it's not a test, nor a trick of the mind [t'san]

[Avu]

You fuss too much, love. Don’t. It’s not good for you, you know, worrying all the time. Just relax. It’s /fine/. Dsoleth’s likes you and everybody likes the hatchling. Mimicslave may be debatable, but all worms are irritating anyway, so it isn’t as if his annoying habits should come as a /surprise/. Would it make you feel better if I /promised/ it’ll be okay?

“Not particularly,” Meira replied, hiding her smile in Riaren’s hair and pressing a quick kiss on her son’s forehead simultaneously. “But thanks anyway.” The response probably merited the low amused snort from the weyrledge, the gold dragon residing there shifting into a coiling mass of gleaming hide and ruffling wings before she settled with a low content huff, tail curling around the swell of her abdomen. Riaren, who was (fortunately) fairly accustomed to Meira addressing Jingth out loud and, to him, at random, leaned against his mother, head settling against her shoulder lightly.

Ironically, it was his presence – and Mimic’s, the brown Salamandyr curled around Meira’s wrist like a bracelet – that made the goldrider nervous. The reasons were kind of the same, and kind of different. At least, both of the reasons were basically T’san. Worried about he’d react to Mimic (after Aliene – Aliene had been a while ago, but things like that left holes and the holes always stayed); worried about how he’d react to Riaren and, more importantly, how Riaren would react to him. She’d usually left Riaren with R’wign whenever T’san was about to come around and sent Mimic to Doppelganger or Lilitu, just for simplicity and lack of awkward, but…

Well, if they were going anywhere, they had to meet eventually. That didn’t mean she couldn’t be nervous about it, though, which was why Meira was sitting on the couch, feet drawn up under her with one arm loosely around Riaren’s shoulders, the other hand resting on Monster’s side, the feline’s rumbling purr a steady soundtrack. She absently pressed another kiss to Riaren’s forehead, the little boy crinkling his nose in halfhearted protest at the affectionate gesture, though he leaned into it, one hand latching onto the hem of her shirt.

“Are you nervous? You’ve met T’san before, remember?”

Dark green eyes met hers unerringly, solemnly. “You’re nervous,” Riaren replied, head tilting to one side. The insight was unexpected, Meira’s breath hitching a moment in her throat.

“But you don’t have to be,” she promised, and Mimic crooned a counterpoint to the words. “T’san’s nice, remember? You can hold Mimic if it makes you feel better…”

Love, Mimic supplied cheerfully, and disentangled himself from Meira’s wrist to curl around Riaren’s instead, leaving Meira to rub her wrist absently, missing the warmth the Salamandyr’s body exuded.

“Okay.” Riaren’s tone was cheerful again, the toddler pulling away from his mother to sprawl over a pillow instead, stroking Mimic. He stayed there, unflinching at the knock at the door, which had Monster’s purring slowing as Meira managed not to actually jump to her feet (there was a Riaren present and she’d like to keep some of her dignity, after all) and crossed her weyr to the door, glancing back at Riaren and Mimic briefly. And yes, she was worrying again.

Don’t.
Not /trying/ to, she murmured in response to Jingth, answered the door. Even fretting couldn’t stop the smile at the sight of T’san, though, Meira biting her lip lightly to check it. Still had trouble comprehending that she could actually look at him, touch him if she wanted – and she might’ve kissed him hello if she hadn’t been so anxious about how Riaren might take it. Meira settled for a quiet “hey”, stepping back to let him in. “Ah…I’ve still got Riaren and Mimic,” and yes, she was deliberately keeping her voice pitched so her son couldn’t hear, because she was kind of maybe freaking out a little, “I haven’t told Riaren about…um, us? Is that…okay?”

[Ember]

T'san was humming. Why? because he was happy, of course. Not that he didn't randomly hum when he wasn't happy but generally he picked a song to hum to in that case. When he was as happy as he was he made up his own tune. It made no actual sense but it did reflect how he felt and that was good enough for him. He was no Harper and he had no interest in the Craft. Oddly enough, he was a fairly decent singer.... Even he appreciated that bit of irony. Thoughts of crafts were pushed aside when he got close to Meira's weyr.

It was still kind of surprising to the man that Meira returned his feelings. He hadn't had the best luckwith relationships in the past. At least, not the whole shared feelings part. He'd liked a girl when he was younger who had liked his bully. Then he'd been taken in by a greenrider at Fort. While there had been a bond there it hadn't necessarily been love. T'san shook his head. It was a bit early to call what he and Meira had 'love' but there was no point thinking about the past. He was a man who didn't really like to linger in the past so why was he then?

