Bring on the Men (Dementia's Maiden Run)

[Requiem]

This is going to be pre-plot. I'd put it off till plot wraps up, but we've got things planned for every weekend up to the salamandyr hatching. ^^;

"That's beginning to get annoying." This one, harperlove. Yesssss. A brow lifted at the short-waisted vest in deep green. "Okay, okay." She stopped tugging at his mind long enough to croon. He reached for a black shirt to wear beneath, only to stop as Dementia growled. Her anger directed at him was odd enough - and he decided he didn't much like it. "Demanding. Tch. It's going to be cold wandering around like that." Not cold...hooot, she purred to him, skittering across the trunk and leaping for the arm he lifted to accomodate her. She coiled against his neck in the nook between neck and shoulder as he pulled on the vest, noting that yes, he really didn't feel cold at all. The snug pants were part of an old costume - he'd normally never be comfortable in them. A scarlet scarf wound round his hips, knee-high boots tugged snug. Glancing at the reflective surface, he scrunched up his nose, tugging at the vest that did nothing to cover his lower abdomen. With the neatly brushed curls caught up in a topknot and tumbling down past his waist, the slender figure definitely screamed feminine. Even his lack of curves and the more masculine features in his face couldn't detract from that impression. "I don't know what your deal is, but this is not comfortable, Men."

She merely crooned and rubbed up against his jaw. Harperlove beautiful. Come, come, must eat, show everyone beautiful harperlove. "I'm telling you right now, this is not turning into a habit." Love harperlove, yes.

It was earlier than they usually went...early enough to still be the middle of dinner for most of the dragonriders. In fact, the dining hall was packed full of people, and Dmitri glided nimbly through the press, perhaps a touch straighter than normal. He felt as if eyes were following him. A small smirk stole over his features, as Dementia leapt to a nearby windowsill, outlined against the darkening sky and ... glowing. Who thinks worthy of Dementia? she broadcasted silkily to all the gathered pets, even the utterly disgusting firelizards. Come, try. Maybe catch, if lucky. She flared her wings to catch the fading light.

Dmitri, who, finding the room stifling, had unlaced his vest so that it now fell open, chose that moment to sit upon the central table near the front. A leg extended, his boot coming to rest underneath the nearest man's chin and urged it up slowly. Half-lidded, his eyes glittered with an animal desire. "Play with me, handsome?" he murmured.

[Rowana]

Farryl was engrossed in conversation and might not even have noticed Dmitri's entrance, if Zellos hadn't decided to notice. Zellos rarely thought anything was worthy of his attention, particularly members of his own kin. He hadn't even bothered with chasing them before. But something about Dementia had caught his attention. Perhaps it was her bold challenge or simply how close she was that made her so tempting. Whatever the reason, Farryl found her gaze drawn almost against her will. She recalled being told that salamandyr's had a powerful effect on their owners during chases, much like dragons. Whoever had told her that was wrong. This wasn't like Peppeth gentle nudges. This was like an onslaught of on her mind.

Zellos rose to his full size on Farryl's shoulder and flared his large wings. He was large for his kind and he knew he was a handsome sight. Was there any doubt? He leaped fearlessly over the heads of diners, his wings catching the air. Zellos always worthy, he declared boldly. His tail curled as he landed on a table just in front of her perch. Dementia think she worthy of Zellos? he asked, his eyes glowing dangerous purple. Let her think he was interested, but he wasn't some lovesick fire lizard. She was a small thing. Maybe she wasn't worth chasing after all. Time would tell.

Farryl rose from her chair and stalked confidently over to Dmitri. Her mind was lost in Zellos's instincts and desires. Hobbs flutter about her head, chirping in distress, but she ignored him. She flick her hair in a huff. Such a silly man. Who was he trying to impress? He had to do better than that to gain her favor.

[Kisha-Ra]

Dash, scamper, scrabble. Follow the shiny one, follow Dementia. The Devil darted from shadow to shadow, blissfully unaware that this did not hide her pale, bright hide in the slightest. In her mind she was hidden, from predators, and from Dementia. The green pause for a moment, letting the gold’s bonded stride ahead, Dementia didn’t like it when she got too close to that one.

