Somewhere It's a Proposal (Elysia)

[Ember]

T'san was, if possible, in an even better mood than he was the other day. As he walked away from the Tanner Stall tapping his new gloves against his thigh he hummed his life's theme song. Between whistling and humming the latter was definitely indicative of a better mood. If someone could actually get him to make up lyrics for his life and get him to sing he'd have died and gone to paradise, surely. As the man caught sight of another familiar face at the gather he broke into a grin...only to falter a moment later.

Umm, holy crap. Had Elysia been that thin before poofing? The brownrider highly doubted it. Well...it would make her easier to pick up and toss in a body of water? Okay, even he could admit that was in bad taste. Tapping his gloves on his thigh more, the brownrider wondered what could be wrong with the greenrider. If Meira was fine, his odd friend ought to have been better off than she appeared. The blue firelizard perched on his shoulder offered a little reassuring lick to T'san's cheek. From that, the brownrider got an idea.

T'san would have to use a special brand of cheering up for Elysia. He called her a friend but in truth he knew very little about her. He walked over to her jauntily, placing himself directly in front of her, hands moving to his hips. He had on a pretend serious face though Elysia might have bought it. "What're you doing here..." he started off severely, lifting the hand his gloves were in off his hip, "...when you look like such crap?" He finished lightly, a smile making it's way on his face.

He used the gloves to slap her left cheek with enough force to sting. He opened his arms in an offer of a hug if she wasn't too pissed off at him for slapping her. If she was pissed...well, he'd dealt with that from Elysia before, hadn't he? They hadn't started off so well. He just hoped she didn't plan on pulling a knife on him or something. That would kinda suck.

[Rei]

Elysia was annoyed. Oh so annoyed. Not only did she have to wear this hideous drab holder garb, but she had to look at all the pretty little girls who thought they actually had something to show. That was one part of her annoyance. The other part came in the form of a certain harper who she was trying to avoid. The greenrider was positive he was here. Had to be but so far she had been able to avoid even the briefest glimpse. Now if only that could continue. Part of Elysia really wanted to see Dmitri. Confirm that he was okay. Or not. Wondered if he was taking this whole thing as hard as the greenrider herself was. Part of her selfishly wished he was having a hard time but the majority of her hoped he was the same bastard he always was. Knowing Dmitri he probably was the same self deprecating ass he always was. At least on the outside. The majority of her though? Well the majority of her wasn’t ready to face him again just yet.

Idly Elysia browsed at a nearby stall. Not really looking at anything, she was actually watching the crowd instead. For what she wasn’t sure. Selenitas riders maybe. Her own Burimyu comrades. No the greenrider didn’t claim even near half of them. But if she wanted to survive she didn’t have a choice but to protect them from being idiots. Sad really. Part of Elysia had waffled so long about even caring about living. Now here she was fighting again. For what? The woman had nothing at Burimyu. No family, no friends…. (Despite the fact that S’rei claimed she did, Elysia still had a hard time believing him.) It was hard to when she still felt so completely alone. So why did she bother? Perhaps the answer was her mindmates. Onyth, Amour, Baron. They were her only family now. Had to do right by them.

Movement out of the corner of her eye had Elysia half turning towards an approaching figure. Who was…T’san? Dark eyes widened as the brownrider stopped in front of her and began speaking. What? Looked like crap? Her eyes narrowed dangerously. The ass. Hadn’t seen him in over half a turn and that was how he greeted her? The sudden slap had the greenrider blinking in surprise and then she lunged forward aiming a punch for his gut. Enough to knock some of the wind out of him if it connected. “You ass! How dare you.” The words were kept at a low volume but the irritation and faint amusement in the tone was clear enough. What possessed her next she didn’t have a clue but Elysia stepped forward and flung her arms around T’san leaning into the hug.

Her forehead pressed against his shoulder to hide the slight smile on her lips. Perhaps she was lonelier than she realized if she was willing to hug this clown. Tch. “Is that how you greet a lady? No wonder you’re so hopeless.” Pulling back her eyes narrowed again. “You are lucky I don’t gut you for that comment.” Giving a brief look around to make sure they didn’t have too many watchers yet the greenrider gave a soft snort. “What don’t have anything better to do? I have some ideas if you’re bored.” The words came in a purr as she backed up.

Giving a come hither gesture Elysia slipped between the two stalls, obviously expecting T’san to follow. The gesture and look she gave him was intentionally seductive, although all she really wanted was information. If he was here and willing, might as well. Besides she couldn’t be sure this wasn’t a trap. Best not to strike completely out in the open where he could easily acquire comrades from the crowd.

[Ember]

The punch to his gut had the brownrider momentarily winded but he only let out a slightly wheezy chuckle. Thankfully for the greenrider he not only expected retaliation but he wasn't really the type to get angry. Besides, punching him had clearly done some good for the greenrider. T'san hadn't expected Elysia to accept a hug though. He'd been expecting a sarcastic refusal of some sort. Or maybe just another attack. Meh.

He closed his arms around the woman, amused that she hid or face for one reason or another. Perhaps she was embarrassed to be seen hugging him? "Lady? Ah...you mean yourself?" T'san teased, though he was smart enough to take it back quickly. "Kidding, kidding. But you're lucky water's too far away. I should dump your ass for ditching me." For a grown man, he did a fairly good job of sounding like a sulky child when he wanted to. Elysia could take his complaint seriously or not. He would openly admit to disliking being left behind but he wasn't blaming her either.

Elysia playing the temptress again? T'san put his hands in his pockets and followed her with a grin. He'd play along with that for the moment but he really wouldn't go doing anything with his friend. As he joined Elysia again he asked, "What's up babe? Not up to having an audience?" It had two meanings, given the circumstances, and he meant them both. He'd let her lead the conversation though. Of the two of them, she had a lot more to lose than he did.