The brownrider knocked on Meira's door, a smile on his face even before she answered. Not a particularily unusual expression on the man's face but it was rarely so...so obviously genuine. It wasn't like T'san ever faked smiles but towards his friends and Meira there was a quality that was certainly missing from his everyday smiles. It didn't falter at all when the goldrider opened the door. "Hello," he said pleasantly. He would likely have picked her up by the waist playfully and entered her weyr carrying her but at her words he paused on the threshold.

"Ahhhh," he intoned lamely. He wondered exactly what to do about the situation he suddenly found himself in. He wouldn't leave but he knew that he'd be entering into a rather uncomfortable situation. He hadn't forgotten about Riaren or Mimic of course, but he hadn't quite anticipated seeing them so soon. Meira's weyr was always devoid of them when he got there. The man was seriously craving some of his firelizard's support at that moment but he'd told the blue to remain behind. There would be a gold where he was going, he'd told the flitter. T'san didn't hesitate too much as he stepped into the weyr. There was really no point avoiding it.

"Yeah, that's fine," he told Meira. He wouldn't question what she though was best for Riaren's sake. T'san knew baby animals, not children. The brownrider was unsure what to do for a moment before he decided to go with the usual: When in doubt, be friendly. "Heya Riaren, Jingth." He didn't see Mimic from where he was and didn't particularly want to address the salamandyr first. He wouldn't invite attention from the creatures. It had been a while since Aliene but he had never properly gotten over it given the fact that he was still easily upset by them.

[Avu]

She hadn’t expected T’san to be excited. She wasn’t excited, after all, but his reaction was less than reassuring. Meira nodded silently – she kind of wished she had warned T’san before, but she’d been having second thoughts starting as of the minute she’d decided Riaren and Mimic should stick around. Which was probably not a good thing. At all. As it was, Meira expected to have to be the buffer of sorts, trying to make sure things didn’t get awkward. Riaren, of course, she doubted would understand ‘awkward’, but T’san definitely would. She let the door fall shut on its own, reaching out to twine her fingers loosely with T’san’s, a brief squeeze before she let go, an attempt at thank you without words.

His greeting earned a low croon from Jingth, the gold peering at T’san from the weyrledge. She stretched out a little further and closed her eyes again after her ‘greeting’, content to be acknowledged and ignored (as long as it was in that order).

Riaren, though, squirmed back into an upright position, holding Mimic in his lap, the brown content to be petted and fussed over. Dark green eyes flicked up at T’san, Riaren tilting his head, almost shyly, before he raised his free hand to wiggle his fingers at the brownrider in a clumsy wave. He smiled, a playful, near-mischievous upwards quirk of his lips, replying with a polite “Hi.” A pause, and then Riaren squirmed a little, gaze darting to his mother briefly, returned to the new person. Well. Somewhat new, anyway. “What do I call you?”

“Mrowww,” was Monster’s opinion, the feline’s ears flicking as he uncoiled himself from the couch (it was going up and down because of a certain toddler and that was just not very comfortable) and padded over. He wound around Meira’s ankles in passing before he made himself at home on top of T’san’s feet, sniffing briefly. His sandpaper tongue flicked out, rasping against T’san’s ankle. The feline stretched upwards and draped himself shamelessly against T’san’s legs, head tilted back to look hopefully up at the brownrider. Pet himmmm. Purr, purr, attention pleaaaase.

“Monster,” Meira murmured, torn between exasperation and amusement, leaning down to scoop up the feline, who squirmed in her arms until he could reach out and bat playfully at T’san’s arm with one paw, claws kept carefully sheathed. “Riaren,” Meira added, drawing the toddler’s gaze back to herself – he’d previously been watching T’san quietly – “Scoot over, please. Do you want,” back to T’san again, glancing nervously at the brownrider for his reaction to…Riaren, Monster, everything (at least Mimic was content to stay quiet), “to sit down…?”

[Ember]

The brownrider took in the weyr that was quickly becoming quite familiar as he stepped further in. At the very least the day would be interesting? Not that it ever wasn't when it involved Meira. The goldrider surprised and calmed him slightly with her simple gesture. He smiled briefly before looking towards Jingth. Her return greeting was met with a humourous salute. For all intents and purposes he pretty much considered the gold Dsoleth's mate even though he wasn't certain what she really thought of his brown. The brown adored Jingth. She was his so called 'type' and had chosen him. Good enough for the brown.

