live a life evolutionary {kostya}

[Avu]

“I said no.”

Eyes narrowed on Tekivisk, who blinked apologetically at Vix. The look on the wherhandler’s face was somewhere between furious and horrified, lips curving down and out in a kind of annoyed pout and brows furrowed. His arms had crossed so definitely across his chest that it was fairly unlikely that they would be untangled anytime in the near future, fingers of one hand tapping out his annoyance onto the bicep of his other arm. Head tilted slightly, pout deepening as Tekivisk squirmed awkwardly, clearly at a loss, “I said it multiple times, I am pretty sure. In fact, I’m pretty sure I had freaking witnesses.”

The green twitched uncomfortably backwards, a whine starting in her throat as she flicked one wing up to cover her face—an attempt to hide the blatant glowing of her hide, illuminating and shimmering, sparkles dancing down the line of shoulder and spine and wing membrane. It didn’t work, predictably, given that her face was definitely not the only part of her glowing with a definite pre-Run shine.

“I hope you’ve got some idea of what you’re doing,” Vix hissed. “I don’t even—Konstask hasn’t Run yet. Why are you? She’s much more—” His arms defied logic in order to unfold, one hand flicking gracelessly into the air to indicate some apparently obvious concept that was, by the look on Tekivisk’s face, utterly lost to her, “—than you are, mature, you’re, I don’t know. You still—just fuck.” The profanity came out in a sigh, more resigned than anything else, and Vix finally flopped back against the hallway wall, anger melting into upset.

Tekivisk nosed cautiously up to him, whuffled against his arm and tucked her head under his elbow, nudging until she’d managed to sling his arm over her shoulders, and pressed against Vix’s side, muzzle plopping against his chest. She pawed quietly at his other hand until he raised it to pat her muzzle, and then sighed slowly, eyes slipping closed as Vix turned his head to rest it against Tekivisk’s, muttering indignantly, “Couldn’t you pick a better time like never…this is like ten kinds of screwed, ki, seriously…right after the dumb whoevers came…”

Dumb whoevers: The Wastelanders. Right.

It wasn’t like they seemed to care about the wherhandlers. Vix was pretty content to keep it that way, all things considered, but there was still some kind of territorialism—where did they get off poking around in the South? (Not that Vix was Southern-bred either, but still. Details.) And—well, if he didn’t have Tekivisk, he would’ve gone a long time ago. Too late now. More was the pity, Vix mouthed in silent disapproval against Tekivisk’s hide, letting the green wher attempt to drown him in affection in the middle of the hallway.

[rii]

Music maker looked so sad. The white salamandyr shifted on the chink in the stone, frilling down at the boy and wher slumped against the far wall. So so sad, a world drowning in shades of blue, the tears coursing down cheeks like rivers–

Kostya picked his head up from the parchment he had been pursuing within the sanctuary of his room, "Is he really crying?"

Well, no, but couldn't he just imagine what it would be like if he was? They'd have to abandon the rooms and climb all the way up to drum heights to make sure they didn't all drown from the sheer amount of— A firm mental prod ended Mirage's streaming visuals. With a displeased flick of tail, the white sent the actual – dull – image of the hallway and green pair.

Pale eyes swept over to the gap left open between door and frame. The image itself drew curiosity, causing Kostya's mind to flood with various answers to the silent question of why Vix currently sat half-curled around Ki. A possessiveness flashed behind his narrowing gaze. If one of those wastelanders had taken interest in Tekivix, there was going to be trouble. Parchment set aside, Kostya nudged his contently lounging wher out of his lap. She followed at his side, rubbing against the fabric of his pants. Were they going somewhere? They should find a nice place to sit where all the others could see them - wouldn't that be nice?

Konstask pushed on ahead, nosing the door the rest of the way open and slipping into the hall. She instantly perked at the sight of her sister, the careless trot of grace becoming more pronounced as reached out to touch Tekivisk's mind. Her sister looked so lovely – Konstask purred, rubbing the side of her face along her sister's flank. She was glowing and it was beautiful.

