You amble inwards to the bright and cheerful living cavern.
Osasune pauses in mid-chew, eyes widening. She hastily swallows, head bobbing. "It's all good. Um. As usual. And, um... well. The fish rolls are very... full of fish! Yes."
Ilesyn is a silent figure, slipping in from the Game Room with one hand clutched about the other, a wincing expression set upon her face with eyes narrowed towards her hand. She hesitates in front of the hearths, finally withdrawing hand from the other in order to pour herself a mug of something hot with stilted movements, turning back towards the caverns to nod vacantly as she shuffles towards a table to sit, mug placed in front of her.
J'van grimaces a bit "I'm not a big fish eater....give me meat and tubers anyday." He replies, reaching for a plate and piling a bunch of both on it, slathering them with that gravy Eli hates so much and adding a side of cooked orangeroot for a well-rounded meal. Carrying his load, he moves towards the table occupied by the girl, and smiling "Mind if you join you?"
Osasune's head bobs. "Well, um, it's um, the bluerider's table, really - I wouldn't mind -"
Thera laughs softly. "Hardly my table, dear. It's the Weyr's, and we'd perfectly happy if you could grace us with your presence." She smiles to her Wingleader. "The meatrolls are edible, and that herdbeast casserole they have up there is decent as well," the bluerider advises before her amber optics wander toward the mindhealer. "Hello there, Ilesyn."
C'daer ambles in from the center bowl.
Jalis ambles in from the center bowl.
FTWB>>Tarrant watches the two riders leave, and is drawn towards them. Just ride it out, man. And he slowly follows.
Jalis walks in, pressed against C'daer's side, her arm circling his. Her face is flushed with both the chill, and perhaps something else. Eyes are dialated as she looks around the interior of the caverns. "Hello." She says huskily, listing up against the bronzerider she came in with.
"Perfectly," Osa says, head bobbing. "Oh! Hello, Ilesyn."
Ilesyn has, by chance, ended up at Thera's table - well, Thera, J'van and Osasune's table, evidently - and hearing Thera's greeting, nods her head sagely, still nudging at her finger without appreciation. "Thera," she notes, quietly, and then, "Osa, too. Good evening."
J'van raises a brow at Osasune, then grins at Thera as he slips into a seat, digging into his meal "Exactly - It's the Weyrs...and since I'm Weyrleader, that means it's more mine than hers." He jerks his head in the bluerider's direction, although his expression suggests he's teasing. He looks over as Jalis comes in, one brow raising at her...listing position "You feeling alright, Weyrwoman?" is called in smirking tones - he can bet she is, if she's plastered against a bronzerider.
Tarrant enters a few long seconds after Jalis and C'daer, beads of sweat forming on his forhead and upper lip. He languidly props himself up against the rock wall near the exit/entrance to the Bowl, and gazes about the room. "Hi," he murmurs softly, keeping himself physically seperate from people.
C'daer, in contrast, is alternating between bright red and very pale, hesitating and faltering in his movements. Jalis leaning up against him produces other noticable signs, including boggling eyes, his hand suddenly clutching at her arm, and his forehead popping out sweat beads.
Osasune glances about, her fishroll chewing slowing down. "Umn. Is everyone... alright?"
Maykara wanders into the caverns, oblivious to any odd behaviours from anyone considering she just arrived. That - and Kara was never too attentive. Giving a bit of a half wave to those nearest her, followed by a warm smile, she briskly walks over to pour herself a mug of klah.
Thera laughs softly to J'van's comment. "You'd better watch what you say, Weyrleader, us females outnumber you men in the room. There may be an uprising," she teases with a smile and then peers around the room. "Well, at least we did a moment ago," she frowns, the her face brightens again. Very much so in fact. "Maykara! Come over here and keep us company!" She calls to her friend. "Hello," she calls with an off-shooted smile to Tarrant. Then, her eyes dim for a moment before going wide, and the bluerider shakes her head slowly.
Jalis clings to poor C'daer's arm, unknowing of his emotions, too focused on her own. "I'm just fine. Better than fine." She smiles too widely and pushes off from C'daer to saunter toward J'van. She wraps her arms around his shoulders as she presses the full length of her body against the Weyrleader's. She smiles up into his face, and with a girlish laugh she says, "Hello there." A coy lift of her shoulder sends hair tumbling from it to tangle down her back. "Can you hold me for a bit? My knees don't seem to work today."
Osasune smiles nervously at Maykara, waving a fishroll at her.
Kvysath> You head westwards to the Weyr corrals and feeding pens.
Tarrant keeps on observing, though he can't be as disinterested as he normally would like to. The sight of Jalis plying her wiles on J'van elicits an inner raction, which is quickly grasped and strangled. Not a hint of his inner struggle shows on the hunter's face.
J'van wings over the feeding grounds, bronze hide flashing in the weak sunlight, the chill of winter obviously not bothering him in the slightest as he drops onto a fat buck, rending its neck with a neat, efficient movement and suckling the warm vutae with single-minded purpose, driven on by an instinct older than time.
