close your eyes and make believe [mi’rah]

[Avu]

Shiny one, shiny two, Mimic counted. The Salamandyr crooned loudly in excitement. He would’ve bounced on Meira’s shoulder to further emphasize his delight, but he was heavily weighed down – a ring was perched like a lopsided crown on his head, the silver band falling over one eye; another one was being worn as a bracelet on his hind leg, this one gold and twisted in the design of vines. His tail twined around the ‘bracelet’, holding it in place from slipping off of his leg entirely as he flapped his wings, his croon fading into a steady pleased hum.

Meira didn’t protest his joy. She could understand it, she guessed – he did so adore his eggbrother. That didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous, though. The goldrider had decided not to bring the toys that Mi’rah had bought for Riaren back to the bronzerider – it seemed kind of pointless; what would he do with them, anyway? It helped a lot that Riaren actually kind of loved them. Her son was, at the moment, with his father, after having decided that he wanted to sleep over there, pleaaase, Mommy? And it wasn’t as if she could actually, you know, resist him, especially something as small as that.

Right. She couldn’t resist him anything.

Raising one hand to pet Mimic, Meira stopped in front of one of the unfamiliar doors. Is this one the right one? she asked uncertainly, not quite sure if it was Mimic or Jingth that she was addressing. Regardless, the resounding Yes! Eggbrother Doppelmine hiiiii – from Mimic and the gentler, more amused That is correct from Jingth came simultaneously. Blinking, Meira raised her hand to knock on the door awkwardly, hoping that Mimic and Jingth knew what they were talking about – it wasn’t as if she kept track of which weyr belonged to who.

The knocking was accompanied by another croon from Mimic, as loud as he could manage, and another call to Doppelganger: Doppel brothermine shinies for yoooouuuu~ He hopped on her shoulder and added, RahYours home please? That, of course, was for Meira’s benefit – which earned a faintly embarrassed smile from the goldrider; that was what knocking was for, wasn’t it?

[Lotty]

EEEEEE! Mimicloves at door RahMine let in please! Pleaseeeee! The salamandyr had picked up on the sound of his beloved twin the second Meira was at the door with him in tow. Sooooooo excited the brown was about a visit from his Mimic. Now they could play in his home and it would be oh so fun! And his pile...his growing collection! It was now imperative that he /must/ show it off. The little packrat hopped over to his treasure pile and straightened it up, making sure the egg shard his brotherlove gave him so long ago still reigned supreme at the top. Soooo perrrrfect! Doppelganger crooned excitedly before taking to his feet again and hopping over to Mi'rah where he was sitting and maybe...just maybe dozing off to sleep.

It would be a much easier feat if it wasn't for those pets of his. As if the bronzerider didn't have enough to contend with when it came to Doppelganger, he also had a very irritable Peccadillo sitting on the back on his chair that had awoken at the sound of the browns. Slinking down onto his head and over his brow to pop right into sight, her big bright eyes staring him down until his lids creaked open. It was only then did the green mandyr hiss, Doppeldumb friends at door. She didn't bother to tell them to go away herself mind you. It would be more effort than was worth and really she couldn't expect dummy friends of the brown to understand perfectly clear Pernese anyway. Hmmf. So she could only hope that if hers answered maybe those dratted peddlers can go bother someone else faster.

At the sound of the knocks the bronzerider instinctually steeled himself for the absolute worst, calming slightly when he noticed the lack of urgency that would denote a higher up at his door. Of course, any security he felt was destroyed once again as Doppelganger proudly announced GO GO GO! Rahmine door keep friendlies out! Hiiiiiii Eggbrothermine! Oh no! He knew that Mimic alone couldn't have made that knock at the door (and if he could that was sharding impressive) and so surely that meant Meira and the conversation he had been so dreading was on the other side of that wooden border. He called back, "I'll be right there," he hoped that his voice carried over, he was a notorious low talker.

Pushing whatever hides and books he had been reading before hand out of the way, he quickly clamored to get out of his chair. It wasn't graceful by any means, but then again nobody was watching to judge. Giving himself a once over in the hopes he looked at very least decent, he shuffled over to the door and opened it somewhat slowly to reveal exactly who he expected. At least Doppelganger made it a little bit easier by immediately joining him OHHH! MimicMine shinies have you! Shineypile mine must see! Come come~.

Mi'rah meanwhile tried his best and put on his best smile and greeted the woman, "Oh, hello there Meira, what brings you this way?"

[Avu]

The sound of Mi’rah’s voice was reassuring, and Meira dropped her hand from the door, taking a step back and rocking on her heels. She was prepared to wait – if she hadn’t been, she would’ve asked Jingth to bespeak Kierjaarth prior to coming. It’d seemed too impersonal, though, the communication dragon to dragon. Not right. However, even if she was prepared to wait, Mimic wasn’t. The Salamandyr’s excitement kicked up another notch, bright and blinding enough that she felt it as if it was her own, had to stifle a delight so innocent and childish that it was accompanied by the vague desire to bounce up and down.

“Calm down,” she murmured to the Salamandyr, even though she knew it was no use – as demonstrated as soon as the door opened. Mimic licked her fingers hurriedly before he leapt off of her shoulder, straight at Doppelganger. His frill tried to flare in his excitement, but the ring on his head pinned it down; he dropped like a stone with the added weight. Meira instinctively grabbed for the Salamandyr, and he licked her thumb again in thanks before leaping down the rest of the way and shooting, a little excited brown bullet, straight for Doppelganger.