Kostya hung back, his shoulder against side of his doorway, arms loosely over his chest as he caught the last bit of words. "At least they didn't bring whers with them. It's still the same happy little family, and were still just as ignored by the whole dragon game of musical chairs." He meant to be comforting. He did. He could recognize upset just as well as any other person - if even more so. Still, he was never good at easing that upset. Usually he was the one causing it. Such a dilemma.

Now what?

There was an unwritten rule somewhere about not bringing attention to another guy's vulnerability, so Kostya opted for a different route. "Want to go out together?" Unintentional pause. "–on patrol, that is. Stretch the legs, get some cool air."

[Avu]

Ah, Konstask—Tekivisk pulled away from Vix slightly to turn to greet her sister, purring happily at the rub against her flank and responding by wiggling away from Vix entirely to rub her muzzle against Konstask’s shoulder. Her tail thumped against Vix’s thigh, Tekivisk oblivious to the way he dropped his arm from around her shoulders limply, not bothering to support it, and glared. Did it have to be so obvious that Tekivisk was glowing? The contrast of Konstask’s darker hide against Tekivisk’s glow was just so—so unnecessary. Sigh. He rubbed at his temples ferociously as he scooted down the wall from Tekivisk to avoid being inadvertently stepped on.

Looked up at Kostya’s voice—should’ve figured that wherever Konstask was Kostya wouldn’t be far behind. The words drew a crinkle of Vix’s nose, the face he made decidedly disgruntled. How very comforting. Except that it kind of was. Whers were the anonymous, the night-dwellers, the overlooked, and Tekivisk was content that way and Vix was happy that way, didn’t like being noticed by anyone (hint, hint, Kostya). So in all reality, it should be fine, except it wasn’t. He’d already decided to mostly stop thinking about that, though. It was confusing and Tekivisk was confusing enough as it was, and he couldn’t just stop thinking about her, for better or for worse.

“Be sure and remind me the next time when Fort takes over,” he mumbled dryly, huffing indignantly. If Kostya didn’t notice Tekivisk’s glow, then maybe it wasn’t that bad, maybe he was just overreacting a little. (If Kostya thought that the takeover was why he was upset, that was probably for the better, too.) He reached over to tug lightly at Tekivisk’s tail to test how much attention she could spare him.

Apparently none, because the green didn’t even twitch, too busy brushing one wing affectionately over Konstask’s side, sisterhers was looking as lovely as ever, so nice of her to come say hello. Of course, Tekivisk was always physically affectionate—the rub of her head down Konstask’s spine shouldn’t, Vix prayed, register as off—she did things like that all the time—which was one of the reasons he really couldn’t comprehend why she would want to stick around him when he didn’t drape himself all over random people. Ever.

Kostya’s offer earned a swift, calculating glance, the pause giving cause to more suspicion than the question itself, but Vix still levered himself off of the floor, palms pushing flat against the wall. “Patrol against what, ourselves?” He glanced at Tekivisk and Konstask and yes, the glow was the first thing he noticed, pff at greens, briefly, eyes narrowing on his green, before he turned towards the door, hands finding his pockets. “Sure.” Vix tucked his chin against his chest slightly, adding a minute later because there must’ve been some legitimate reason for Kostya to come out of his room, “…if you’ve got nothing else to do, anyway.”

[rii]

"Of course," Kostya mused, the corners of his lips turning up in a smile in his typical fashion of contrasting Vix's dour mood. The amused gaze strayed to the whers, narrowing thoughtfully on the prominent glow that did show up all too well when alongside Konstask. How inconvenient. He continued to watch them with subdued interest. The two sister were always friendly with each other, but the absolute purring he was getting from his own wher was different enough to be noted. Konstask always did her own metaphorical glowing when given attention, but he dared to say that Tekivisk was flirting..

