sighed, and leaned back in his chair while running a hand through his short black hair. That idea wouldn't work either then, so... what would?

He leaned his head back and turned his hazel eyes to the dark of the ceiling to let his mind drift as it would. Maybe he'd find an answer when he stopped looking. He found his thoughts turning to the more exciting news that was circulating throughout Dalibor. The resident Queen Wher had apparently clutched on the sands, as well as a single dragon, and apparently an Orange was due to clutch soon as well. Weyr business as usual, but this time he actually knew some of the potential Candidates. Rethalt and Krysthanine would be standing at one of those clutches, though too be honest he wasn't sure if the were Wher Candidates or Dragon. Wynnri, Talouse, and everyone else he had met that day as well. His interaction with all of them had been brief since that day, mostly revolving around their comings and goings from the Dining Hall and Kitchens, but... He leaned slowly forward, and his eyes drifted to gaze at the flickering candle flame.

Their future certainly looked brighter than his own.

[Admin]

Well, I wouldn’t make you stay,
Cause it’s better if you go,
It’s better if nobody knows,
What a mess you make of me.

Falling asleep was easy. Dusk would settled. She'd go and grab a few scraps of food from the kitchen, even when the biddies offered her more. Then she'd slip off to her room to drift into slumber if chores were done, only stopping to feed her fair. Sonia followed a pattern, dictated by the rise and fall of Rukbat, a schedule which carefully kept her away from notice. Despite her schedule of a life, waking up was always much harder than falling asleep. She woke early, before even the rise of Rukbat. The faintest touches of false dawn were supposed to wake her, but it was often another unstoppable natural that roused her. That morning, or late night, they chose to wake her particularly early. Eyes swirling red, her fair started to let loose a great mess of noises, keening and hissing, despite having been fed just a handful of candlemarks before then.

Sighing to herself, the noise hardly real, Sonia rolled out of her furs. They were so tempting and warm, the late chill of winter still hanging in the air; it had been a long time since she'd slept in a proper room with furs before coming to the Weyr. Despite her personal disinterest in getting up, she was quick to shake sleep from her body and rise. Quiet. Knowing to keep her moods and emotions in check, hiding them away behind her eyes, she ordered silence with a swift mental word. They listened quickly, except for some brief dissent from blue Jary and white Olya. Over the shift in which she'd slept, she pulled one of the three simple dresses she had been given. She treated it with care, but she worked quickly, sensing the pangs of hunger from the seven minds melded with hers. Slipping on sandals, she ghosted from her room.

Taking the shorter route, her fair of firelizards met her once she was outside of the barrack. With them hanging about her head, silent for the time being but ever moving, she headed for the kitchens. Feeding them was always easier as early as possible. No one could ask questions or try to help, both of which confused and worried her. Into the dining hall, she went, preceded by gold Eulo and white Olya at the front. It was a mistake on her part to allow them such freedom, though she knew she couldn't control every single one of their actions. Eulo spotted the boy in the hall first. Noticing him second, Olya figured out what to do with him first. He darted forward, knowing to be quicker than their bonded. His nimble toes found hides as he darted in front of Zeis, dragging them off of the table and throwing them to the ground in a flurry.

Two iron wills quickly dissuaded the white from continuing with his shenanigans, and quieted the others, even glowering Jary, after they let out one loud shriek in unison. The first belonged to Eulo, Queen even if they didn't all like to acknowledge her rule. The second belonged to Sonia, though she was more distracted. Hurried, quick, light steps allowed her to dart around tables to get to Zeis's location. Within an instant, she was on her knees, scrambling to fix the mess that her firelizard had made. Her tiny, slender hands grabbed hides in a flurry. "I'm so sorry, sir;" she murmured, not thinking anything towards the youth she had noted in his appearance for the title she used. On the tables nearby, her firelizards settled. Olya was forced to sit apart, shunned for delaying their meal as they had to sit and watch theirs.

Cause you and your goodbyes,
And though I tried, I tried, I tried so many times,
Oh, well, it’s just something that gets me every time,
Oh, and it’s nothing new and I’ll be fine.