Once satisfied that the gold and hers were a safe distance ahead the green took up her following again, sooner or later Dementia was bound to need someone to help her boss the stupid beasts about, those winged uglies for instance, they were annoying, then she’d remember why she needed The Devil, she would. Oh yes The Devil was very important really.

Except that now she was so far behind she’d lost the other salamandyr and- no! Not him! The Devil zipped into the dining hall and darted under a table as she spotted Lao hovering in the main hall, what was he doing there, fool? He’d better not be looking for The Devil or he’d get more Devil than he could handle! The green flared her frill at someone’s boot to emphasise her thought and clambered up the table leg. Here queenie, queenie!

Ah! There! Lao turned sharply as he spotted a none too well concealed blur of mint green vanishing into the dining hall. That was probably The Devil herself. She was lost, naturally, Lao seemed to be the only green who could keep track of Yoalla for some reason, well apart from Yosk but she was bigger. At least The Devil was easy to find again, wherever he saw the mean gold salamandyr, the horrible green wasn’t far away. Now where had she gone? Lao was beginning to hate this room, even though it was always filled with food, it was just too easy to lose silly greens in here.

Dementia worthy. Lucky. Devil lucky The simpering tone of The Devil’s words said se noticed the gold standing before the window but where could she be? And why was that gold shining so brightly, didn’t she know it would soon be Lao’s turn to glow?

Lucky, lucky Devil. Dementia. The green continued, borrowing the gold’s words to compliment her as the green strutted proudly across a nearby table, her violet eyes making her intentions toward the gold clear.

Lao nearly crashed into some unusually tall person’s head as he stared at The Devil in amazement. She was going to chase the pretty mean gold? But greens couldn’t chase! The confused bronze looped over the scene, he should take The Devil away, clearly she wasn’t well, greens like them couldn’t fly with golds. But Dementia did look pretty, well if The Devil could be a chaser then clearly Lao could too. It must be different for salamandyrs.

[Ember]

The main hall proved interesting that day. The blue's tiny claws curled against the edge of his hiding spot as he watched the two legged stupids. They often disgusted him which made him glad he was very rarely bothered by any of them. Why they'd want to talk to a salamandyr he had no idea. Most of them weren't the best company to others than their chosen ones, or so he'd noticed. He put it down as their continued unintelligence. Up until that point the busy hour of the hall wasn't anything different from the usual.

Then Dementia and Hers entered. His head came up higher as he realized something was different. She was glowing. He was no bronze to be automatically drawn to a running queen. When he got up and scurried out of his hiding place it was because he'd chosen to. He felt his chosen mindmate stir in the darkness of his room and for a moment the blue paused, considering the goldhandler's reaction. At least the big gold was still asleep. She would likely eat him for 'taking' Hers if she'd been awake. Nocturne forged on through the mass of feet until he reached the table Zellos was on.

Once he'd scarmbled up the table he turned his slanted purple eyes on gold expectantly. No noisy chatter from him. When he spoke to others it was usually to snipe at them. His presence was enough. The blue was resistant to runs in general. Clingy, annoying greens didn't suit him at all. Dementia was hardly clingy to others, which was why he was willing to chase her at all. Despite the close quarters of the wherhandler apartments she was likely to mostly leave him alone and that suited him perfectly.

Eikane blinked sleep out of his eyes and glanced down at his gold wher. So he hadn't been woken up by her, then who...? Nocturne. The handler often forgot that the salamandyr was a creature that would participate in runs too. It wasn't entirely his fault. He'd never shown interest before. He continued to sit there and blink for a few moments as Nocturne's emotions settled over him. It wasn't too intense. They had a close enough bond that it ought to have been but his salamandyr wasn't prone to losing his head entirely.

Eikane stumbled out of his quarters aware of which mandyr was running but it didn't seem to matter. He knew who he was headed to and while there was a small amount of horror his desire overrode it. Eikane shielded his eyes as the setting sun illuminated the world outside. Too bright. The light revealed his appearance more clearly. Mussed hair, bare chest, long white slacks. He was normally so careful of his appearance but as he headed to the main hall he didn't care.

[rii]

Feh.