His attention, of course, swung back up to Vix at the words. Again the casual, close-lipped smile curving into place. A shame the affectionate nature didn't cross over into Vix. Well, to be fair, is sort of did in when the kid was half-asleep. Then again, Kostya likely wouldn't have found Vix nearly as interesting if he was the clingy sort. "Patrol against felines," He reminded, again immune to sarcasm that might have turned away others. "Boogey men. Suspicious rocks. Over-grown shadows."

Mirage chimed in to them all, constructing the dark roads of peril to share with them all. Oh how spooky. The white pushed off the stone, gliding down to perch first on Kostya's shoulder, then Vix's. Did he have the toy - yes yes? The one with the little parts, like the music box, and she could have it? (the white had to be pried of the gift given at the feast).

"Was reading, I'd rather go for a walk."

Kostya turned, ducking back into his room to retrieve the distinguishing arm bad, tying it awkwardly around his bicep with one hand as he stepped back out. He didn't want trouble from any of wasterlanders serving as guards. Kostya wondered how necessary that was. Anyone that tried to flee in the dark of night was bound to get lost or eaten. He was of the opinion of letting people kill themselves in their stupidity.

Konstask had, naturally, paced on ahead with the expectancy to have her sister at her side. They both should go show all the whers how good they looked, yes? The long, whip-like tail rose to tick back and forth. Kostya could see it even from he slight distance, the way she held her delicate frame to make every step light and quick. In her element, his wher, and utterly delighted to have such a beautiful sister beside her tonight. Sadly his wher's opinion of others did focus almost solely on their physical beauty.

Kostya distantly wondered if her opinion of Ki would change once the glow was gone. He blinked over at Vix, "I'm not serious about the felines. Just if asked, that's why we are outside wandering."

[Avu]

“Of course,” he sighed, an unconscious mimic of Kostya’s previous words, felines. Might’ve said more, if Mirage’s images hadn’t come at that moment, Vix arching his eyebrows at the small weight that settled onto his shoulder and the images that followed. “I have it and you can’t keep it, but you can see it,” because it was currently quite possibly tucked under his pillow, not something Vix was planning on admitting, even if it was just because he tended to curl up around it right before he was about to sleep and it just took too much energy to get all the way out of bed to put it up properly.

He probably would’ve forgotten about the armband if Kostya hadn’t doubled back to get his. Vix had never much worn it before the Wasteland attack, if only because he figured that having a little baby wher trotting next to him everywhere he went was identification enough. Not anymore. He shot a quick glance at Tekivisk, who was still entirely distracted by Konstask, before he dipped into his room, too, snatching the armband off of the floor where it had been carelessly discarded since the last time he’d worn it. He pushed it over his wrist, not bothering to put it on properly—just so long it was on at all.

Snatched up the toy, too, while he was in the room, lifting it up to prove to Mirage that he was, indeed, bringing it. Vix slipped it into his pocket as he rejoined the two whers and Kostya outside. He’d let Mirage see it once—if—they stopped anywhere, but he didn’t figure that the white Salamandyr would be able to hold it up herself, so. And why, yes, he had gotten mostly accustomed to yielding to the whims of Salamandyrs; see: Harmony and Rook. He just liked Mirage better than either of them because she didn’t talk.

Falling into step next to Kostya, he dropped his hands to his pockets again, automatically sidestepping to let the whers out first. A soft snort at Kostya’s words, Vix preferring to address the small length of sky visible from the inside of the apartments than actually turn to his companion, “Figured. Because it’s fun to lie to people who go around conquering Weyrs, right?”

But it was nice getting outside. He blamed some of that on Tekivisk, though—she felt warmer and it was nice and cool outside. The green wher danced at Konstask’s side, head held high and eyes positively glowing with delight, Vix’s previous upset forgotten for the moment. Because, yes, between the two of them—her ever-lovely sister and herself—they could light up the night. They could be the sun (not that she’d ever seen the sun but it sounded beautiful). Tekivisk’s wings lifted, tail flicking eagerly at the tip, her body brushing lightly against Konstask’s flank as she drew even with her sister, peering curiously around at the night; where to?