Maykara can't help but looks a bit puzzled now, as she notices Jalis's interesting behaviour. But she quickly turns her attention towards Thera as her name is called. "Thera! Hey, it's been awhile since I've seen you! Company? Sure." Even as she speaks, she begins to walk towards where the bluerider is sitting, waving back to Osasune and smiling again, "Hello to you as well." she says, eyeing the fishroll a bit. "Fishrolls good today?"
Kvysath> Perymith wings in from the southeastern sky.
Ilesyn's eyes lift, attention drawn away from her hand, which is flexed thoughtfully, to regard the various riders about the caverns, considering them. "I'd say it's about to start," she comments, to Osasune. "At a guess."
Kvysath> From the Lower Sky, Kourieth wings in from the central sky.
Kvysath> Kourieth wings in from the southeastern sky.
J'van let's out a snort at Thera's words "I'm not afraid of you" he says teasingly, sending a smile Ilesyn's way before his gaze once again finds Jalis - and stays there as he chews thoughtfully, watching her and C'daer.
Osasune hiccups, putting down her fishroll. "What's about to - uh - the - a mating flight?"
Kvysath> Dgeth approaches from the southwest bowl.
C'daer wanders, dazed, towards the serving tables and the wine. After procuring one glass, he reconsiders and pours himself another; with a wineglass stem in each hand, he peers about the room, appearing nearsighted in his squinting.
Jalis looks perplexed, "You're not afraid of who?" She smacks J'van lightly with one hand as she clings to him. "Help me out here." She murmurs to him as she gains her feet. "Stupid knees." Then she smiles as she turns her smack into a slow caress of the Weyrleader's chest. "Mmmm." She says warmly.
Kvysath> Perymith sweeps into the grounds, dusky winsg outstretched to catch the air curents and slow his descent. Talons flash out and clutch close on a beast, killing it with a single convulsive grip. Setling down, he feeds delicately, eyes whirling as he surverys the field, wings hunched forward as if to ward others off his kill.
Kvysath> Kvysath spirals downwards, cinnamon-touched brown wings furling about him as he swoops towards the herds with eyes that whirl violet - steadily increasing their speed as he lashes out towards the nearest beasts with hungry passion. His talons, long and slender, go snicker-snack as with a single motion he eviscerates a tender buck, crimson sanguine dripping about the polished browns of his hide as he fuels his initial hunger, ever waiting for the more overpowering that is to come.
Ilesyn returns J'van's smile steadily, although it's not without a quirk of her own making, even as she agrees to Osasune with a light wave of her hand, "Certainly looks that way. Should be an interesting show - a good education for you, no doubt."
Kvysath> Bronze Dgeth soars into the unfamiliar feeding grounds, shadow looming over the terrified herdbeasts. He lances downward, striking a particularly juicy looking buck, and lands to tear its throat out viciously. Blood sprays over grass and hide and carcass, and he lowers his head to sup on his prey.
S'vilen ambles in from the inner cavern.
Osasune hunches in her chair. "Good... education. Right."
J'van licks his lips, his eyes distant for a moment as if he's elsewhere, before he seems to realize who is plastered against him. He reaches for the weyrwoman, laughing at her words "No, Thera - I'm not afraid of her...or any woman, for that matter." He notes, pulling the Weyrwoman onto his lap and off her feet - since they aren't holding her all that well anyway. "There...is that better?" he flashes Osa a grin "It seems as if it might be. Rasnauth says Ceristh will wake soon, Jalis." This back to the weyrwoman, of course "He bloods."
S'vilen comes skidding in from the inner caverns, more or less dripping, his cream-colored shirt clinging and only half-fastened, the vest nowhere to be seen at all. Boots dangle from one hand, and the other scrubs a towel over his wet hair. At least his trousers are on straight.
Jalis pages to Osasune, S'vilen, Ilesyn, J'van and C'daer: Ceristh slowly awakens, the formlessness of her dream fades away and her awareness ranges outwards, touching upon the other dragons. Hunger is foremost in her mind, iritation coupling with it as her attention turns on the feeding grounds and senses the activity therein. With a mighty roar she clambers out to the edge of her ledge and springs up into the sky, the cold day's sunlight shining on her russet gold hide. Through the crisp, clear day she soars, winging through the bowl high overhead as she makes her way toward the feeding pen.
Never mind that man at the exit. Tarrant just watches more bronzers keep poring in, blotting at his face with a handkerchief.
Kvysath> Kourieth drops easily on cool winds, waiting for the herd to stampede his way before descending within reach of them. Patience nets him a crazed-eyed wherry who ran the wrong way, and he settles down for blood.
Kvysath> Ceristh wings in from the southeastern sky.