Guru watched from across the dining room as he munched from an unattended bowl of meat. His tail lazily swept back and forth across the table in a subconscious effort to seek out a hold on the flat surface. The gold's broadcast question earned a snort of disinterest from the bronze salamandyr. She was okay looking – but that clearly was only because of her glowing hide.

Stuffing a last piece of food into his mouth, Guru quickly picked his way down the middle of the table – sprinting around plates and glasses before he made it to the end the other chasers were convening. No, he wasn't chasing – tch, as if. Guru angled himself from Dementia's gaze, languidly stretching out across the table in a cattish fashion so his handsome coloration of light bronze and soft gold tones were on display.

Think more worthy? Guru directed the rhetorical question at Zellos. His jagged frill flared briefly at the.. thing.. with humor. Flitter-flat think he be the one chased? Gold not chasing you.[/color]

The blue salamandyr that had arrived was dismissed. A blue couldn't compare to a bronze. Silly of him to try really. But Guru wouldn't detour Nocture. Oh no, he encouraged others to make a fool of themselves – gave him something to mock when he would likely get bored. Then the green arrived..

Devil dumb. Lucky if not completely dumb.

Green chasing a gold, the flitter-mandyr-thing thought he was the one the chasers should vie for attention from, and the blue thought.. he was worth anything (Fire lizards were ignored as a general rule). Guru's tail curled through the air as he looked toward Dementia. Clearly she had to see how pathetic her suitors were? He was the only one around not out of reasoning. You know, he'd chase... if no others showed up... and he had to... of course.

Back in his room, Quintrell turned over in his bed muttering incoherently about 'stupids'.

[kat]

Maya usually didn't notice too many of the handlers who were within the Weyr. It was probably because they kept later hours, and the fact that she was still a candidate--for a dragon, not a wher. However, for some reason unknown at first to her, she noted when Dmitri entered the dining hall that day. In a moment, she realized that it wasn't really herself that had noticed at all. In fact, it was Zexion, who had, up until then, been perched on her shoulder, head on his forelegs. Now, he had his head upright, and was looking straight at Dmitri. Only what was so interesting about the boy that Zex would stare so...uh oh.

Maya didn't know much about 'mandyrs beyond what she'd experienced first hand with her own bronze. Zexion, big for even a bronze, was a very cocky, overconfident and witty little thing. She could never figure out if the bronze was brilliant or wherry brained. She supposed it depended on the situation, and right now? She felt as though the room had suddenly risen in temperature--significantly so. Then it hit her, because she was all of a sudden all too aware of Zexion's mood. The boy had come into the hall with a gold 'mandyr, and she was positively glowing. Maya paled, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but here. She stood up, pushing her plate back,and tried to remember just to inhale and exhale. However, before she even finished standing, her bronze 'mandyr had leaped from his spot, darted across the tabletop, and flung himself into midair, gliding to the ground and then darting towards Dmitri and his gold.

The gold had other ideas, and was up on a windowsill, flaring her brilliant wings, and Maya was no longer watching that gold all of a sudden. Her eyes were on the boy, whose age she wasn't sure of but who couldn't have been too far in age difference to herself. His vest, which she was sure had been laced up when he'd come in, was undone. Licking her suddenly dry lips--how had that happened--she found she couldn't really take her eyes off of him. Still, part of her was almost scared. The part that wasn't wrapped up in Zex's growing lust wanted to flee. Still, her feet were rooted, her warm brown eyes locked on the boy. She was still clutching tightly to the back of the chair she'd pushed in, her forgotten plate of half finished food sitting abandoned. Her body felt like it was on fire, and she couldn't even shake the feeling off. Why did he have to come here? Why?

Zexion, meanwhile, had darted up to the tabletop nearest Dementia, and flared out his large, impressive frill, careful not to totter over. He had done so twice during the firelizard flight, and would not do so again! Or so he hoped. He gave a proud screeching roar to announce his presence. Who else here was worthy of this golden prize! He did so prefer her to the goldshiny from before. This goldshiny pretty one would be his. She was a thousand times better, and more beautiful and desirable, and he would run to the ends of Pern to possess her. No other could have his goldshiny!