“Let’s go down the river.” He was still talking to the ground instead of to Kostya or Tekivisk or even to Mirage, but it was better, Vix figured, than being silent. And anyway, he liked the river. Liked it better than the jungle or the Weyr proper. There was that clearing in the jungle, but he didn’t think he’d be able to find it again, and that was more Darmori’s than his. The river was just—nice. Additional bonus: It made it hard to get lost if you could just follow the river back up.

[rii]

Mirage let her frill sag, tail rolling limply across Vix's shoulders in a full on pout. Now why did he have and go do that for, it was so terribly cruel. The images came in accusation: Vix holding the little gadget above her little (but beautiful!) head and mockingly pull it out of her reach at every attempt. Poor, poor little Mirage. and what a nasty little boy was Tekivix. Didn't he know that was rude? Just because he was in some blad mood didn't mean he had to go about sharing it. Besides, it was hers first.

Kostya paid no mind to Mirage's little fit of upset. Much like his other mindmate, she often did things for the sake of attention. He finished tying the band off with the use of his teeth, glancing at the wasteland guard situated outside the wherhanlder halls as they passed out into the darkness. He tugged at the band to check it's fitting before glancing at Vix. "I suppose I could just tell them the truth, that I was tired of being cooped up inside, and upon seeing my fellow handler looking blue-" Compliments to Mirage. "-I thought to myself: getting out into the open air would do him good too."

Here he swept up Vix's hand, tugging it out of the pocket, his voice picking up in feigned delight as the story took a sudden swerve, "Thus we set out, hand in hand, with the light of the world in our hearts." No doubt Vix would be wanting his hand back real quick. Kostya didn't even try to keep it. What, kid could glare and hiss all he wanted, it was better than silently brooding, right? At least the bristling Kostya could deal with, the sadness was another thing all together. It often made him want to awkwardly pat people on the back; as if that really helped.

Konstask bumped lightly back against Tekivisk as they pranced along in show. They could go anywhere her sister desired, as long as they were together, and show off the beautiful glow that made Tekivisk shine more beautifully than the moon. If they went up on the cliffs, she could be the very moon for the weyr. If Konstask was meant to feel threatened (in terms of physical beauty) by Tekivisk, the thought never crossed her mind. She held great respect for things she found visually appealing, and besides, it's not like Tekivisk was more beautiful than herself anyway. Or so Konstask reasoned to herself.

Upon reaching the dark waters, Konstask perched on the very edge of the bank and let out a soft whuff. Look, look, Tekivisk really did look like a star in the water.

[Avu]

Vix decided, after a minute of actual consideration, that he was not going to get into a catfight with Mirage over the toy. Tempting though it was to inform the white that it was his now, thank you very much, so hush, because that level of possessiveness over a toy was just not something Vix wanted to get into at the moment. Or ever. Ever was good, too. He settled for a sniff in the white’s general direction, a muttered (and what he hoped was firm) “Later.” In any case, Mirage’s images were ignored—pushed out forcefully—in favor of stealing a quick glance at the Wastelander, Vix attempting to close the irritation out of his face. Where was there to go, really, anymore? And anyway, it wasn’t like they’d seemed to think much of whers before.

It was that flicker of bitter irritation that combined with Kostya’s words when Vix made a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat, gaze dropping away from the Wastelander before eye contact could be made, a noise that rapidly turned into a startled “Hnnh?” at his hand being stolen. Before the noise could evolve further into a potentially hideously embarrassing squeak, though, Vix snatched his hand back, plunging it immediately back into his pocket as if that were safe, trying to ignore the bright red that had spread across his face, because even if he hadn’t squeaked he was still pretty much embarrassed, “How about we don’t!”

Sneaking a quick glance back over his shoulder at the indulgently condescending look the Wastelander had on his face, Vix dropped his chin further, a flicker of fresh indignation flaring. As soon as they were out of immediate earshot, he muttered, leaning closer to Kostya automatically as if it would help the Wastelander not hear it, “Don’t they bother you, the ones that watch us…” Didn’t really care about them all as a whole because they didn’t bother him, didn’t intrude on his (their?) world, but the ones that had to guard the wherhandler apartments…“I think I maybe hate them a little.”