Kvysath> Dgeth raises his head to roar to greet the gold, blood dripping from his muzzle as he does so. He spreads great bronze wings, fanning them out to show he is ready to fly. He only preens for a moment, however, before another fat buck attracts his attention. One forearm swings out to rake open the beast, spewing entrails out out over the grass. He dips his head to drink again.
A rider with a 'Reaches shoulder knot stumbles into the living cavern, shrugging out of his jacket and breathing heavily, his eyes unfocused. "T'ric, bronze Dgeth's," he rasps dazedly.
Kvysath> Kvysath, with muzzle bedecked in blood - adding another depth to the richness of brown hide - lifts his head up to watch Ceristh's gleaming presence above, Dgeth's roar echoed within his own melodic rumble of challenge and desire. He burrows deep within his carcass, drawing out every last strain of filling blood, dropping the corpse absently as he rises up for a second, hunting with absolute attention.
Kvysath> Rasnauth sends a warning rumble towards a younger bronze who comes too close, flinging away the blooded carcass of the buck to snag another with that selfsame quick efficiency, although he pauses before burying his muzzle in his fresh kill, head turned towards the direction of the weyrleaders' weyrs and an exultant croon escaping. She comes. He rips out the buck's throat, his hunger gaining in veracity.
Kvysath> Perymith makes his second kills as quick and clean as the first, lifting his head before he takes any blood from it, to watch Ceristh and then to snort at the messiness of the fellow bronze. When he lowers his head to drnk again, his teeth neetly part the skin of the animal, letting its blood flow free to be lapped up carefully.
Kvysath> Ceristh soars overhead, wings held wide as she hovers just above. Golden neck snakes downwards as she curves her body to gaze upon the pens below. She trumpets loudly, a challenge to those within -- dragon and beast before diving down in a stoop of hunter seeking prey. The wind whistles past her body as she sweeps into the pen, low over the beasts. With a roar she lands upon a fat herdbeast, claws sinking deeply into flesh, weight cracking the spine of her kill. She proclaims her mastery, wings mantling as she starts to sink her teeth into the flesh of the dead beast.
Daer sinks into a chair, carefully balancing his drinks. One's disposed of quite quickly and the glass passed away, but the other he holds and savors, as his gaze savors Jalis' looks from a distance.
Thera shakes her head to J'van. "Oh, we're quite evil is the word about the Weyr," she grins, then turns to Osasune with a warning glance. "If this is your first time at a Weyr during this and you're sensitive to the things, I suggest that you get into the dormitories, as they can get pretty intense." Thera's amber eyes turn to S'vilen with an amused grin. "Would you like some help, Siv?" She queries with a bit of a chuckle to her voice. "Fort's duties," she calls after a calm sip of klah and a pause.
Jalis breathes in deeply, her copper lashes fluttering closed for a moment before they open wide. "Oh dear." She says in a pant and pushes awkwardly from J'van's lap. "Its time." She nearly falls as she tries to gain her feet. Her lips move soundlessly, or near enough. Anyone really close can hear "Only the blood Ceristh. Only the blood." in a harsh and breathless pant.
Kvysath> Kourieth's eyes spin with quicker speed as Ceristh makes her appearance; he watches only sideways, however, not lifting his head from his kill. When it's finished - and he's quick about it - he pounces with half-spread wings on a herdbeast.
Osasune launches a trepidatious look Thera's way. "I'm, I'm - if I'm going to live here, I have to - get... used to it, don't I?"
S'vilen relaxes as he sees Jalis still here, and apparently distracted by J'van. Pulling in a deep breath, he glances towards Thera and lets it out again. "Think I can manage, now," he says tersely, settling down on a convenient chair to stuff his bare feet into his boots with a nervous glance at Jalis.
J'van knows its time, and makes no attempt to hold Jalis as she rises, although a hand comes out to steady her initially so she doesn't fall. Then he reaches for his klah mug, his meal forgotten as he licks his lips again, then tries to wash the bitter taste of blood from his mouth - it never works, of course, but that doesn't stop him from trying. HIs eyes remain on Jalis now, although he is distracted by Thera's words briefly "What? Oh...yes. Evil." He agrees, before going right back to Jalis-gazing, as if he's never seen her before.
Kvysath> Dgeth screams out again, fanning his wings. His head sways from side to side for a long moment before he twists about and lunges for a squealing porcine, seizing the beast in his jaws and shaking his head violently 'til its bones rattle all out of their sockets.
Jalis stumbles past S'vilen and nearly falls into him. She clings to his arm and looks up at him, giving him a hesitant smile. A seductive quirk of her lip and she says "Oh good. You're here S'vilen. I was worried, but Perymith is there." She gives him a stroke of a heated palm against his arm. Then she pushes away and trips a few more feet toward the bowl.
"Osa will do fine," insists Ilesyn, with a lazy drawl, picking up on the conversation between Thera and Osasune. "As I said, it'll be good for her." She reclines, eyeing up the various riders consideringly, a wink of one eye to any who catch her gaze, ever obliging.