[zeis]

Zeis had, after a moment spent watching glistening beads of molten candle wax, reached absently for his mug of tea and brought it to his lips to take a lingering sip. With his luck, he was of course as unprepared as possible when something ghostly white, and lightning quick swooped out of the darkness and swept his work off the table like a malevolent wind. Caught entirely and utterly off guard, he let out a startled yell, that was of course garbled by the tea in his mouth which he sprayed before him in a fine mist. His arm had jerked up reflexively to shield his face and perhaps fend off the unknown, which upset the mug in his hand spilling the remainder of his peace inducing drink all over the front of his tunic. However this was not the end of his misery, which he realized with a sickening feeling of vertigo as the chair he was sitting in teetered ominously on its back legs. His hazel eyes looked up at the ceiling toward the heavens as he fell backward, wearing an expression that seemed to say 'Faranth, help me.'

The chair and the now thoroughly humiliated boy who was sitting in it hit the stone floor with a clatter that seemed like a ridiculously loud crescendo do the Firelizards initial shrieks. Zeis groaned, and untangled himself from the overturned chair by crawling a short distance backward. He pushed himself up into a sprawled sitting position with one arm, and lifted the other to quickly wipe any remainder of his embarrassing spit-take from his lips. What had- Oh.

His eyes settled on the girl who spoke to him, who was hurriedly trying to pick up his papers. He let his gaze drift curiously past her to the multiple Firelizards that were seemingly waiting for her, and in particular the White Olya. There was no shred of anger in his face, only lingering shock and a rapidly growing expression of embarrassment. His eyes darted back to the girl, and then down at his soaked shirt front with a furious blush. Why was it that these situations seemed to happen only to him? Not that he'd wish them on anyone else, but... No one had been around, and he had felt more relaxed than he had in a whole week or so. Then all of a sudden this happens... He took a deep breath to try and calm the sudden rapid beating of his heart, and turned his attention back toward the girl. Chew it raw and swallow, as always.

"Oh, um... It's fine, really..." He spoke, getting on his knees himself to pick up a few of the tea stained hides near him. He frowned down at one hide in particular, which had been the most recent version of his recipe, which now bled down the surface in blurry streaks. He really couldn't blame anyone but himself. He rose to a slightly shaky stand, and attempted to shake any remaining droplets of tea off his collected work. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

[Admin]

La soledad es un paso firme,
Que no he podido obligarme a dar,
El corazon no tiene remedio,
Con la vejez deja de funcionar.

Movement caught Sonia's attention more than the boy's words. While words could sting, only actions could scar and break bones, a cold truth for a cold world. The boy who had lost his writing to Olya and tea was trying to help her. She carefully avoided bumping into him, as his hands pulled uselessly at things. Her fingers were nimble and quick, deftly finding the edges of the thin material so she could pick them up and slip them into the grasp of her tiny limbs. While he had every right to say that it was fine, she had every right not to believe him. She at least still had that right, and more than enough will to hold onto it. Bad firelizard. The two words came out as a growl in her mind, even as her gaunt face remained calm and soft. Olya flinched. Even if none of the humans realized it, his bonded was scary when she let herself be angry.

Carefully, hides neatly stacked in her arms, Sonia rose. She made no reaction to the faint prick of a few drops of tea from the writings as they transferred to her dress, but she was quick to set them on the table. Her fingers lingered no longer on the pages than was necessary. She briefly glanced over the writing on the top, but her mind wasn't quick for reading and many of the letters were blurred beyond much recognition. Leaving the hides, she glanced carefully at Zeis, keeping her head tipped down. He was taller than her, which wasn't much of a surprise. He wasn't that tall for a boy her own age, but he dwarfed her by more than half a foot. No distinct feature of him was much cause for fear, but her wariness remained. She kept a corner of the table between them, because he looked like he didn't outrank her. Rank didn't mean that he wasn't a threat.

Around them, seven pairs of eyes watched their movements. One of the greens, darker Zola, took flight on silent, long wings, rising with tentative grace. She curled herself around Sonia's neck, eyes only for her bonded. Pink Esti also watched the girl. The others focused their attention on Zeis. Hissing, blue Jary did it for no good reason. White Olya continued to think only for his games. Green Ife was a flirt, helpless in her interest of anything possibly bonded to something. Ready and waiting to defend, bronze Ruy was the watchdog. Gold Eulo's gaze was unquestionable, that of a Queen waiting for an answer to some unasked question. Their swirling eyes, red mixed with countless colors, did not blink or shift more than a few centimeters. Wild as they might be, every last one of them was happy to wait until their bonded left for another place.