He toed a stone into the river once they got close enough, eyeing Tekivisk in silent annoyance. Since when had she cared about how she looked?—he was, Vix noted, and was amused in a very small, small portion of his mind that didn’t get face time, probably just transferring his upset with Tekivisk to the Wastelanders—but they were much easier to hate than she was. It worked.

Be the moon. Yes. Fascinated by the idea, Tekivisk made a whistling noise of approval, a bounce in her step as she pushed her claws against the mud of the bank to keep from slipping in, leaning forward to blow her breath across the water. Ecstatic, she leaned against Konstask’s side affectionately, one forepaw stretching out to distort their reflections. The stars against the night; light against dark; highlights and shadows, the two of them—didn’t they make a lovely pair. Her claws dragged back through the water to return to the bank, letting the ripples dance outwards away from the center of their reflections.

They were the night, weren’t they, Konstask the backdrop of sky and she the moon and stars…everyone would see them. Everyone, repeated with a soft, child-like eagerness to be seen, the green’s eyes tracing the ever-shifting reflection on the water.

[rii]

He was pleased by the reaction, as always, but he did well to keep most of the self-satisfied smile turned aside. Even if taking in the younger male's flushed features made him want to grin all that much more. It was too much that he couldn't even effect a pout at Vix's swift rejection. Instead he stifled his laughter and continued to walk on. His politely tilted his head toward Vix at at the whisper. Only then did he actually look back to view the guard. "I think he's more annoyed at having to actually guard us, than us being annoyed he's keeping a head count."

He shrugged lightly, turning his pale gaze back onto his companion. "I guess it doesn't bother me because I understand why he's there?" In the end, it didn't matter to him one way or another - if there was someone keeping track of them or not. He wouldn't admit to Vix that having new people were interesting. He liked to analyze, and the take-over brought a plethora of new individuals to dissect - a shame none of them were wherhanlders. Least to say, he didn't share the same view as Vix might.

Thus so, he leaned back toward Vix to accidentally brush arms. "Don't you hate everybody a little?" A light tease before his tone shifted into something more serious. He was tempted to put his arm around the kid's shoulders to draw him near to hear a piece of sociopath wisdom, but refrained - from touching. Kostya's lips thinned in thought, "I think I should try to explain something to you.."

Yet where to begin to not make Vix start snarling and snapping at him like a frenzied canine, or just utterly confused, or weirded out. hm. A 'You know your cute little scowls and glares are like honey to the wrong kind of crowd. I've seen some of the characters that came in with the take-over, and I'd really have to kill the first person to come around poking at you for their own entertainment. Why, oh, because I'm possessive and territorial - and I don't share'. Kostya frowned at himself. Yeaaah, maybe he'd try to ask Mirage to keep a closer watch on him instead, or teach him how to properly use a damn knife. The frown now creasing along in his brow, Kostya's brooding gaze fell to the hands hidden in Vix's pockets - knowing the scars there.

Konstask purred, taking in the shared visuals, her chin dipping in agreement. They went perfectly together - one could not be without the other, yes? The green waited a second or two before her eyes slitted in mischief and she pounced their reflections in the water. She spun sharply, flinging water everywhere and she bowed the front half of her body to Tekivisk in a clear invitation to play. Her tail cut through the water to send a splash at the bank before the jeweled green began bounding through the shallows.

[Avu]

Vix made a noise in his throat that was kind of like polite disagreement, without the politeness, making a face at the thought of the Wastelander’s irritation. It hadn’t ever really occurred of him to sympathize with the people who’d just kind of casually breezed in to take over. And he kind of liked it better before when that idea was so far gone that it didn’t even register. Trying to sympathize just did not…Kostya still had a point, though. He sniffed, a mixture of resignation and dry amusement, admitted, “Maybe a little,” tucking his chin in towards his chest defensively. Wasn’t his fault he hated everyone—they were all dumb, that was all.