Ah, there was the 'mandyr. All the awkward causing things were conveniently in one place, imagine that. The boy's wave was met with a slight smile - he didn't dislike the kid after all. He just didn't know how to act around him - and a nod in return. The question about what to call him had the brownrider blinking owlishly for a moment. Well that was a new one on him. He normally addressed others by their name and the other person usually followed suit. Part of that might have to do with the fact that the brownrider dislike wearing his knots and generalyl didn't wear them.

T'san didn't need any help from Meira to answer Riaren's question. "You can call me T'san. Or you could make up a silly nickname for me, but I'd have to do the same in return," he said with a playful wink. Once you got him talking, the brownrider eased into things well enough. If he was uncomfortable all someone had to do was make the first move. So far Riaren wasn't too different from a lot of other people. Some topics were kind of forbidden but one could apparently hold a conversation with a kid.

A meow brought his attention to the feline on the couch who had gone unnoticed due to the whole child and 'mandyr thing. If his growing comfort hadn't been evident before then, his features visibly lit up when he noticed Monster. When the cat approached him and very obviously begged for attention he indulged the feline, scratching gently behind one of Monster's ear. At Meira's approach he straightened and let her take the feline regretfully. Such a friendly kitty. As a paw landed on his arm he reached out to tap it playfully in response.

The offer to sit down was met with obvious hesitation. Not because of Riaren but because of what was on Riaren's lap. His brown dragon opened up their bond - he'd been closing it unconsciously at the thought of being near a 'mandyr - and he felt Dsoleth's scorn. Suck it up T'sanfoolmine. It's just an innocent little 'mandyr. Aliene - and here T'san winced mentally - is long gone. Or do you want to make Jingth's worry because you're afraid an annoying pest will talk to you, crawl on you? Mimic isn't annoying There was smug satisfaction in the brown's mind before he withdrew. Yeah yeah. The brownrider offered Meira a smile in an attempt to make up for potentially worrying her. "Sure. Thanks." He sat down on the couch, overly aware of Mimic but willing to try.

[Avu]

The brownrider’s response earned a giggle from Riaren, the child scrunching up his nose. From the way he uncurled from around Mimic, it was clear that any lingering discomfort he might’ve felt with having someone he only vaguely knew in his home had vanished. He ceased his petting of Mimic in favor of scooting over obediently to make room on the couch for the newcomer as well as his mother, draping himself half over the back of the couch and settling his chin against his arms. “You can’t make a nickname out of ‘Riaren’,” he pointed out (it wasn’t like it hadn’t been tried before) – “And, I meant…” Riaren tilted his head, letting Mimic crawl onto his shoulder, and the fact that he didn’t even look was testament to how used to the Salamandyr he was…“I don’t have to call you Mister or ‘nything?”

Meira stayed quiet as she followed T’san to the couch, sitting on Riaren’s far side, mostly so that she could keep an eye on Mimic without being right in between T’san and Riaren. She wanted them to talk to each other, preferably without her acting as a go-between. If it was necessary, she would, but still. Curling her legs under her, Meira let Monster crawl out of her arms, the feline hopping lightly over Riaren in favor of making a beeline to T’san – this one liked to pet him. The child was too busy with the Salamandyr, hmph. Monster mrowed again, sprawling shamelessly against T’san’s leg, using his head to butt emphatically at the man’s hand.

“Monster likes you,” Riaren observed, and then added, “I bet Mimic would too, he likes everyone.”

“Riaren,” Meira interjected, gaze flicking up nervously to T’san, “your stuffed firelizard? Why don’t you go get it, prove it’s still alive.”

She waited until Riaren had cheerfully agreed and scooted off the couch with Mimic still attached to the collar of his shirt, trotting off into his room, before she spoke, curling her legs onto the couch again, chin resting against her knees. “I’m sorry,” was the first thing that came out, even though it seemed kind of pointless this far in. Meira reached forward absently to stroke down Monster’s spine, the feline arching into her touch, purring loudly. “You don’t have to do this,” she added, quietly. “If you don’t want to, right now…Mimic or Riaren, I mean.”

A pause, Meira glancing after Riaren for a second. “I mean, I could drop them off with R’wign for the day or something…” She might’ve felt bad for asking R’wign to take Riaren so often of late, but she was pretty sure that the brownrider didn’t mind (and that was probably something of an understatement) and from Riaren’s constantly glowing reports about his Daddy and his Uncle, it was obvious that he loved it, too. Besides…even a brief meeting would be better than none at all, right?