T'ric, the rider from 'Reaches, finds a wall and leans against it, head turned toward Jalis, eyes appraising without quite seeing her.
Tarrant wouldn't dare Jalis-gaze as direstly as J'van is. He'll just content himself with peering at the lovely Weyrwoman from under long lashes.
Kvysath> Kvysath would not dare to doubt Ceristh's mastery - were it his right, he would proclaim it to all reaches of Pern, for she has captured his desires, and it is for her that blood stains maw, running in dark rivulets down muzzle, and lower still. His wings outstretch, as if to flaunt his own prowess - large for a brown, long and slender, wings wide enough to carry his queen wherever she may wish to go. He flutes a soft greeting, not waiting for an answer as he bloods once more, feasting upon the joint banquet of Ceristh and blood, one increasing the delight of the other.
Thera gazes warily at Ilesyn and then moves her gaze down to Osasune. "Do as you wish, but do realize that there will only be one winner, and the rest of the men will come in here seeking..well, relief, shall we say. If you don't want to be caught up in such matters, you may be wish to dash out as soon as the flight ends," she advises, watching Jalis as she exits.
Kvysath> Ceristh obeys either instinct or the mumblings of her rider as her jaws tear at her prey's throat. Blood quickly pumps forth and she drinks it up, savouring its liquid energy -- the fuel for her desire. Her hide's subtle glow grows in proportion, brightening into a soft luminescense clearly visible even in the daylight. She lifts a muzzle stained crimson from the drained and slack carcass to observe the field. A coy glance around her takes in the bulk of every male, bronze and bround that hem her in. She snorts and tossing her head takes to the air for but a moment as she launches toward another fat buck. Her skill takes it down quickly and she hunches over it's warm and steaming body, drinking.
Osasune's head bobs, and she murmurs, "I-I'll... well. I'll manage."
Kvysath> Perymith takes his time with the herbeast he brought down, making sure every usable drop of blood has been drained from its body. Dark wings fan open, sending a gust of wing rippling over the grass as he rises onto his haunches, head turning first towards Ceristh, and then towards the remaining animals. The muscles of his hind quarters quiver, and then he launches into the air, arrowing after a final skinny herdbeast, killing it with a neat crack of its neck as he lands over it.
Jalis walks off westwards to the center bowl.
C'daer makes a strangled sound, leaves his wineglass to spill on the table, and hurries after the Weyrwoman.
C'daer walks off westwards to the center bowl.
J'van raises his head to watch Ceristh's arrival with a hint of possessiveness, the second carcass discarded without a second thought as his eyes are full of the brilliantly glowing gold. He sends a soft, encouraging croon her way, then almost absentmindely launches a short distance and lands on a wherry, rending its flesh to get at its hot blood, and then supping on the liquid repast with obvious enjoyment and that continued hunger, his movements automatic as he keeps his attention on Ceristh.
S'vilen stops fumbling the laces of his boot tight to grab at Jalis as, of course, just steady her. As she pulls away, he rises and follows after, never mind that his laces aren't tied yet. As he passes Thera and Osasune, his towel slips from his shoulder to the ground and he walks on without it.
S'vilen walks off westwards to the center bowl.
Osasune's eyes pop wide, wide open as S'vilen passes.
J'van tosses back the rest of his klah almost without thought before setting the mug aside - barely hitting the table with it - and stands, all forgotten except Jalis, whom he follows out the door without a backward glance.
J'van walks off westwards to the center bowl.
Kvysath> A careless talon looses blood bfore Kourieth was ready for it: in aggravation he releases a snarl and clamps his mouth on the scarlet wound of the paralyzed herdbeast. His eyes shift, red-violet violet-red, as he catches sight of Ceristh between milling chasers and prey.
T'ric sways away from his wall, moving to follow the Weyrwoman with the others.
T'ric heads out westwards to the center bowl.
Tarrant shakes his head, clearing it a bit, as he watches the bronzers and browriders leave. Still is he unmoving, except for his dark, dark blue eyes, which flick over everyone in the cavern.
Kvysath> Dgeth brutally savages the dead porcine, tearing it apart and flinging it onto the ground. His tounge slides out to begin lapping up the blood; he tilts his head, straining to suck on an artery that's still spurting great red gouts of blood.
Kvysath> Kvysath flares his wings, propelling himself towards the final dish of his appetiser - a fat beast whose frightened squeals last into the busy air, seeming to linger even after the actual sound has dissapated. He hunkers down, feeding with gusto, though eyes - every watchful - lift to regard his queen with eager ambition, wing muscles tensed, hide rippling like the finest of sisals, caught almost metallic for the briefest of moments. Again - that melodic, musical croon, softly touching the air as he drains his last, droplets of blood dripping down towards the ground, forgotten.
Thera reaches down to snatch S'vilen's towel from the ground and shakes her head. "Bronzeriders will be bronzeriders, and some of the other men will do the same thing." She grins softly, before murmuring. "Hush, love." To apparently no one. "Are you still evaluating the lives of the Weyr, Ilesyn? Or have you and Avila stopped that research?"