He glanced over at Kostya’s words, blinking expectantly, hands still burrowing deeper into his pockets, one curled around the toy located there. After a minute without the other male continuing that train of though, though, Vix slowed to a stop, turning towards Kostya, a bewildered frown drawing one eyebrow downwards, head tilted. His gaze followed Kostya’s down towards his own hands, and they twitched in the relative safety of his pockets, a flicker of discomfort rising and morphing into instinctive defensiveness, “What?”

Not his most eloquent, but Vix didn’t really want to be that concerned, even if Kostya frowning like he’d done something wrong did absolutely nothing to keep away that concern. Because since when did it matter to him if Kostya thought he’d done something wrong—blame Tekivisk for that. Kostya was not his sister.

Although Tekivisk could not be less concerned at the moment with Hers or any of his concerns (or lack thereof); Konstask’s splash had elicited a startled, gleeful yelp from the green. She retaliated by swiping one forepaw at the water to splash at her sister before she ran right into the river, flicking out her wings in a display of playful ferocity—how big she was, roaaar. Tekivisk bounced forward at Konstask, teeth clipping empty air deliberately shy of the other green’s flank, the smaller green pressing up against her sister from one side and rubbing her head down Konstask’s spine before she leapt backwards.

Her teeth bared in a mock snarl, the green’s tail slashing down at the water to splash at Konstask again. They were the night, and the night was such a beautiful force to chase away the daylight, weren’t they—never-ending game of tag. She dipped her head down to blow a stream of bubbles at Konstask, twisting around to follow it with a twist of one wing to splash at the other green again.

[rii]

What.

Kostya blinked, returning his gaze to the proper level almost as if he didn't understand why the bewildered expression currently occupied Vix's features. There was a first time for everything, and Kostya was mildly surprised to find himself indecisive and without the words to even deflect the question. The pale eyes slipped off to the side to avoid the inquiring gaze, but by now his own feet had come to a halt a step ahead of the other handler. In the end, Kostya decided that there never would be a good time to bring up the peculiar topic. So with a light shrug of his shoulders, the older handler returned his gaze to the younger.

"I know the whole unfriendly I-hate-everybody routine is something you are comfortable and familiar with," Kostya mentally winced at his own words, already deciding that it would not end well. "I've come across a lot of different people in traveling." Been around crowds for the majority of his life, gathers for the most part. A perfect setting to hone his skills. "These riders, that crawled out from whatever rock they were hiding under, I've been watching them and there is a good few of them that would get an absolute kick tormenting you for all the glares and growls, and I don't mean just casual teases."

Why did Kostya know this? Because he was one of those people; only he trusted himself not to break out the knives and turn to physical aggression. He didn't want to break Vix, but others would. "I bring it up because I think you should be aware of it, and you really don't seem to know when to stop being–" Dumb. "–defiant. Maybe if I could help you recognize the type.." To what, be a sociopath like him to twist and pull at certain strings to get around people. What a delightful offer, Kostya. What happened to a good old fashion 'I'm concerned about you and think you should learn to protect yourself from these assholes'? A little late to think about that. Kostya blamed his mental stumble a moment before, and his mouth's response to fill the awkward silence with something.

.. even if it came out horribly clinical. Oops?

Konstask mock cowered at Tekivisk's impressive display. She flopped on her side, right there in the water next to Tekivisk, in what should have been feign of submissiveness. But after a few received splash she shifted to reach out with slender limbs, half curling each one around the sides of Tekivisk's neck and head to attempt to wrestle the glowing green into the dark waters. In the back of her mind she preened with the fact that hers would have to towel her dry before he'd let her inside the room. What could be said, the jeweled green was a glutton for attention. Maybe she could goad him into getting some of the oils used on dragons and applying them to her coat so she would shine her best alongside her lovely sister.

They'd let day catch up when they were tired – but for now– Konstask flipped back onto her feet and half-pouched with her front legs to try and tag at Tekivisk's shoulder. She remained coiled on her back legs to spring toward the bank and jungle once she made contact. You're it.