[Rei]

Elysia snorted as T’san threatened her with water again. Really was that his only threat? Oh there was a very large part of her that was amused and she really couldn’t help the comment that sprang forth. “You just like getting me wet don’t you? I don’t blame you.” The greenrider teased with a seductive purr to the tone. He could take that in any number of ways and that was intentional on her part. Would be interesting to see just how he decided to take it. The brownrider had never really been a target for her. Well sexually anyway. He was a fine target for teasing and the like, even if it had gotten her a one way trip into the river from time to time.

Backing up between the stalls the benden woman returned T’san’s grin by half lidding her eyes and giving him a slight pout. “You know the ditching wasn’t intentional. I meant to write really.” Half tuning and moving back further into the quiet area behind and between a couple stalls Elysia finally stopped and put a hand on her hip. “Oh you know me darling. I love the attention. I just didn’t want you nervous and failing to perform. That would be such a pity. Besides…I’d much rather keep this between us. More intimate that way don’t you think.” With a faint smile she finally completely faced the brownrider, at the same time dropping the teasing façade as her voice became more serious. “I’ve been to Selenitas since the takeover. Visiting a….friend. But I’m curious to know, since I never asked him. How tight of a control do your puppet masters have?”

It was a dual question of sorts. Yes Elysia wanted an answer but based on how T’san answered and what he said she could perhaps judge just how he felt about the situation at Selenitas. The greenrider had found out that the brownrider was now a wingleader. Had to wonder at least a little why Wasteland would let a native keep that kind of power. It wasn’t that she expressly distrusted T’san. She harbored some distrust for a lot of people and it had only gotten worse in the past few months. Harder still when your whole existence hinged on the need for secrecy.

If Burimyu was ever found they wouldn’t have a chance. Any of the other weyrs could completely wipe them out. Probably only half trying. They just didn’t have the force or the training to withstand an assault. Out of all their members only a small handful would be of any real use in dragon on dragon combat. You could teach the non fighters how to fight certainly. However you couldn’t give them the turns of experience necessary for them to stand against seasoned war riders. No, if it came down to an all out battle Burimyu would fall. Thus Elysia had to know just where T’san stood before she could tell him much of anything.

[Ember]

T'san grinned at Elysia's words. "It's just so fulfilling to get you wet, y'know?" He drawled. The man had a thoroughly perverted mind though he did a fairly good job of seeming like he matched his partner. The brownrider had no trouble keeping up with such unsubtle innuendo from Elysia. He couldn't help his mind wondering how fulfilling it really would be before mentally dismissing it. Physically, maybe, but he was more than comfortable with her just as a friend and him being Meira's. He wasn't really one for random flings anyways, even before meeting Meira.

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly when the greenrider spoke more. "Letters, right." Even had she been able to T'san doubted she would have. He simply couldn't see the woman sitting down and writing out whatever came to mind. He kept following her idly, not really caring where she ended up taking her. He trusted her enough that even if she led him to an ambush she'd make sure it wasn't fatal. Not because the death of a Selenitas Wingleader would draw unnecessary attention but because she didn't want him dead...anymore.

T'san was about to craft a falsely indignant response to her insinuation that he'd have trouble "performing" when she faced him again, utterly serious. Oh? "A friend, huh?" His tone didn't press for more but it certainly made it clear he didn't believe that. There'd been that slight pause beforehand, after all. Even he could figure that out. "Well, our puppetmasters, as you so like to put them, are horrible task masters. Training here, training there. Never stops," he complained with a sigh tacked on the end for good measure. Still as lazy as ever. "I wish they could just leave us alone, but noooo, they must try and make us part of them." And there was his calculated answer to her question.

[Rei]

It was genuinely nice to interact with T’san. Get to hear his return to her not so subtle innuendo. He was always a good one for returning that kind of baiting. Not that she thought he’d ever take her up on her thinly veiled teases. No he was much the same as her in that area. All tease and not much payout. Not unless you were interesting enough to deserve it. No Elysia had never slept with the brownrider and probably never would. Probably didn’t mean never though. The man was attractive in his own way. Just not the greenrider’s normal prey. He didn’t fit criteria. Despite being Meria’s boy, his dragon wasn’t bronze. Nor did he present enough of a challenge nor interest to be worth her pressing her luck.

A small smile at the letters comment. Even if she could find a way to send him letters it was true. She wouldn’t. Not because she couldn’t. Nor because her firelizards were incapable either. Letters were dangerous things. Concrete proof that someone was interacting with the outside. No mouth to mouth was much better. Harder to trace providing you didn’t get caught. Rumors were just rumors after all. Elysia smiled at T’san again, a slightly forced gesture. “Yes a friend. That’s…all he is now.” Much to her constant displeasure. But what could the greenrider do about it? Dmitri had made it clear that nothing could be done. No matter how much she wished there could be something done to fix it. No matter how badly she wanted to test things still, the facts were still the facts. For now anyway.

The woman listened to the man’s answer in silence. Dark eyes betraying nothing. Elysia didn’t even move to comment until T’san had finished. “Hmm. Trying to get you all up to par I bet. Has the added bonus of making you all tired. Less time and desire to do anything but rest keeps you in line. Keeps you from thinking things you shouldn’t.” Shifting she leaned back against a wooden stall support. As for the last bit well that was a given. “Of course the want you to united. They need you all to support them if they are to stand against attack. They need to make sure you all aren’t going to turn on them.” The greenrider gave a soft snort. “How are they doing on that front? Have they won you over to their cause yet?”