He shot evil, menacing glares at the contenders about him, and hissed between closed teeth, before his purple, swirling eyes rested back on Dementia. No other worthy of Dementia! No maybe Zexion lucky! Will catch pretty goldshiny one! I only worthy![/color] he told her valiantly, chest puffed out and wings flared. He cut an impressive specimen and knew it, but size was not everything. He'd need a little luck, too--or perhaps more than. His wings were good only for gliding and thermals. His climbing was his forte, but his size made flying hard indeed.[/size]

[Rei]

Is beautiful meatfool. Cr’oph looked up from his food at the comment. It was rare for Jiggles to complement anything. The words where most definitely meant as a compliment. Idly he poked the round mandyr and then grimaced as an all to familiar feeling washed over him. What? Who? Where? Turning his head the bronzeweyrling caught sight of Dmitri perched upon a table his gold in full glow, only mere feet away. How had he missed that? Sharding Faranth. Hurriedly the red head stood knocking over his hair and gripping his head as he left his mandyr and made his way to the door. Mavenath. He had to get to the bronze. Desperately he gripped for the bronze’s mind. Crymine? The young dragon questioned, his tone unsure as his bonded’s mind meshed with his. The anxiety was palatable.

Cr’oph struggled to push the mandyr away as he stumbled out of the Dining Hall and made his way to his dragon. Mavenath was waiting for his and as the boy sat heavily on the ground the bronze hastened his way. Once there the bronze curled his body completely around his bonded, laying his large head mostly in the boy’s lap to sufficiently pin him as requested. No matter what keep me here.

The desperation in his bonded’s tone had the bronze nervous for pretty much the first time in his young life. I am here Mine. Jiggles will not take you from me. I will not allow it. Mavenath remarked fiercely, strengthening his hold on his bonded’s mind. Let us speak of something. Tell me about the other place. Cr’oph gratefully stroked the bronze head as he struggled to keep his thoughts in order. "Ok well before you where hatched…"

Jiggles was not at all put off by his bonded’s disappearance. Scrambling to his feet the masked mandyr leapt across the space to the other table. His wings spread to their full impressive span as he effortlessly glided to the table where Dementia called from. Beautiful Love. He called, flaring his wings in an imitation of a frill, his own frill was so small it was embarrassing, his large wings worked just as well as a frill after all. After all with these wings he could fly. How many mandyrs could do that? Run far. See who worthy. He bid the glowing beauty. Very much in the moment was the brown.

[kysseh]

Lovely.

The word was aimed just at the lovely gold that stood glowing on the sill. A salamandyr of few words was GQ, particularly when he was unsure of what kind of judgment to pass on a creature. One tiny claw was lifted and scratched almost lazily at the underside of his chin, the tiny brown inclining his head to one side to stare at the creature that taunted her followers. Stupid followers, of course. All stupid. They made noise and fussed and simpered and strutted, and Greenqueen was having none of it. Pfft. Worthless creatures.

Ah well. Since no decent creature was in pursuit of her, GQ supposed he could, for just this moment, lower his perfect standards to include her as an acceptable pursuit. The gold was quite shiny, after all, and he supposed she was pretty enough. Enough. Maybe not intelligent and marvelous, like him, but she would do. The brown flared out his wings and leapt easily off his bonded’s shoulder, executing a neat glide to the next table that ended in a plate of tubers. Shrill shrieks and insults did not register as he scrambled out of the edible quagmire and skittered across the tabletop, heedless of the fact that he dripped juice and various other food tidbits in his wake. Why would he care about such things, after all?

Lovely gold. Chase will. Smart gold, where all can see. Admire do. the brown commented as he idly flicked a hindleg to rid it of a drop of liquid. How bothersome, all the people having their food in his path. He gave the other chasers a wide berth and chose to examine her from a perch on a nearby tabletop, delicately cleaning his wings of goo as he watched the object of his interest glow on the windowsill.