[Avu]

“What?” Vix repeated, because it was worthy of mentioning again—what? He worried at his lower lip with his tongue and teeth absently, equal parts horrified and confused. See, this was why he liked Darmori; he wasn’t casually told things like this when they were together. And—Vix couldn’t really wrap his mind around the idea of the dragonriders paying any attention to them if they weren’t ordered to, and it wasn’t like he ever saw any of them much other than the guard or whatever. So, no, the idea hadn’t even crossed his mind before. Of course, the fact that he had been exactly two places in his entire life with a small span at a third in between didn’t help, either—didn’t know much, did he.

“I don’t,” he said, after a blank pause, eyes narrowing doubtfully, “think the dragonriders will ever notice me—any of us.” And okay, maybe he did let his tongue go sometimes but he didn’t even see dragonriders most of the time and they hadn’t brought any wherhandlers with them, just Candidates and he was older than most Candidates, wasn’t he? But…he was making excuses. Wasn’t that what his attempts at rationalizing why Kostya’s…scenario…were? He stared uncertainly, twisted on his heel to resume walking because it felt better, pretending that the idea wasn’t downright unnerving, that way, easier.

“So…okay?” His chin tucked down to his chest, thumbs pressing into his pockets again, a sideways glance at Kostya. If anything, the lack of blatant affection in the other handler’s delivery made it easier, too. At least, Vix thought it was a little easier to cope with. But…Vix hadn’t exactly rehearsed a way to ask for Recognizing Crazies 1.01 lessons, so…“How, then? Or…who,” he corrected himself absently, back to watching more where he put his feet than Kostya.

Tekivisk squeaked, contentedly bracing her feet against the bottom of the river and arching her back to avoid being pulled under. Her muzzle dipped under and the green sneezed hard, ducking suddenly and scrambling backwards, accompanying the motion with a slap of her wings to the water to splash at Konstask. She purred at the touch to her shoulder, playfully weaving her head sideways to snap her teeth lightly at her sister, but Tekivisk fell into the game as old as she could remember, jumping for the bank, slowed by water, to follow her sister.

She nearly slipped down the bank, claws digging into mud, before she leapt, stretching herself out to land nearly on top of Konstask’s tailtip. The green split away from her sister to curl around one of the smaller trees at the edge of the jungle, though, mischievously rearing up and throwing her weight against one of the lower branches to make it dip towards Konstask—indirect tag?

[rii]

Kostya held his tongue, letting both of his brows slowly raise to firm a look on Vix in response to his first comment. Because wasn't that just realistic, that no one would ever notice grumpy hold-bred Tekivix. Yes, Kostya was more than certain that Vix has been trying to achieve absolute invisibility since candidacy and look how well it's worked so far. None of this was said, of course, but Kostya placed it all into a simple expression to let the reprimanding be easily gleaned from the look alone. How much Vix actively acknowledge, Kostya didn't know, since the younger handler pivoted away to all but storm off in a huff.

His pale eyes narrowed as he stepped after Vix, hand rising to nearly grab at Vix's elbow and swing him back around if not for the words. Oh. Oh. Vix was cooperating – in his own fashion. Kostya dropped his own hand to hang loosely at his side. It all had gone surprisingly better than Kostya anticipated. Really, anything where Vix might actually listen to fraction what he said and consider putting it to use was a good outcome. At the question of who though, Kostya's lips twisted into a wry smile. Just how was he suppose to go about this, while avoiding Vix connecting the dots and pointing at him as a prime example of who would take notice of Vix.

"To start with, the whole ignore them and they'll ignore you doesn't actually work." Again back in motion, side by side, Kostya's gaze remained honed intently on the side of Vix's features to gauge the other handler's reaction. If too much was rejected, the whole walk and casually talk was going to come to a quick end. "Well, it works for the usual every day people that can pick up on the hint that their company isn't wanted. Doesn't work on people that are too dumb for their own good, or the people that do pick up on it and want to make you uncomfortable by sticking around."