"Do you need any help, sir?" Sonia cursed herself as she let the question slip from her lips, though she hardly second guessed herself. It would be better to ask, because they made her seem even less threatening. Eyes downcast, she didn't raise them as she spoke or even look at him. Though she rarely used them and people rarely realized she had them, she had seven extra pairs of eyes. Her own were far too dangerous to use. Tricksters, they were, worse than Olya. They couldn't be expected to keep the same timid quietness that she managed to write across her face. She couldn't read that well, but she could use herself as a scroll far better than any scholar. Nearby, golden Eulo let out an imperious whistle, ignoring her bonded's orders. The girl might like to be ignored, but she preferred attention and the boy seemed harmless.

Que felicidad llenarte la taza,
Que seguridad tenerte en la casa,
Y el tiempo pasara, el sol se apagara,
Y todo lo que sentiste fue normal.

[zeis]

Zeis reached out and placed the few scraps of hide he'd managed to pick up himself on the table, and turned his hazel eyes back down at himself a moment, then the floor. His tunic-front wasn't quite drenched in tea, but he had splattered himself pretty well. The floor was also adorned with splashes and droplets of his chosen drink, which would have to be cleaned before he futilely tried to fall asleep tonight. Otherwise the floor would get all sticky and... His scrutinizing eyes found his fallen mug, and he reached down and picked it up, setting the now entirely empty vessel on top of the collected hides, perhaps in an effort to dissuade further Firelizard attack.

The young boy tried to turn his attention back to the girl, but found his embarrassing tumble still too fresh in his mind. What a mess he'd made. It had only been a Firelizard. One trying to startle him sure, but all the same a bonded Flitter and certainly nothing uncommon around a Weyr. Blushing furiously he looked back at the girls colorful crew, his attention caught by a glimmer of green as one perched on her shoulder. That certainly was a lot of Flits, and of so many different colors. Did they all belong to this girl? He had never seen anyone with quite this many companions before. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he really recognized Sonia at all. Surely he would have taken note of someone with so many dragonets in their company? Or perhaps... maybe not if she kept hours like this? He noted the reddish gleam in the pairs of eyes observing him, and turned his back on the girl.

"Um... No, it's all right. I'll just clean up here..." He replied, noting her lack of eye contact and strangely feeling relieved for it. Maybe then she wouldn't see how red his cheeks were. He obliged by avoiding eye contact as well, not wanting to force any issue that this girl was clearly avoiding. Instead, his gaze focused on the Gold Eulo who whistled, and seemed to be regarding him steadily. They boy offered a faint smile, and found himself appreciating the Firelizards easy manners. This girls many bonded didn't seem embarrassed or shy, or feeling anxiety for any societal pressures. It seemed a simple and easy life. He had drifted in his thoughts a little, and he hurriedly refocused on the current situation. Searching for something to say, he offered. "I've never seen so many Firelizards at once... I thought your little White friend there was some sort of... I don't know what."

[Admin]

She's not afraid,
She just likes to use her night light,
When she gets paid,
True religion gets it all.

When he mentioned her firelizards, Sonia glanced around at her fair, mentally counting them as she brushed her mind gently but firmly against each of their little consciouses. At her touch, Zola rose up and came to settle around her neck, wishing to hide even though she was quite hungry. His references towards her trickster worried her. Thinking that things weren't what they were was never a good sign. It was a sad thing for her to know and notice at such a small amount. Her first thoughts were toward preservation and survival, above all else. "The gold is Eulo, the bronze is Ruy, the blue is Jary, the greens are Zola and Ife, the pink is Esti, and the white is just Olya;" she told him, hoping that her calm, soft recount of the names and colors might disperse any illustrious or warped thoughts and views he could have been harboring towards her fair.

"If you want help cleaning, just call, sir;" she reminded him, since reminders helped everyone except complete fools. Dropping the slightest of curtsies, since she wasn't, in truth, a fan and she knew to keep her mannerisms on an appropriate level, she turned away. She straightened her neck slightly then, finally raising her eyes from the floor to gaze at something other than one of her flitters or the leg of a table. She picked her way over to the kitchens, slipping through an open doorway to enter the quiet space. Rising up, her fair followed her, remaining obediently silent. They could sense her firm thoughts, dimmed but definitely still alive, and the slight anger that she still held thanks to Olya's careless stunts. She disappeared into the depths of the kitchen, her slight form easily disappearing amongst counters, even with her flitters.