His (questionably) better half was in the midst of wolfing down a quick dinner and scarcely noticed the salamandyr’s absence for the briefest of moments, so intent was he on his meal. Of course, it was quite comical for all around when the first wave of lust from GQ overwhelmed him, since the mouthful of food that was halfway down his throat was suddenly sunk to his stomach as he choked in surprise. The fork in his hand clattered dully against the dish, dropped forgotten in the heat of the moment as his hand remained dumbly hanging in midair. His jaw dangled slack in shock as Dohulth’s amusement faded in favor of the undeniably attractive feelings emanating from his pet, feelings that overwhelmed most of K’von’s reasonable higher mental functions.

The tip of a boot beneath his chin delicately lifted his lower jaw, closing his mouth as his gaze was slowly lifted from his plate to the… interesting… creature that was seated on the table near him. Who… what… oh. It was calling him handsome. It? She? No… he? No! She….

Thoughts of his weyrmate were utterly gone, and the brownrider growled pleasantly in the depths of his chest, resting his forearms on the table and leaning against them in a posture of distinct interest. “I suppose… I could… play,” he commented with studied ease, a smirk curling up one corner of his mouth as his dark eyes travelled intently up the leg attached to the boot and towards the… oh, skin. He saw skin. “Handsome… I think I like that. But only because... you are saying it.” GQ’s ego was rubbing off on him, apparently, for there was a distinct aura of pride around him. The approaching others were inconsequential, not worth a glance. He was admiring the creature before him.

[Lotty]

A salamandyr run? How very.... peculiar.

The bronze firelizard shifted into the shadows of the dining hall after catching wind of a daring chase - a game - with this erm lovely creature to be the gilded prize. Well this was just a game right? Mojo would take it as such, he was much less serious about the whole ordeal then those silly frill heads, and if anything he would chase only to throw everyone else for a loop. Oh this would be so much fun, yes it would! Two amethyst eyes lit up the high dark rafters before the big bronze slithered down onto the table, virtually dwarfing the other suitors. Hehehe, funny. This was soooo funny!

The creature was not capable of speech, but his chatter more than made up for it. After sounding off what seemed much to much like a genuine laugh for comfort, Mojo immediately began mocking all of his competition. See, look Dementia one, all of these others were nothing more than fodder for jokes. He squawked over and over in blatant imitation of salamandyr speech; making squeals that resembled "love, love, love, mine". For added effect his hunkered down against the table and crawled along and amongst bowls and plates. If she wanted he could try "running" too and make it fair (and even more fun). His wings could be as useless as theirs really!

[Requiem]

Movement from all directions. If salmandyrs could smirk, Dementia would have just then. The off-white gossamer of her wingsails glittered, casting prisms with the sunset, tailtip flicking as her purple gaze fell square on Zellos. A sweet purr greeted his words, just dripping with sugar. And yes, it was a purr, not a croon. Oh yes. She brushed Devil's mind lightly. Good, good green slave. Recognizing how wonderful she was...Devil would be rewarded for that. Eventually. She flicked her wings coquettishly at the bronze ugly looping around up high, flashing him with little prisms. Coooome pretttyyyy. She didn't like the uglies much, but it was only right that they should chase her, after all. The gold uglies were so much less.

Ah, the bluepet. Her eyes slitted slightly, considering. Most blues she would have chased off for such audacity, but this one belonged to harperlove's slave. Fine. Honestly, she couldn't fault him for being unable to resist her, now could she? Let him chase. The next bronze drew a soft hiss from her, frill unfolding slowly, spine by spine. Well enough that he sought to chastise the first for his lip, but she didn't care for any of her males (and female) to be paying attention to that one. A third bronze mandyr. Her frill now fully displayed, her wings swept back slightly to balance her. Think you only worthy, big shiny male? Think your big, your shiny win Dementia? The frill snapped shut, followed by what was undeniably a not so pleasant mandyr equivalent of a chuckle.

Her head canted to one side slightly as two of the brown betters came to join her three bronzes, one blue and one green. Not so large or so eye-catching as the bigger males, but they at least knew their place. Praising her as all should. Before she could decide what to do with them, though, one of the bronze uglies alighted with her betters. Was he...crawling on his belly? Oh, yeeesss that was how the uglies should be. She would keep him for a time, her own personal jester.