Right, probably needed to be more specific, "It's.. "

A lingering glance went over his shoulder to make sure they were out of sight of anyone, then he turned on Vix, stepping right up to him to slip into the taboo of personal space. His fingers curled halfway around Vix's bicep to turn the younger man, change his direction to be back-pedaling toward the trees. "It's a look. A smile. A presence." The tone had shifted, a tone near purring with delight along with the ever so pleased smile formed with closed lips. A demonstration of what words couldn't hope to fully describe. "One that your mixture of nervousness and scowling just makes worse. If you are ever around someone, other than our dearly beloved family of wher handlers - though Piden is something of a predator himself, if on the normal side - but as for strangers, might want to open your eyes and actually watch how they interact with others, or how they are with you instead of throwing up those walls that make you ignorant."

At the river, Konstask shivered, which could be easily blamed on the slight breeze that picked up around them to chill the water clinging to their green hides. The break of the trees provided a small amount of relief, but Konstask couldn't shake the strange dark, almost gleeful sensation creeping down the bond she shared with Kostya. The touch of branch made her jump in surprise, jerking her out of the weird trance as she spun away.

Oh she was it, was she?

Narrowing her eyes playfully at the challenge, Konstask slowly sank down. She coiled the power into her haunches before spring for her sister. Best run sister, because escape would not be possible. Not even the darkness of the thickest part of the jungles would be able to hide the moon. The jeweled green slipped off into the forest alongside of Tekivisk, content to let the darkness cloak all but a heat signature - which even then was broken by the passing trees. She was going to catch her sister, just wait and see.

[Avu]

“Funnily enough, I’d actually started noticing that,” Vix murmured, not entirely able to help himself. His chin was still tucked against his chest, eyes directed to the neutrality, the safety, of the ground. The dry sarcasm was a safe fall-back, too, something easy, something natural. Vix licked his lips nervously, pushing his hands deeper into his pockets, and then tipped his head to glance at Kostya sideways. Now that he thought about it, he supposed he should be grateful for this—whatever it was, a warning. Didn’t know how to say it, not without it coming out wrong, strangled. Supposed he’d have to veto that, for now. At least he could listen.

His forward momentum stopped at Kostya’s pressing towards him, Vix’s gaze snapping off the ground to meet the other handler’s eyes at last. One foot stepped back on instinct, letting Kostya push him towards the treeline. Pretend the hitch in his breath, the way it caught in the back of his throat, was just surprise, pretend the purring tone didn’t send a shiver down his spine. His eyes flicked down at the hold Kostya had on him, back to his face, and he pressed his lips together, back straightening slightly. Vix didn’t speak a moment, not until he’d pressed the heel of one foot against a rock for stability, rocking only slightly.

Both hands, lifting from his pockets again, curled around Kostya’s wrists, not intending to necessarily pull the other male’s hands off—just, the illusion of some control made Vix feel better. He blinked, found his voice to say, “Is it always,” a pause, tongue darting out to wet his lips, “this obvious, then…”

Chase, pursuit. She’d never been, not really, other than games of tag, the prey. And was it—Tekivisk danced, light and up on her toes, backwards, away from Konstask, a soft exhale the only sound of her passing as she sidled around a tree, let leaves drag down her sides—was it wrong that it was suddenly more, that it felt real and it was still thrilling? That she liked it, the shiver of adrenaline down her spine—the quiet knowledge that it was only ever a game kept Tekivisk from fear, at least, though why it was suddenly different she didn’t know—didn’t want to dissect.

The green ducked behind a tree, drifted down the line of a log and deeper into the jungle—dropping her bouncy gallop for a smoother pace more suited to the unpredictability of the ground underfoot. She assumed Konstask would be able to keep up—she always had before—so she spared only brief glances back, only when the trees parted into momentary thinness, to ensure that her sister’s heat signature was still visible, however faintly. Otherwise…her claws dug into the soft soil, left dual-toed puncture wounds…otherwise. She would run to the ends of the sky.