"I'm not sure about Avila," says Ilesyn, cheerfully, "But I could never cease what I consider to be my life's work. I'm a Mindhealer, after all. Unlike Avila, I scrutinize people for my career." She sucks on her thumb, wrinkling her nose, then waving the digit about, idly, before returning it to her mouth.
Kvysath> Ceristh stomps on her latest corpse of a beast, grounding it into the cold dirt. She licks her muzzle, cleaning away hot blood that has chilled in the wind. It seems she is not quite sated as she leaps for another herdbeast, talons raking flesh as she gives the animal no chance for escape. She pulls it toward her breast, jaws ripping out its bleating throat. It cries no more as she delicately feasts upon it's lifeblood. Gold and glowing, she seems to grow larger with each drink she takes before the fullness of the energy within overwhelms her and she tosses the beast away with a full throated bellow. Her wings snap out, slicing like blades through the sky, her tail whipping in a fury at her haunches as she takes a few ground eating steps before launching skywards. The air calls to her now, its voice siren. She screams again, joy ringing through those sonorous tones as she expresses her delight in being finally airborne.
Kvysath> Perymith was nearly done with this kill, and when Ceristh takes to the skies, he discards the remains without hesitation. A small bronze firelizard ventures to it once the dragon is gone, settling down to feast on the carcass which, except for the missing blood, is completely intact. Hindquarters bunch and flex as his wings sweep down, pulling powerfully into the air after Cresith.
Kvysath> Dgeth's attention snaps up off the porcine; it is abandoned, and he is crouching down, muscles contracting before he leaps into the sky after the glowing queen. He roars again to her, crying out his warning, affirming that he will chase and have her even as his bronze wings spread. Surging upward, he follows.
Kvysath> Kourieth tears up red-ripped flesh as he lifts jaw from corpse and body from ground with powerful muscle strokes; he quickens rising, hoping for advantage over those older and larger.
Kvysath> Kvysath hunches, muscles bunching in a rapid ripple of radiant browns, a powerful push drawing him up from the ground, wings unfurling to carry him aloft with graceful poise. His soft warble greets Ceristh's screams, as upwards he climbs, reaching higher with wings outstretched.
Thera chuckles softly, and then waves her over with one hand. "Then, come. Advise me on a little issue I'm debating," she requests as she takes another long drink of klah from her steaming mug.
Ilesyn tilts her head to the side, leaning forward, "Go on, Thera. I'm listening."
Osasune glances about, blinking. She hesitantly picks up another fishroll and nibbles on it.
Kvysath> Ceristh's wings thrust fiercely into the sky as she gains height against the cold, whipping breezes that flail through the Fortian skies. She climbs high over the caldera of Fort's bowl, escaping into the empty, partially clouded skies. Never does she look behind, or to either side as she concentrates only on getting up into the air. The bitter wind caresses her flanks, welcoming her into their embrace. With a dragon's pleasure in the flight, she does a barrel roll as soon as she gains the height for it, turning toward the right and soaring toward Fort's Hold. With the ground-eating speed she's using to devour the miles between her and her objective, she'll gain that fortress soon enough. Meanwhile, she uses every free opportunity to show off her skill. Quick turns, shallow, gliding dives and then quick climbs all designed as a tribute.
Finally in full control of himself, Tarrant offhandedly sunters to the serving table, and pours himself a full mug of fruitjuice, then striding over to sit down across from Ilesyn. He gives the mindhealer a nod and a smile, and sips delicately.
Kvysath> Dgeth spreads his wings wide, tilting to catch a thermal that lifts him upward. He twists out of it, entirely too close to one of the browns, to align himself with his glowing gold prize. The brown shrieks, and Dgeth blasts him with a roar for his impertinence in getting in the bronze's way.
Kvysath> Kvysath gagues Ceristh's movements with a critical eye, responding to them with a reinforced motion-- higher, faster stronger, as the cliche says, ultimately well descriptive of his movements as he rushes through the chilled skies in response to her every move. Barrel rolls he denies himself -- instead, this brown goes for speed, although there's no doubt that Her skills are appreciated, as he pushes for the most direct path to her, swooping through the skies at great speed, honing himself.
Kvysath> Perymithwings draw him along powerfully, cutting through the air with a whisper of wind on each beat. He hangs back for now, biding his time as he sets his pace, dipping to avoid the turbulance of a bronze ahead.
Kvysath> Kourieth 's smaller size may lend him advantage in a flight for a younger queen -- but for Ceristh's speed and experience, his endurance steadily flags away. The sudden turn of a brown just beside him catches Kourie unawares; the two collide, and though no serious injuries will come of the pair that tumbles downward until separated enough to spread wings fully again, the flight's far outflown them by then.