Just a few moments later, Sonia returned, slipping back into the dining hall. Her fair followed her, but they kept a careful distance. Zola remained curled around her neck, but the rest of them seemed to have been banished to at least four feet away from her. In her arms, she carried a huge bowl of meat, a not overly appetizing but not entirely disgusting mix of scraps. She settled at a table several down from where Zeis had been. Once she was seated, the flitters finally descended, moving almost together, as if they were cued. They ate in a frenzy, not needing any assistance. Sonia only hand fed Zola, who, as the shiest of the greedy bunch, couldn't handle herself between Eulo, Olya, and Jary, even when Ruy stopped doting on tiny, loving Esti to help his sister. Eyes still kept almost always downcast, the tiny candidate kept her gaze away from Zeis.

Her eyes, that's where hope lies,
That's where blue skies,
Meet the sunrise,
Her eyes, that's where I go.

[zeis]

Hazel eyes drifted from flit to flit as Sonia recounted their colors and names, and he repeated them mentally as his mother had taught him when meeting new people, or Firelizards in this case. Politeness urged him to try and remember their respective names in case he and strange girl should meet again in the future. It may have seemed a trivial thing, but the boy never liked the uncomfortable awkwardness that settled when a person forgot a face or a name, even a draconic one. He had just finished when the girl spoke again, and he blinked his attention back to her with a slightly unfulfilled look. She had given him the names of her many colorful friends, but not her own. Well, he hadn't given her his either. An unfortunate slip in manners on his part. He winced slightly in recollection, and absently rubbed his arm. He need not be reminded of unfortunate slips.

"Oh, no, I wouldn't want to keep you..." He spoke assuringly, and waved away her offer of help. Olya may have startled him, but the real mess had been caused by his own over reaction. He wouldn't have someone else picking up after him, especially someone who seemed to be on well a somewhat urgent errand judging by the presence of all the Firelizards. He watched her turn and go with all her colorful crew, and found himself surprisingly at a loss of what to do despite his earlier intentions. Frowning, he set about his true business of cleaning up his earlier spill, starting by uprighting the overturned chair in which he had fallen. Sharp eyes spotted a nearby rag that had been set aside for use as a napkin and apparently forgotten. In a moment, the boy was once again down on his hands and knees industriously mopping up the spill, and hunting for any remaining splatters or droplets. What should have been a relatively simple and short task longer than he had originally attended, as he soon found himself engaged in just generally cleaning up the floor from the normal wear and tear the Hall saw every day. His nature for cleanliness and order wouldn't allow him to simply ignore the problem when he was in a position to do something about it.

He heard the girl return with her pets, and the sound of her Flits setting themselves down for a good meal by the time he was finished. Satisfied with his efforts, he pushed himself off his knees, propping his arm up on the table top to assist him. He made a face as he rose to a stand, and saw that he had of course placed his hand square onto the dripping pile of hides blurred with wet charcoal. The boy sighed quietly as he used the rag to wipe the smeared charcoal off his hand as best he could, and soon after set about gently dabbing dry the remainder of his work as well as wiping off the table top. A quick glance reassured what he had thought to be true earlier. The current copy of his recipe couldn't be saved. It wasn't a big loss really, and surely his mother would be glad of any deterrence to his experimenting.

Soon he had finished with his task, and he surveyed the results of his efforts with somewhat weary eyes that nonetheless gleamed with a measure of satisfaction. This Weyr had only been his home for four or so turns, but the Kitchen and the Hall were where he spent most of his waking hours, and in some unexpected moments a few of his sleeping hours as well. He had formed a bond with the place, and he couldn't help but take pride and satisfaction in its care and upkeep. He'd be spending the upcoming Pass here after all. His smile faded away, and he was left staring down at the gleaming well used table surface with an expression barely suppressed sorrow.

Zeis took a deep breath, and off handed turned his attention back to the girl, who's name he still didn't know. He called out politely, his tentative voice carrying easily through the empty Hall. "Is there anything that I can get you...?" He regretted it as soon as the words were out of his mouth. The girl looked tired, and if she had really wanted anything she could have just as easily gotten it herself. This was the Dining Hall after all. It had been a stupid question really. He listened with mild horror as his unconsciously tried to justify it. "Um... A cup of tea, maybe? I was thinking of making more..." He laughed nervously. "I won't spill any this time..."

Why was he still talking?

[Admin]

When I turn jet black,
And you show off your light,
I live to let you shine,
I live to let you shine.

At the sound of the tentative voice, Sonia raised her head, blinking once in mild, well-disguised surprise. To say that she wasn't used to being served was an understatement. Over the last few turns, she'd learned how to specifically make it so no one would notice her, let alone try and serve her. Even before that, for turns before that, she'd rarely been asked if she wanted anything. She got what was necessary, what was necessary and a half a dozen firelizards. That was what she had gotten out of the bargain that was life. She served others, because most knew better than to kick those who did good work. Not all, but most. She'd found no hope in the light, no hope out of the dark. Living in silence might not have been as good as living in truth, but it was better than not living at all. It was harsh, her lingering thoughts on death, but it was reality. Her poor, cold reality.