Gradual desensitization, Jingth put in sweetly. Humans don’t make much sense, do they? You’re happy when Dsoleth’s is there, and when Mimic is there, and when the hatchling is there, but not all of them at the same time?

Which, spelled out like that, really didn’t seem to make much sense. It was a probably good thing, then, that she’d never claimed that her life made sense.

[Ember]

Oh look, he'd made a funny. To be more precise his funny had been funny for the kid as well. When Riaren said a nickname couldn't be made out of his name the brownrider raised a brow that clearly meant 'you wanna bet?' before he chuckled. "I could. Rye. Ren. Squirt," he said, the last word taking on a playful tone. "I'm pretty sure I have a gift for awful nicknames that make no sense. Dsoleth says I'm just uncreative, I prefer to say I'm unique. In truth it was probably the former. if someone reminded him of something that was their nickname.

T'san blinked at Riaren's meaning and he shook his head. "No need to call me mister. In fact please don't. It makes me feel old." Not that he probably didn't look old to the kid. Meira was rather young for a mom in the weyr and probably didn't help Riaren's view on who was considered old. At least the brownrider looked a bit younger than he was for which he was sure he'd always be grateful for. As the feline approached him the brownrider relaxed a little more and he contentedly pet Monster. Riaren's comment caught him off guard and he tried not to show his sudden anxiousness.

Meira thankfully interjected - and in such an interesting way. He'd forgotten about that firelizard actually - and he shot her a smile when Riaren was out of view. It faded rapidly at the goldrider's apology. She really shouldn't be the one apologizing. He was tempted to say it was his problem but...it wasn't just his problem anymore, was it? He sighed under his breath. What did he say to that? He would like her to do that but that wasn't really going to help in the long run. He shook his head gently. "It's alright. Riaren's no bother at all." The faint surprise in his voice revealed that that was a recent revelation.

The man continued tentatively from there. "Mimic...Mimic is going to - " to what? Be a problem? That was hardly comforting - " - take some getting used to. I can't get used to him if he's not around." Meira knew why he was uncomfortable with salamandyrs. He wasn't sure he'd ever actually told her about Aliene's death but one way or another she'd found it. He had a silver lining for her though, "At least it's better than before." That was because of Dsoleth, Nevroti, and even Spice. He just had to get used to the creatures again. It was easier said than done but he was sure it was possible.

[Avu]

He sounded surprised, and that actually drew a smile from Meira, small, relieved, and almost amused. Riaren had never been a bother for her, even when she’d had to get up multiple times during the course of a single night to check on him (and anyway, that had been more her paranoia than anything he did), but she got that some people didn’t like kids – though she’d never seen T’san as someone who outright disliked children, let alone Riaren. As the brownrider went on, though, she was serious again, tucking her toes under the cushions in the couch. Understandable. He’d lost a Salamandyr, not a child. At least, to her knowledge. He wouldn’t be working from negatives with Riaren like he would with Mimic.

“Okay,” she replied, quietly, nodded, and then quirked a little smile at him. “‘Gradual desensitization’ – that’s the term Jingth was using.” The gold cared, though that went unspoken. Meira was fairly sure that Jingth wouldn’t appreciate her saying that. Of course she cared about her pets, and all that. Regardless. The very fact that the gold was listening in at all, let alone commenting on what was going on, gave that away. “Would it be easier if we did something else? Like – ” Meira glanced automatically towards the weyrledge for inspiration, towards Jingth. “ – a picnic or something? Where Riaren doesn’t think you’re the most interesting thing ever?”

The last was teasing, even though the suggestion was a serious one. No reason they had to stay in the weyr. It was kind of chilly out still, but certainly it wasn’t bad enough to make being inside a necessity.

It was that moment that Riaren chose to make a reappearance, toddling across the weyr again, clinging to the stuffed firelizard. It was probably two Turns old now, since Riaren’s second Turnday was coming up shortly, and probably a little worse for the wear, the color having faded somewhat and the fabric definitely stretched, but it was still in one piece. Mimic was curled around Riaren’s wrist again as he pulled himself onto the couch, crawling up and then turning himself around in between Meira and T’san. He leaned against Meira’s legs, flashing a dimpled smile at T’san and offering the stuffed firelizard for his approval.