Kvysath> Rasnauth flies steadily in the face of each of Ceristh's quixotic and acrobatic maneuvers, his wings moving steadily - his movements are smooth and graceful yet without flair, not expending any energy on doing more than simply keeping pace and trailing the queen as she tries out her wings, tastes her freedom. Now is not the time, after all, to rein her in, but rather to let her revel in who and what she is - soon enough will be time to draw close and tame her movements - if he can. Confidence, however, seems to create a nimbus around him - having won her before, he has all intentions of doing so again.
Thera smiles softly as she leans forward, putting the weight of her arms onto the wood. "Let's say you have a large liking for a particular man, and you know he has a large amount of affection for you. However, he's not the type to commit to much of anyone and he does have his share of enjoyed women besides yourself. One of them happens to be weyrmated, however, and isn't a non-professional relationship. You speak to him rather often, but as for personal closeness, most of it tends to be sexual. He happens to be," she smiles and tilts her head non-chalantly, "very good at such things, but you're worried that you'll become uninteresting because of that." She leans back in her chair and frowns, before taking another sip of klah. "I'm debating if that's all right with me, or if I should just watch my actions and not be so...avid, shall we say?"
Osasune turns quite pink, peering at Thera with wide, wide eyes.
Ilesyn resettles her rear within her seat, listening to Thera's explanation without a change in her expression; indeed, she seems downright blase about it, almost entirely impassive. "Well," she begins, "not knowing exactly which rider you mean, I can't say that you're making it very easy for me. In your position, however," continues the Mindhealer, tracing one finger lazily over the grain of the wood in the table, "I should do my best to ensure that things remained interesting, however possible. For myself, though, I'd probably just find a backup, just in case. There's no need to stick with one man, after all." Osa's expression draws a brief smile, even as she nods in return to Tarrant.
Kvysath> Ceristh quickly approaches Fort Hold and the Harper and Healer Halls spread out over the ground below. She seems content to hold her straight flight until she abruptly swoops toward the fireheights, looking as if for all the world she might crash into them. Her dive brings her closer and closer before she suddenly snaps out her wings and climbs again, pushing off with one clawed hind-foot back into the sky. A quick pivot -- as fast as any dragon as large as Ceristh is, can make and she's loops around the Hold and heads back toward the Weyr. A trill issues from her throat, an almost laughing rumble that jests with the males she obviously knew where in pursuit.
Thera lifts her brows at Ilesyn. "But you see, there's the issue that I'm not attracted to any other male in the Weyr. If there's two things I'm picky with in life, it's food and lovers." She turns to Tarrant with a smile. "Sorry for the girl talk Tarra-" Then, she catches a look at Osasune and bursts out laughing. "Sorry, I do tend to be rather blunt," she chuckles furtherly before continuing. "Sorry for the girl talk, Tarrant." Then, her amber optics shift to Ilesyn again. "If you think it will help, I can tell you his name, but if you tell anyone, I have the right to give Rilareth the go-ahead to eat you. Though some already know who it is," she states.
Kvysath> Kvysath finds it difficult to match that turn in ease and grace, though he's no clutz-- around the fireheights, and back again, straight on until morning if that's what Ceristh desires. He fumbles in his turn, wings very nearly clipping against the Hold building as he flies too close, losing him valuable time in the race to end all races. He surges upwards, attempting to regain lost ground, though his rhythm has been interrupted, and it is a struggle.
Kvysath> Dgeth pulls his wings in to dive after Ceristh. He is the puppet, she pulls his strings and he follows, screaming over the fireheights thoughtlessly. He doesn't react so quickly when the gold rises again, and it takes him precious seconds to fling his wings out again to thrash them with an odd sort of rhythm.
Osasune hunches lower in her seat. "E-eat her? Oh. Oh, um. Well, um. What if - are there any women who, um, interest you?" Someone's bravely trying to do that Weyr life thing.
Kvysath> Rasnauth lets out a rebuking bugle at Ceristh's risky maneuver with the fire heights, his own dive shallow so that as she turns back towards the Weyr he follows more quickly, leaving a few of the browns behind and overtaking a bronze, that much closer to his goal, wings pumping strongly to keep up with the larger, glowing form.
"M'ial," says Ilesyn, at last, in a loud voice. "I'll bet it is. I remember--" she has a knowing smile, cemented into place upon her lips. "Ah, never mind what I remember. I suppose this means you'll have to have Rilareth eat me, although everyone knows a Mindhealer doesn't gossip about what she knows." Her gaze twitches, approvingly, at Osasune's comment. "I'm impressed. There is that option, yes, Thera, or you just need to figure out new ways to keep him occupied. Interested."
Kvysath> Perymith begins to build speed, each mighty stroke of his wings propelling him forward with more force. He overtakes one smaller bronze, not even appearing to notice the other's hiss in his direction.
Tarrant grins at Thera, a bit wolfishly, too. "Never mind me. It's interesting chatter, not silly at all." The heat that had been in his eyes has mostly faded, though it's embers still echo inthe back of dark eyes.