No more movement? She was well-pleased with the field of selection - clearly all recognized her supremacy - although there was a...weed...to remove. Alighting daintily amidst her males, she passed among them, brushing against the pretties she passed, her long wings trailing behind her like a cape. Purring, she rubbed up against Zellos...then slashed him deep with her claws, leaping for his shoulders and pushing off. Less than nothing. My males mark him once may. She glided to Devil's table, curling around her minion familiarly. Drive off unworthy one, pet. Too small, too sweet chase Dementia. Her tongue flickered out along Devil's jaw. Reward later. Go now. Nudging her toward the Shunned, Dementia didn't wait to see her orders carried out. Of course they would be.

The boy smiled down at the brown, a brow arching slightly before his gaze drifted toward the frozen one watching him intently. His lids slid half-shut, turning his head to present his profile, before he touched two fingers to his lips and blew a kiss at the bronze. The sweetest expression, however, was reserved for Farryl...before he snatched up K'von's tray and flung it straight at her head. Lifting his legs to set his feet squarely on the table, he levered himself fluidly to his feet, dropping the vest into K'von's lap. "Then come play," he whispered. Spinning on a heel, he swept food from his path with his feet, striding down the length of the long table with a definite sway to his hips. So many missing. A hiss sounded between his teeth. They didn't know what they were missing.

Dementia didn't bother to warn them; one moment she was with Devil, and the next she'd skittered up the nearest arm, up the girl's neck, onto her head and leapt for another. Hopping from head to head, she reached a wall sconce where a glowbasket was suspended, jumping onto it while it swung with her weight. Another hop and the gold glided well above the heads of the eating people, glowing like a mini sun.

[Ember]

Nocturne watched as others arrived impassively. He wasn't here for them. No, he was here for the noisy queen and that was it. Let the bronzes and browns posture all they liked. Making claims about themselves or fighting against each other was just stupid. A second flying fool arrived and he watched with thinly veiled contempt as it landed and started acting as if it belonged. It didn't. Dementia may not consider him worthy but he was certainly a better pick than some firelizard.

The gold moved then, landing on the table amongst her chasers. He watched her pass by him with tensed muscles, ready to run after her. He could outrun the other salamandyrs (minus the green) but he'd have to be careful not to run out of energy too soon. She did not start the chase though. No, she atatcked the bronze fool who seemed to think himself better. Nocturne approved. He was not one for paying compliments; the fact that he would insult Dementia far less than Zellos would have to be enough.

The gold then went to the green female. Another idiot, but one the queen seemed to favor. A green would never catch a gold. No queen would sink themselves so low. Nocturne dashed towards the edge of the table as the queen suddenly started the pursuit. Sly. He leapt off the table but his tiny wings wouldn't carry him in a glide. He landed on a bench and scurried up the nearest person's side, avoiding all contact with skin. He didn't want to touch other two leggeds but he had little choice if he wanted to stay close. He leapt from the person's shoulder onto the next table and then remembered something as the gold glided higher up.

He could not glide nearly so well but perhaps...It was this table he'd seen from his earlier hide away. He didn't have far to go before he spotted the child still playing with their food. No matter how many times the mother had tried to stop the child from playing with the utensils the boy hadn't. He managed to get on the thin end of the fork just before the child brought his small fist down on the eating end. The blue went hurtling through the air . He flared his frill and opened his mini wings as far as the could go to slow his speed. He landed on the side of someone's head, claws pricking purposely at their scalp as he climb to the top of their head and jumped off. He could not glide, nor did he want to, but he could do other things.

Eikane finally arrived at the main hall. He stood at the entrance for a moment to catch his breath before a strange sensation of flying passed through him. What? He shook it off and tentatively went further into the main hall. There was one among the many people there that he considered above the rest. Ah there she was. Eikane caught sight of Dmitri but being still aware to a degree he didn't aproach him. Nooo, that would be a bad thing. So very bad. He had a perfectly good view of the boy on the table from where he was.

Meanwhile, a brownrider was cursing Dmitri's poor aim after being hit in the head by a tray.

((Req assures me Demi had poor aim.))

[Kisha-Ra]

The Devil wriggled in pleasure despite herself, and flared her large wings once, Dementia noticed her! In the next moment the green’s eyes narrowed at Lao, flying above them. Did that stupid ugly actually think he could chase a real queen? He needed to go back to the ugly queens. Many proper males came to chase the real queen, and another ugly bronze too, though the other at least pretended to be a real salamandyr and not some foul deformed thing.