“Uncle M’ta made me toys too,” he informed T’san seriously. “And I like Ren best.” A liiittle on the random side there, but Riaren didn’t seem to notice. He carefully set the stuffed firelizard on the back of the couch, sprawling onto his stomach so he could pet Monster, the feline offering another approving mrow and positively squirming under all of the attention. The position put Riaren (and Mimic, though the Salamandyr crawled down the back of Riaren’s shirt and peered out from there) that much closer to T’san. The toddler was unfazed by it, instead going on, “Do I get to give you a name now?”

[Ember]

T'san chuckled softly when Meira told him what Jingth had called it. "Jingth's considerably more understanding than my lump of a brown. He more or less just told me 'get over it, idiot.' Such a loving dragon," he said wryly. The underlying fondest for Dsoleth in his voice was unmistakable though, and it was entirely mutual no matter how they may treat each other. Odd as it was, their way of expressing their love for each other was in teasing and mocking each other. Dsoleth was also quite fond of toying with His physically. See: hanging by a foot from the brown's mouth.

At the suggestion that they do something else he blinked before tilting his head to the side consideringly. At the very least it would be interesting. The winter was chilly but that's why people bundled up. No need to stay cooped up inside. T'san frequently went out for hours despite the cold because sitting around inside didn't suit him well. So in the end he smiled and said, "I think a picnic would be good. Dsoleth could come too. He makes for a surprisingly good distraction." He considered mentioning that they ought to steer clear of any place too close to the forest since that feline attack recently but he opted not to. As a Healer Meira ought to know about it. He'd just make sure they weren't too close.

Riaren's return was met with a surprised smile from the brownrider as he caught sight of the firelizard stuffie. Well it did indeed live. It was a bit beat up but, "It looks a lot like mine does. Well-loved." His observation may have been wrong but he doubted it. Things didn't got so worn otherwise. Did it give his ego a little boost? Possibly. Apparently kids weren't too hard to please. At least, Riaren wasn't. Best not to dwell on it or he may well get all awkward again. Things were going well and that's al lthe brownrider really cared for.

M'ta. M'ta, M'ta.... He knew the name but couldn't put a face to it. The belated response to his nicknaming was met with an amused smile. "Ren it is then." T'san likely would have been fine with Riaren being even closer to him if not for the fact the kid had a Mimic on him. That awareness made the brownrider pause for a moment before glancing at Meira. Gradual desensitization right? The brownrider chuckled slightly at Riaren's question and focused on that rather than the proximity of a salamandyr. "I suppose that's only fair."

[Avu]

Picnic. She could do that. The Drudges at the Main Hall were always willing to provide for a picnic (probably because picnics meant there was no mess for them to clean up). Meira nodded absently over Riaren’s head, content to consider the details of the picnic in silence for time being, since clearly her son was delighted by T’san’s attention and more than happy to talk to him. Shy, Riaren was not. “I named him, too,” the child was informing T’san, still clumsily weaving his fingers through Monster’s fur. “But it’s a secret name. Mimic knows it but only ‘cause he promised not to tell ever.” He nodded solemnly, and then crinkled up his nose, clearly thinking.

“I think I need your full name ‘fore I can come up with a nickname,” he decided after a moment, and bobbed his head decisively. Riaren didn’t entirely understand why names were elided at all, but that hadn’t stopped him from deciding that he would shorten his name, too, after he Impressed a brown like Checkoth and Behruth and Mimic.

“Why don’t you think of one on the way out,” Meira suggested, and smiled at T’san, teasing, “Not everyone’s as good at coming up with creative nicknames on the spot. Is a picnic okay? You can ride down on Jingth if you want, and Dsoleth’s going to be there. You can meet him again too.” Riaren’s agreement came quickly and vigorously, dark green eyes widening in excitement as he looked back at his mother and then climbed down from the couch, leaving Monster to mrow in quiet disappointment and wiggle closer to T’san instead.

Meira uncurled from the couch as well, giving Riaren a gentle nudge between the shoulders towards Jingth and glancing back to T’san with a slightly lopsided smile. “Jingth can carry three, if Dsoleth wants to pick a spot and have us meet him down there or something,” she said, and then shrugged. “Or he could come pick you up if you don’t want to go to the Main Hall and we can meet you there…?” It wasn’t like asking the Drudges to get a basket of food together was a particularly difficult business, even with a toddler along for the ride. As it was, she was kind of hoping that if Dsoleth (or T’san, or both) chose the spot, it’d be one the brownrider was a little more comfortable in.

And new. New would be good, for Riaren. Distractions, and all.