"M-M'ial?" Osa echoes, grimacing faintly. "He's not so - um - well."
Thera nearly spits out her klah, as that comment caught her in mid-sip. She doesn't however, but does come out coughing. "Farath, no!" She shouts, a break between the words as one hand flies to her chest in attempt to redraw in air.
Kvysath> Ceristh decides to take the opportunity to twist her neck slightly and get a good look behind her. Apparently, what she sees isn't much to her liking! Those males weren't left so far behind as she would of liked. And: taking time to look just wasted precious time and speed. With a sharp hiss of disappointment she twists her head back in its proper direction and goes full out. Her wings push through the air strenuously, thrusting to either side with a furious will. Gone is the pleasure in this flight -- now all that matters is to get away -- she's not ready to be caught just yet. She doesn't look behind or around now as she turns into a golden arrow shooting straight for Fort Sea Hold and the vicious, wind-wipped waves where perhaps she hopes to distract the males still concentrated upon her.
Thera nearly spits out her klah, as that comment caught her in mid-sip. She doesn't however, but does come out coughing. "Farath, no!" She shouts, a break between the words as one hand flies to her chest in attempt to redraw in air. "Do you actual think I did..." she seems to search the air around her for words. "-That- with M'ial?" She demands. "You may remember incidences from my weyrlinghood, but that's past now. I don't know what I was thinking there." The bluerider shakes her head. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with him as a person, he's just not my type of man." She smiles to Osasune. "My taste has yet to extend to females, I tend to be affectionate with my good friends at times, but it's hardly romantic. But, in the future, who knows?" She shakes her head.
Kvysath> Dgeth dives again, bronze body reflecting in the waves as they toss below the flight. He's slowing, though - it's been a long day of messenger duty and hops /between/, and he cannot last. He will not catch. He bellows his frustration, still following, still straining, but he is dropping behind the other bronzes, back with the browns.
Kvysath> Perymith cuts right in front of another bronze, the movement throwing off the other dragon enough to make him lose lengths of advantage. Spurred on by that brief faltering, the older bronze passes another and wings in, trying to entwine the gold with his tail and gentle talons.
Kvysath> Kvysath pushes for Ceristh, diving downwards from above in his last ditch attempt to ensnare her before he drops too far behind - he's losing ground, just not quite able to keep going properly. Down, down, down, towards the waves as she, too, dives towards the waves - she is his siren, and her call is impossible to ignore, and thus, with tail outstretched, neck ready to twine, he pushes for her, tempting and hoping in his long-lasting reach for glory.
Ilesyn's expression seems entirely too satisfied; either she's perfectly happy at being wrong, thanks to the result, or intended it this way, and it's difficult to tell either way. "S'vilen, perhaps," she muses instead, a wicked gleam to her eyes. "Not so what, Osa?"
Kvysath> Rasnauth is tired of chasing, even if Ceristh isn't quite done fleeing as yet. As if sensing the direction she will go, and her need to get away from the males following, he turns an instant before her and then adds on speed, swooping up from below with neck outstretched, wings pumping to move him away from the pack and into Ceristh's direct line of flight, intent on entwining her in his bronze embrace and make her his - again.
Osasune pauses. "Not so... good a... choice. Or something. I don't know."
"Nice, perhaps?" Tarrant murmurs to Ilesyn, an dgoes back to his drinking.
Osasune flushes as Tarrant speaks up.
Thera smiles with some bit of amusement in her voice as she asks: "What makes you thing that, Osasune?" Then, the bluerider turns to her drinking. "The main problem I have with M'ial is that he tends to sit around, cry about life, and be extremely negative about nothing. The only thing that's really Impressed me about him is that he Impressed, that was a good move on his part. He could be a perfectly good man if Xinth could help him out. But then, I haven't talk to him as recent, so who knows?" She shakes her head then pauses long to look at Ilesyn, hand poised gripping her mug. "How'd you guess?"
Kvysath> Ceristh is fleeing, the distant seashore in sight, the goal almost attained when she's surprised by the sudden slide of flesh against flesh as a tail locks around hers and arms of dragonish proportion grasp her body. The shock of it stills her for but a moment, allowing the male to get a better hold against her. Then she flails -- halfheartedly, she knows she's caught but she must make the effort. However, Rasnauth is unshakeable and effort aborted she submits. Her head rubs against his neck as she gives in with a soft, subtle and throaty croon. Wings oustretched, she soars with her mate, drifting through the sky within his embrace, her emotions naught but lust and desire as these needs are met and matched.
Kvysath> Kvysath trumpets his disappointment, the sound echoing across the sky as downwards he wings, returning to the weyr at no rapid pace. Not this time, perhaps, but next--? Ah, yes. Next time she /will/ be his.
Kvysath> Perymith pulls up abruptly and turns, already on his way back as Ceristh croons, not a sound nor sign of his disappoinment.
Kvysath> Perymith wings onwards to the northeastern sky.