Many, many turns ago, when she was a little girl, Sonia had been the daughter of a small holder. She'd had an older brother who would have done anything for her. He'd taught her to shoot and to hunt. He'd taken care of her, even though she'd never thought she'd needed to be taken care of back then. Long before even those happy times, she'd had a mother who had taught and loved her. While the harper had taught her the teaching ballads, her mother had taught her how to love the world. Back then, that had come easy to her. She had smiled. She had laughed. She had danced through the dunes of the Nerat shore. Instead of a fair, she'd had a mother, a father, and a brother. However, those times were gone. Those people were gone. That late night at Dalibor, she only had her seven firelizards. That was it. Nothing else. They had been all she'd had for a while.

For a moment, Sonia just stared at the boy standing awkwardly in front of her. Her fair continued to eat. They were hardly paying any attention what was happening. They did their best to defend her, but she didn't need them to take care of her. She took care of them and herself. She'd gotten them food, and they gobbled it up. While they ate, she carefully gazed upon Zeis. Her gaunt face, tired only by time and not by lack of sleep, showed no humor at his weak joke. While she could manage a fake smile, she wasn't one for fake laughter. "I'm fine;" she told him in her quiet voice. Despite the softness of her words, something hidden back behind her words hinted that the voice she used wasn't her real voice. Back behind the lines and the politeness, somewhere, she had a voice that could command armies, a voice perhaps bigger than her tiny body, rather than smaller and even meeker. Inside of her somewhere were the pieces to make a real girl.

Again, the tiny candidate paused and stared at Zeis for a time. What she was thinking was impossible to tell, and probably impossible to describe. Candidacy had done nothing to make her trust. Old habits die hard, and she had seen no reason to let hers die at all. Her expression showed only wariness behind its faked timidness. She wasn't scared. Oh, she'd never been scared. Disgusted. In pain. Hungry. She'd felt those things, but she'd very rarely been scared in all of her turns, which might have been scant but certainly weren't few. She had no reason to trust Zeis. He was just another boy who spilled tea and said stupid things. She, for the most part, hated boys, in her neutral way. They were the ones who teased and hit, or behaved like Hat. However, Zeis seemed harmless, rather like a sheepish dog, like a shamed flitter. In a fight, she could probably take him, though she wouldn't fight him. Fighting brought ramifications.

"I'm Sonia." It was her little leap of faith. She gave trust for a moment, one fleeting moment. One moment of trust was easy to fix, easy to forget. It wasn't a friendship. It was half of a hope, and she had at least that with candidacy. While the gesture didn't seem like much, it was something for her. She wasn't one to say her name without being asked or without having good reason. A name could be traced. A name made you someone. Esti and Ife had finished eating and proceeded to sprawl across the table in a lazy manner. They offered chirrups to Zeis. The others were still eating, unstoppable forces of consumption. Eulo, however, shrewd little Eulo, raised her head for a brief moment to gaze at the boy who her bonded had briefly thought about. He seemed fine. Harmless. She returned to her eating. Dropping her gaze, Sonia fed Zola another scrap.

Ebbing and flowing,
And pushed by a breeze,
I live to make you free,
I live to make you free.

[zeis]

"Oh, all right then." Zeis replied quietly, as if in an effort to diminish the echo his voice made in the hall, or perhaps to somehow undo the way he had rambled on moments earlier. He very much needed to get a grip. What was it his mother always said? There was no use crying over spilled milk. The young Baker idly hefted the now very damp cloth he had used to clean, becoming aware of it again. Or... spilled tea in this case. He glanced briefly to Sonia's Firelizards, and managed a small tired looking smile at the way they gobbled up their food. Flitters at least seemed easy to please. You didn't need complicated recipes to appease their tastes. The boy was about to turn and head back into the kitchen to get started on his pot of tea, when his eyes in passing noticed the strange girl staring at him.