Oh, look, love, Jingth interjected with cheerful amusement, The hatchling is ever so well trained. He got your riding straps. I don’t think he can put them on me, though. Perhaps you should help him before he gets himself all tangled up. Oops! Too late~

[Ember]

T'san smiled at Riaren's word. Secret name, huh? His was quite uncreatively named Green. Even at four turns old he hadn't been too good with the naming thing. It was probably for the best he did have any children. He'd probably name them something strange like Redfruit or Belior randomly, completely ignoring the usual rules of naming on Pern. Although...oddly enough his unique names for real salamandyrs and firelizards weren't too bad. They weren't really appropriate for humans though. Aliene was just a strange name, and Nevroti sounded too much like neurotic.

Eight turns going by T'san...was it really so odd he sometimes forgot the usefulness of his full name? "Tamorsan," he informed the boy simply. He stuck his tongue out playfully at Meira when she teased him, not bothering to make sure Riaren wouldn't notice the immature gesture. The brownrider renewed his petting of Monster as the feline was abruptly left without Riaren's affections. He chuckled and gently massaged the cat's ear. "You just want some attention, don't you? Poor thing," he murmured to the feline.

He muttered a quick apology to the feline before standing as well. "I'll meet Dsoleth back at my weyr and find someplace for us. If I'm going outside I need another layer." He didn't mention that he'd like to bring Nevroti along. If Jingth was going to be at the picnic the blue would be hiding in his clothes. It'd be far worse if he left the blue on his own for the day. He'd accidentally ignored the firelizard once...the blue's depression had not been pretty. Slightly fearful flitter was better than a depressed one. With amusement he added, "Besides, the kitchen staff find me annoying. Better if I'm not there."

The brownrider glanced at Riaren then and found him curiously tangled up in riding straps. Well surely he was a bit too distracted to notice...? Besides, Meira could pass it off as some kind of special farewell. T'san stepped closer to the goldrider with a smile and pressed a light kiss on her forehead. "See ya soon." His voice was loud enough to carry to Riaren before he walked out of Meira's weyr, closing the door behind him. Hey Dsoleth, stretch your wings or whatever. You're coming with.

((Just...inserting a little time skip in here. If you want I can change it.))

Dsoleth landed a little ways from Selenitas weyr at a place he and His had discovered while flying once. It wasn't too far from the safety of the weyr. T'san had brought the brown there every now and then after they discovered it. All one had to do was follow the river towards Blossom Hold and it was easy to find. It was a simple beach along the river. He liked it because it was impossible to get to without going by dragon and yet it was big enough for several. He suspected a landslide had caused the formation of it, since the place the beach was the raised land next the the river suddenly dropped off. He didn't care much for how it got to be there, he just liked it. The brown gave Jingth directions to their picnic spot.

[Avu]

It didn’t take long to stop by the Main Hall, even if Jingth wasn’t allowed to go between anymore. Meira didn’t like taking Riaren between anyway, and the child seemed to enjoy straight flight much more, especially on the occasions when Jingth indulged him and offered a few quick, carefully controlled dives and loops. Getting the Drudges to prepare a quick lunch hadn’t been any trouble either, and by the time Meira got the food, Riaren was contentedly sucking on a piece of candy from one of the Drudges, chattering cheerfully around it as well as he could (not very, but Meira did catch something about cake).

He insisted on holding the basket, clinging to it tightly as Jingth took off from the landing pad again, following the coordinates Dsoleth had sent her along the river, although at least he took the candy out of his mouth – choking hazard, and all that. The gold was clearly in a good mood when she twisted into a lazy, coiling downwards spiral to land near Dsoleth, eyes bright blue as she crooned a pleasant greeting at the brown. Her favorite, he was.

As soon as Meira slid off and helped Riaren down, the toddler still clinging tightly to candy and picnic basket, Mimic curled in again in the collar of his shirt, Jingth flopped down next to Dsoleth, wings folding neatly by her sides, and plopped her muzzle onto his back, informal to the extreme and very comfortable as she wiggled closer to him like a tunnelsnake. Oh, grace, thy name is Jingth. Hello, she said, her ‘voice’ as cheerful as the blues in her eyes, and her tongue flicked out to lick the brown’s shoulder lightly.

“Hey,” Meira called to T’san, echoed by Riaren, who grinned widely to make up for his lack of free hands – he was clinging to Meira’s hand with one, and the other was more than occupied by the heavy basket. As soon as they got close enough to T’san, Riaren released Meira’s hand to grasp the basket of the handle with both hands and lift it up for T’san’s approval, announcing solemnly, “Got cake. And,” he added, scrunching his nose up a little, “I decided on a nickname. Morry?”