Lao circled as the salamandyrs gathered, he appreciated a good collection of males, and there was no doubt that he could learn from this salamandyr who had gathered so many to her. He wanted lots of males when his Flight came too! He was still half tempted to grab The Devil and leave while he could, surely the gold be angry when she noticed the greens. But she didn’t seem to be, and Lao knew she’d seen him, emboldened, the confused bronzegreen firelizard dropped to circle lower.

The Devil’s frill fluttered gently as Dementia stalked among her chasers, impatient for the chase to begin. However as the gold jumped on the first of bronzes and slashed at him the green looked positively smug. One down already! The green’s muscles rippled under her pale hide as the gold landed gracefully on her table and coiled around her. She wanted to leap, to catch the gold and twist around her, but something deep down told the green that would be a very bad idea indeed. Drive off. Go now, reward later. The Devil repeated faithfully, confirmation of her understanding. It was a test, clearly, if she could drive away the unworthy one then Devil would be favoured among Dementia’s chasers…

The green strode stiff legged across the table at a smart pace, and puffed out a large as she could get. Go now unworthy one. She hissed at Zellos, before leaping to land before him and unfolding her frill menacingly. The Devil had spoken!

Lao backed off quickly as the gold slashed at one of the bronzes on the table, he trilled, a high anxious sound directed not at Dementia, nor the marked male, but at The Devil. See? The gold was mean, they should escape now, Lao could easily carry the other green. But no, the gold curled around The Devil and spoke to her. She wasn’t angry? It must be right for greens to chase gold salamandyrs then, Lao was glad he’d got that one sorted out.

Abruptly Lao’s attention shifted from the other green to the gold as Dementia went skittering up an arm and hopping from head to head. He followed high, making little loops and twists in the air, none of the others could do this! Well Mojo could but he was pretending to be a mandyr for some reason.

Yoalla rolled onto her back, and examined the room through silted eyes, waste of time since the dim glow basket had finally given up as few hours ago and the room was as black as between. What was going on here anyway, she was no stranger to desire, but his was rather intense, and lacking in a physical source. Strange indeed…

With curiosity getting the better of common sense, Yoalla flicked off her blankets and walked thorough the pitch black room with a confidence that was natural to a wherhandler who constantly forgot to get new glows. Eventually she wandered out into the evening air and began stalking towards the main hall. Drive off the unworthy one, then join the chase, be favoured above all others for her work. A nasty, bitter little smile twisted the young woman’s lips, but that wasn’t what really attracted attention about her, no, the stares she attracted were mostly due to the fact that she hadn’t bothered to dress.

[Rowana]

Zellos beat his wings down on instinct, but he didn't bother to worry if they hit Dementia or not. He glanced at the wound without interest. If the silly queen wanted him to go, that was fine. She was hardly worth chasing. He pitied the foolish males who tried. Zellos didn't answer anyone either. Why should he? They were all idiots and not worth the time. He yawned loudly and clearly, the purple in his eyes fading to dull green. Queen's were disappointing creatures. Now he remembered why he'd never chased them before. Zellos turned his back to the whole affair. He ignored Dementia, her males, and Devil alike. Instead he gazed out the window at some clouds going past. Even they were more worth his time than these fools.

Farryl blinked back into reality, in time for a tray to fly by her head and hit T'san. She blinked again, trying to get her barrings back. It felt like she'd been lost for ages, but it must have only been a minute or two. Judging by Dmitri and the people around him, Dementia must still be running, which meant that Zellos had probably gotten bored. She couldn't help being relieved, though a pain in her side had her worried. She weaved through the Hall to find Zellos, still perched on the table.

Farryl put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Well?" she asked incredously. "Are you proud of yourself?" Zellos immediately brightened at her arrival. Yes, Farryl was here! She always loved him and knew how great he was. Zellos is proud, he declared with a purr. Zellos is most worthy. All rest are mud crawling worms. Farryl rolled her eyes and scooped up the salamandyr into her arms. "You insulted her didn't you, you little monster? Serves you right." She sighed. Why had she ever got stuck with such an arrogant beast? "Come on, let's find someone to patch you up."