Though his end of the eye contact must have lasted no longer than 3 or four seconds for him to register what in fact was happening, it felt like an eternity to Zeis of him simply staring stupidly at her in what must have seemed like vapid silence. The reality of the matter was that after his own brief pause, he averted his eyes away, once again scanning the area he had finished cleaning as if such a thorough performance had missed any spots. He blushed and made a mock-casual 'hrm'ing noise in his throat, beginning to shuffle toward the kitchens. He paused in his steps when the strange girl spoke, and he looked over his shoulder with a blink that was altogether of surprise, confusion, and relief. So that was her name! Sonia, he repeated mentally, making an effort to remember.

"... I'm Zeis." He replied readily, and looked as though a minuscule amount of his confidence had been restored by that singular simple unusual gesture of Sonia's. He was going to leave it at that and continue on his way, not wanting to trouble the girl for any conversation further than what she deigned to give. He had thought her perhaps to be shy at first, but she didn't seem nervous at all. All this stumbling was on his part alone, and he didn't want to seem tiresome. Before he could the girl's Pink and one of her Greens chirped at him, catching his attention with a small backward glance. He paused long enough to add a hasty pleasantry, relying on systematic manners to try and restore his calm. "Pleased to meet you all."

With that said, he hurried off the shout distance to the Kitchens, and set about brewing himself a new pot of tea. The also systematic and orderly work of boiling the water, and stewing the tea crushed tea leaves helped soothe him. The process didn't take long and by the time he re-appeared from the Kitchens with his efforts, he appeared more at ease. He resumed his place at the table where he had been working, poured himself a cup of the brew, and sipped it gratefully. Tea was great for the nerves. He was going to need it.

[Admin]

But love is trippy like that,
Sometimes you think that you've got it,
Nobodys gonna' trick you,
Outta' this one, baby.

Sonia watched with confusion as the boy fled after introducing himself. Her eyes followed his progress back to the kitchens. All of a sudden, she didn't feel so afraid to look up. She was used to manners. She was used to pleasantries, but she was only used to using them herself. She wasn't used to hearing them. She had to reach to understand his meaning. As she gaze after him, she saw no reason to be afraid. Harmless, that was what he was, more skittish and nervous than her. She wasn't scared, just cautious, just sensible, just wary. She saw no fight or flight in his motions. He had no instinct. He was just awkward and that confused her. To her, he seemed transparent, at least in the sense that he meant her no harm. Mistrust still existed in her towards him, towards everyone, in truth, but she felt a scholarly curiosity start to sprout.

As she watched him, something could be seen in her eyes. In the few glows that lit up the nearly empty dining hall, they glinted, the green bits in her hazel eyes appearing lighter than the deeper brown under the light. Something lay in her eyes that he wouldn't see, because he wasn't looking and that was the only reason she was even letting them show. She wasn't scared. She definitely wasn't scared as she sat there, feeding her hungry flitters, almost entirely alone in the dining hall as he came back and sat down to drink his tea. Cautious, wary, despite all else? Certainly, but she wasn't scared. She waited for him to do something, but he didn't do anything and her eyes went and glinted away in the dim light of the hall. It felt awkward, but she didn't much mind that except for the tension. She couldn't leave, not until she had her fair settled.

Esti, filled with meat, wiggled her way out of the mess other flitters and flopped delicately onto the table. She stared across the room at where the boy sat, faraway from them. Then she decided to make the situation less awkward. Hopping forward, she leaped into the air at the edge of the table. She glided lightly across the room, occasionally flapping her wings, until she came to rest near Zeis on his table. Sitting down, she tucked her wings against her sides and stared at him with her big, swirling eyes. She tilted her head and blinked her outer lids once, considering him once with her sweet revere. Then she let out a light, soft croon of question. What was he doing sitting all by himself over here? She and her mother and uncles and aunts and half sister would be happy to keep him company! Well, except for uncle Jary. She let out a sadder chirrup.

"Oh, Esti!" Sonia hadn't been paying attention and it was easy to lose one voice of the seven in her head when things were busy. She had returned her gaze to her fair, focusing in on Zola right as Esti had been taking off. However, she raised her head at the calls of the little pink. The exclamation was odd for her, but she couldn't help it. Esti would stick her nose sweetly into anyplace she thought it needed to be. Her flitters were mostly done feeding so she picked them off her and abandoned them by the bowl as she hurried over to scoop Esti up. The boy had decided to leave her alone. That was good. She tried to press that into the pink's mind, even as she realized that she had been starting to doubt that idea herself for a moment. She ducked her head. Eyes on floor. Eyes look down. "Sorry;" she told Zeis, holding a saddened Esti.

This is for you, you know who you are,
I was here once looking for someone I never found.
She paints in a low smokey voice,
Pictures and bruises and bad days and boys.