Swallowing her laughter and pressing her lips together in a futile attempt at hiding the smile, Meira bowed her head slightly to hide her amusement. “Morry’s lovely,” she commented to Riaren, the smile turning mischievous when she glanced up at T’san. “Are we sitting here, or was this just the most convenient place to meet up…?”

And then the world blew up. BOOM.

[Ember]

Dsoleth returned Jingth's croon with one of his own and shifted slightly where he lay. T'san tsked at him softly. "Don't wiggle around too much, I'm tryin' to get this...." Though the brown didn't hear His' words over Jingth's landing he did get the mental gist of it and held still long enough for the brownrider to get an old blanket out of the harness where he'd haphazardly stuffed it. He gave a small warning to Nevroti once he got it and jumped from Dsoleth. He wasn't too high up so he landed with only a slight stumble.

The brown rumbled softly, really more of a hum than anything else, as Jingth put her head on his back and snuggled closer. He licked the underside of her neck before resting his head on the sand near her paws. Good day, Jingth. You seem quite well, he said pleasantly. His concern for her wellfare was more than simply a brown's concern for an egg heavy queen. It was Jingth. He was always hoping she'd be well. Do you like this place?

T'san's reply to the greetings was a jaunty wave from his hand that the blanket was not draped over. He helped close the distance between them and smiled at both - yes, even Riaren who had a salamandyr at his neck - in greeting. He leaned down and peeked into the basket. "Mm," he hummed in clear approval. Cake was yummy. The revelation of his new nickname was met with a wide smile and the brownrider stood upright again, shifting slightly as he tried not to laugh.

Meira's amusement wasn't helping much. He managed to hold back the laughter and said, "Morry's cool." It would take getting used to. He turned his attention to Meira at her question. "We'll be sitting here but a bit away from the dragons." He spread one arm towards the other end of the beach. Ladies and children first. He wanted more distance between them and Jingth so that Nevroti would feel comfortable coming out of his shirt. Meira and Riaren likely couldn't see the firelizard since the blue was curled up at the small of his back rather than in the front.

[Avu]

It’s lovely, was Jingth’s honest response, the gold nuzzling Dsoleth slightly. Her tail flopped across the brown’s back, curling lightly down his spine, possessive. I don’t think we’ve ever been here before. Not that I can remember, but Meira doesn’t, either. The words were accompanied by a slight squirm – Jingth did not like being eggheavy. It made everything so awkward; she’d taken to literally sleeping on her back like Monster did. So upsetting, she added, Call it a picnic and don’t bring /us/ any food~

Because it was just so appetizing to watch a dragon disembowel a herdbeast, of course.

Riaren beamed at the acceptance of his nickname. If he noticed the amusement as being at his expense, he gave no sign, instead opting to reach up to grab his mother’s hand again, tugging in the direction T’san had indicated, picnic basket swinging dangerously in his candy-sticky grasp. Meira let herself be pulled along, glancing back at T’san briefly, her smile almost shy – grateful.

She got that talking to younger children could be awkward. She did; she hadn’t even particularly liked children before Riaren and she hadn’t had the first idea how to talk to him, even when she knew he couldn’t understand. Now he did understand (more than she’d have thought he would at such a young age, too) and it couldn’t have possibly been easy for T’san. It still wasn’t easy for Meira – she just talked to him like she did Mimic and Jingth, for the most part. Not that she thought Riaren was really picky as long as he got some attention – he never was.

Riaren let go of her hand and handed off the picnic basket once they made it close to the end of the small beach, the toddler scampering off on his own to explore a little, moving on slightly unsteady legs as Mimic anxiously coiled closer to him, crooning worriedly – don’t faaaall.

“Riaren, stay on the beach – ” where they could see him. Meira bit her lip nervously, watching him as he waved in comprehension, and then sighed, affection and resignation in the same breath. Mimic would watch him, always did, and Riaren almost never disobeyed a direct order like that. Turning back to T’san, she offered a quick grin, gesturing with the hand not occupied by a picnic basket. “Distracted,” she commented quietly, “And will probably stay distracted for a while.”