Kvysath> Dgeth roars again, wheeling away as the queen is caught. His speed drops as he feels the strain of all this sharply. He goes back to the Weyr.
Kvysath> Rasnauth responding croon is all male triumph as he entwines Ceristh more tightly, his wings extending to their fullest to help the queen sustain their flight and keep from dropping too quickly as he presses close, merging bronze and gold together in that time-honored dance, all else forgotten for that moment but his mate and his own lust.
"M'ial... could use my assistance, if only he would let me help," agrees Ilesyn. "I'm not a fan of the man, I must say. He seems to consistantly believe that he knows better than I do, even about my own subject area. I know I'm not perfect, but honestly." Her tone absolutely radiates disapproval. "How did I know? Call it the reading of body language, Thera, and the fact that it just seemed slightly obvious, from his reputation."
Osasune pauses, and then asks, "Why guess M'ial first, then?"
Ilesyn hesitates, nodding slowly towards Osasune and Tarrant. "Oh. I see. Perhaps, perhaps."
Tarrant blinks and looks up from his empty mug. His head cocks at outside sounds, and then turns back to the women. "Mati is a bit self-absorbed, yes." Nothing else is said.
Osasune fidgets, picking apart a fish roll on her plate.
Thera tilts her head agreeably to Ilesyn. "That he could, but M'ial creates for himself what he does, but let's not get me started on M'ial. Word tends to get around and holding a M'ial-attacking fest is not the best way to go, because he'll just wind up more negative." She shakes her head, then arches her brows at Ilesyn. "And what do you have logged as Siv's reputation?" She queries.
Ilesyn winks, turning her head so that she faces Osasune, if only briefly, "To relax Thera, of course. If I blurted out S'vilen's name in the middle of the caverns, I'd only make her uncomfortable." New found tact? "Besides, M'ial was always a possibility-- I don't keep up with gossip, so I never know whether old flames are still flames, or just ash." She smiles, nodding sagely in Thera's direction. "We'll stick off of that topic, then, although if you ever need to talk about it..." she trails off, winking, "Siv? Well. Hard to say, really - it's just a certain something. A S'vilenishness."
"He dropped is towel earlier," Osa squeaks.
"Siv keeps his own counsel. Restrained but passionate. Workaholic by choice. Old-fashioned in certain ways." Tarrant's comments are quick-fire rapid.
Osasune's cheeks are flaming red. "He has a nice..."
Thera chuckles softly to Ilesyn with a grin. "Trust me, I'll keep you in mind if I need to vent." She grins to Ilesyn and nods. "S'vilenishness...yes, he does have that," she winks, then laughs to Osasune. "He has quite a few things that are nice, but at least he had clothes on when he dropped that towel. A dragon-drugged Weyrsecond wandering naked through the Bowl is the last thing we need right now." She chuckles, the raises her brows at Tarrant with some surprise. "You know him well, and yes, that is exactly how he is. And I suppose that's my problem, he's too commited to work to ever commit to a woman, and I can live with that I suppose." Thera lifts the klah-mug to her chest level and shrugs. "I suppose I just don't like being a man's side-dish is all."
Ilesyn listens to that which Osa and Tarrant comment upon, nodding her head. "I cannot see that the towel incident has any particular relevance to S'vilen's character, but Tarrant, your description seems accurate enough. Reserved, in many ways-- he came, seeking to find out what I could tell him about his flaws, and..." She trails off, shaking her head, interrupted by Osa's statement. "A nice rear?" Hers is a sage nod, Thera's statements drawing further agreement. "Many women do not desire such a position. Perhaps the best idea is to ensure that you keep his interest, and encourage it. Don't play the simpering full, but be dynamic."
Osasune exhales. "Well, say what you want about Holder life - at least people aren't... side dishes as often."
Tarrant nods slightly. "Just observation, Thera. I don't know much more than that about him. Except he can be quite prickly." A little smirk at Ilesyn's words. "Definitely dynamic. And if you get tired of playing second guitar to his work, don't put up with it. Less work on his part, or you will leave. No need to make yourself miserable over a man - even one you really like. Defeats the purpose."
Thera nods softly. "Perhaps I just need to be more prudent with how I spend my time with him to work on things more. I don't think he'll ever settle down into a true relationship, but who knows?" She grins to Tarrant and nods. "Oh, it doesn't make me miserable, if it does that, then I will walk away from it. It just troubles me on occassion." She nods to Osasune. "No, but the Holds do things completely differently, and I like my freedom."
"And there's /always/ another man out there," says Ilesyn, absently, her attention straying from the conversation as her eyes alight upon a flight-lost rider, wobbling into the cavern. He glance at her once, and she smiles, standing. "Exhibit A. Good evening, all." Without a moment of hesitation, the Mindhealer steps up to the brownrider, hustling him out the doorway just as quickly as he begins to hustle her.
You amble westwards to the center bowl.
Posted by Louise at January 29, 2003 11:14 AM