Farryl started out the door, while Zellos continued to croon at her. Zellos is fine. Sad queen not very strong. Want to watch fools chase. "You can watch them some other time," she scolded. "We're going to the infirmary now." Hobbs winged after them, careful to stay out of the way of the chasers. He chirped sad apologies to Dementia as he left. He was sorry his worm brother didn't know how lovely she was. He would offer to go in his place, but he knew he was not worthy of her beauty. He hoped she chose someone far better.

[Rei]

Jiggles purred in amusement as Zellos was dispatched immediately by his golden beauty. Good that idiot meatfool did not deserve such perfection. Idiot. The masked brown snapped as he passed the spurned bronze and redoubled his efforts at keeping up. His body jiggled humorously as he ran after her. Despite his size there was a layer of muscle under the layer of fat and it wasn’t too hard for him to keep up. Yes he was chubby but he could move quickly when he chose to. To illustrate his fact he hastened after the golden beauty, leaping over utensils and people. His leaps where aided by sweeps of his large wings.

Clambering up an amused bystander the large brown leapt and beat the air with his wings drawing himself upwards, even as Dementia leapt for the hanging glow. As the gold swung off it and began her glide Jiggles angled his wings to glide effortlessly after her. Glow brightly she does. He complemented. Worthy will prove. Is most lovely ever. The dark large brown had to adjust his glide then to prevent himself from slamming right into someone’s head.

Dungeating Meatfool! Move! He spat at the rider, who ducked as the chubby brown whizzed overhead. That had been close. Beating his wings for more altitude he purred. See. He didn’t need a frill. Wings where far more useful. Especially now.

Cr’oph continued to speak in a slow halting tone as he struggled to keep himself in the here and now. He most certainly was not going to let some fool mandyr ruin everything now. No way. Mavenath rumbled quietly and curled himself in a circle around his bonded. He was very much a large shiny roadblock. His. No one could have him. Not if he had anything to say about it. His head efficiently pined his bonded to the ground as his eyes whirled in muted yellow shades. Keep speaking Crymine. Tell me about your trip by boat.

[kysseh]

She was selective, this gold. GQ approved of her pickiness, given his own tendency to be so. The brown lightly plucked an offending tidbit off his hindquarter with two of his foreclaws, looking like a fastidious feline as he flung the offending speck away from himself. Ew, ew, ew. His brilliant purple gaze tracked her motions, watching the flicker of wings and unfolding of her frill. A lovely frill she had. His own was decent, but he much preferred ogling hers for the moment. His wings flapped once, twice, and then settled again as he watched her intently, little forepaws tucked neatly to his chest as he regarded her motions.

At least Dementia was chasing off one of the hideous bronzes, and he hummed in audible appreciation, dropping to all fours to scuttle along the tables in pursuit. It was a risky business, navigating such a busy path, but GQ was an avoidance expert. He was frequently on the errand of navigating the oft-dangerous bed of His and the ugly-Lust-thing’s. This was mild in comparison, and he thrummed off-key towards his object, spreading his wings to glide gracefully to the next table. If he mistakenly upset someone’s mug, then it was of no consequence. A little klah in the lap hurt no one, did it?

Brighter than biglight. Lovely. Good runflier. he commented, dodging a few trays on the tabletop, his head tilted upwards to watch the gold glide overhead. She was moving very quickly, and he had to increase his pace to try to match her overhead speed with his adventures across the tabletops. Scamper, scamper, glide in an unending cycle.

Blowing a kiss and smiling so nicely at the others… if K’von had not had that smile aimed at him before, he would have been quite put out. As it was, though, he was simply a bit sad until the lovely he-gold turned toward him and-

-threw his tray at the rejected she-bronze.

Any confusion and sadness vanished when the he-gold stood and dropped his clothing in the brownrider’s lap, a growl of delight beginning deep in his chest. “I would love to play,” he murmured, getting smoothly to his feet and watching the young man glide across the table. The big man prowled along the table, eyes fixed on the gorgeous thing that was out of his reach. The vest remained clutched to his chest, a precious gift. He was keeping it.