[Ember]

We discovered it, the brown said proudly. Though he was modest enough to add, Though others have probably found it before. All the same, it is our place now. Jingth's squirm was met with confusion on the part of Dsoleth. He didn't understand her discomfort. Despite being a dragon he was still male. They are quite selfish, Dsoleth added, though his tone indicated he was partly joking. He had eaten only a couple days ago so he was good for a bit longer. He hadn't eggs to support though.

T'san followed the mother-son pair towards the end of the beach pleasantly. With the extra layer he'd put on he didn't feel too much of the chill except for on his face, neck, and hands. It was a surprisingly good day for a picnic. Meira's smile earned her one in return. He wasn't entirely sure what she was grateful to him for but whatever. As long as she was feeling alright that was fine. Maybe one day he'd start telling her she needn't feel the need to apologize so much or feel grateful all the time. For that time though he was still feeling things out.

To say a kid complicated things was a bit of an understatement. He couldn't even claim ignorance; he'd met Meira while she was still pregnant. He'd known more or less what he was getting into from the start. Didn't really make it any easier but it did make him a bit more determined to get along with Mimic and Riaren. No, that did not mean he wanted to be the boy's father figure or anything. He already had one of those anyways. Maybe like a much older brother? That went out with his mom.... Okay maybe not. Friends, then. T'san thought he could handle that.

T'san watched Riaren relieve himself of the picnic basket and toddle off on his own. Er...he'd leave that to Meira. He had no idea what to do if a little kid wanted to go exploring. Supposedly they were supposed to be watched but at the same time it would be awfully boring if they were forced to sit and do nothing. The goldrider let Riaren go with a small warning and he busied himself with spreading the blanket he'd brought. He didn't much mind sitting directly on the ground but even a thin layer between the ground and them was probably a good idea in the cold.

When Meira commented about Riaren the brownrider tilted his head as he straightened the blanket. "Is it always as easy as that?" He asked in blatant surprise. He wasn't entirely sure what he was surprised about though. Kids were sort of known for their curiosity weren't they? Maybe it was because Riaren was more...just 'more' for an almost two turn old kid. That begged the question of what T'san expected of kids in general and he didn't care to try and answer it.

[Avu]

Lovely, Jingth repeated, and it was. Nobody there, except her favorites; favorite brown, favorite human, favorite hatchling…it was good. I’m glad you and Yours are okay with sharing it, she added. The gold’s tail continued down his spine absently, coming to a rest coiled around Dsoleth’s. I’m sure the Mimicslave will be fed, too, and the mock-petulance in her tone was accompanied by an absent flutter of her far wing, a melodramatic display of distress at the terrible neglectfulness of their respective Riders.

A grin quirked at the corners of her mouth, Meira tilting her head as she knelt to pull at the other end of the blanket from T’san to straighten it entirely. “Sure. I mean, it’s a new place.” A shrug, the goldrider stealing another glance over her shoulder at Riaren, who was already jabbering at Mimic from his position on the ground, peering down at what she assumed was probably a particularly pretty shell or rock. “Usually cake keeps him in one place,” she added with a wry smile, “but apparently not today…”

With a last twitch at one corner of the blanket, she leaned forward to place the basket in the center, and wiggled onto the actual blanket, sitting with her legs crossed, elbows draped loosely across her knees. “So I think I’ve asked you what you were allergic to before,” she commented, “But that was probably in the Infirmary in reference to – like, numbweed, and stuff. So – you aren’t, are you, with…food?” Meira leaned forward to nudge the basket towards T’san, an invitation to look through it.

She wasn’t really sure what was in it. Riaren probably knew, since the Drudges positively doted on him whenever Meira brought him by the kitchens, and liked to see what was going in and out of the basket (cake, right?). Probably just regular stuff – sandwiches, meatrolls, pastries, whatever happened to be conveniently in the kitchens at the time.

Shiny, look, love!

Mimic’s words announced Riaren’s return, the Salamandyr scampering down from the boy’s shoulder in favor of throwing himself onto Meira’s, trilling a hesitant greeting at T’san. He knew, kind of, that he wasn’t exactly welcome – side effect of being Bonded to Meira, and all – but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t be polite, right? In his claws was the ‘shiny’ in question, a little blood-red shell with black markings on the smooth inside. He dropped it into Meira’s lap, murmuring, For brownling’s?

Riaren, meanwhile, had opted to simply flop down on the blanket, wiggling his fingers in another cheerful wave at T’san. “’S for you,” he announced, picking up the shell that Mimic had dropped and holding it out to the brownrider – he didn’t understand why Mimic hadn’t just gone over and given it to T’san, but oh well.