It transformed into something between a tackle and a hug, that had Mimic sprawling across Doppelganger as he cooed happily. The brown began to lick his brother’s head, tail arching over his back and practically wagging. Yes, yes, will see, will see, he hummed, adoring. Look, brotherlove, look – shinies for youuu. Pretty, yes? Oh, he was so glad he could lick his brother and talk at the same time; Mimic wiggled against Doppelganger as he continued to groom the other Salamandyr with his tongue. Best for brothermine, love?

He was politer than Meira had hoped for; she answered his smile automatically, biting her lip nervously. “Hey…ah, yeah, Mimic wanted to come see Doppelganger, and I kind of didn’t want him to lose the rings when he was so excited, so…” A shrug. “Also, I wanted to, um, apologize. For R’wign. Although, I know I’m pretty late, but…yeah. Sorry.” Well. That was just so terribly eloquent, wasn’t it? Meira knew that she was blushing – at least a little (but probably a lot) – and her instinct was to look away, but…but you weren’t supposed to do that when you were apologizing.

[Lotty]

Ohhhh joy! Words could not describe the utter affection that was radiating off of the brown salamandyr as he was tackle-hugged by his eggbrother. Mimic was the best he was, and Doppelganger didn't care who knew about it. He even sort of leaned into the licks as they were offered, because licks from Mimic were spectacular and not icky at all. Of course this would infer that licks from everyone else was gross, but lets face it, Doppel could never think that of anything or anyone. His tail curled around his brother's torso as if they weren't already close enough. In fact, they were so close that he had a little bit of trouble craning his neck around seeing the shinies.

So of course Doppelganger would just take his twin's word for it, because Mimic could never be wrong. Never!

Best very brotherlove. Soooooo pretties! He tried to unwrap his tail and snake it over to pluck the silver ring off of his sibling's head. There now, they could share the weight, and really Doppel couldn't help but touch the shiny his egg brother brought him anyway. Shiny things were his favorite ever, and he especially liked it when he could see himself in the reflection...probably because it was a good temporary fix for when he was missing his double. Nonetheless the ring was firmly in his grasps as he wiggled his way out from under Mimic; popping onto his feet excitedly as soon as he was free. Come catch? Mimiclovemine be It! With that the brown fled past his bonded's feet and into the weyr where there was plenty of room to play in.

Mi'rah moved his foot to let them by - though he was sure why, they were small enough to run past with plenty of space anyway - and leaned onto the frame of the doorway as weight was shifted from the bad leg to the good. His focus did not at all leave Meira though, the movement of he salamandyrs was picked up by peripherals and instincts, even though he very much wanted to use the little creatures as an excuse to look away. He was so embarrassed that the goldrider had to come all this way to apologize to him when he very much felt that he owed her one as well.

"Oh, yes....about that..." he began and stopped wanting not to alarm her or make her think that her apology wasn't accepted, "My leg just might collapse under me if we keep standing here like this," he began to explain, throwing in something of an exaggeration in there. He hardly felt that fatigued, but standing around in the doorway was less than preferable, "W-Would you like to come in and sit for a moment?" He looked over his shoulder in to the weyr. It hardly entertained any visitors but there were two chairs regardless, and Mi'rah was never one to let things get messy or dirty....aside from his desk and Doppelganger's pile of course.

[Avu]

He loved them. (No, it didn’t occur to Mimic that Doppel hadn’t even seen the rings yet, properly.)

Mimic never doubted that Doppelganger would, of course – his eggbrother was lovely that way, the best because he was always happy and Mimic offered a wordless hum of content as he continued to lick Doppelganger. His tongue worked over the other Salamandyr’s cheeks and jaw before he stopped so that Doppelganger could take the ring on his head, and even though he would’ve loved to keep cuddling, Mimic allowed his eggbrother to squirm free. The offer of a game made him happy, too; the Salamandyr hummed approvingly, bolting after Doppelganger.

Am it, he agreed, skittering around a leg of some furniture. The shiny on his hind leg slowed him down – enough that Mimic turned and plopped it on his head as a ring instead, before resuming his chase. And – and – oh, right. Notsister play? he offered, politely, of Peccadillo. Mimic didn’t usually speak to the notsister, but it seemed so not right to play and not ask, especially when the green was right there. He didn’t really wait for a response, though, already streaking after Doppelganger, taking as many shortcuts as he could in a weyr that was almost as familiar to him as his own, until he leapt at his brother, trying to tap Doppel’s tail with his muzzle.

Ah.

Was it wrong that she kind of wished Mi’rah would look away? It’d give her an excuse to do the same. As it was, Meira fidgeted despite herself, chewing on the corner of her lower lip and swallowing. Should she…uh, apologize (again) for wasting his time and leave, maybe…? That felt like…she doesn’t really know; a retreat? Giving up? Something along those lines, and while it wasn’t like she’s proud enough to mind it, Meira was pretty sure it’d still leave her feeling guilty. Given her train of thought, the bronzerider’s words came as more than a surprise and she paused for a second.

“Um. Yeah…yeah, sure.” The words were accompanied by a jerky nod, and the goldrider moved past Mi’rah into the weyr after another pause, glancing around automatically for Mimic. The sight of the brown was ridiculously reassuring; that the brown Salamandyr felt so comfortable in Mi’rah’s weyr made it easier for her to relax, too. Not entirely relaxed, but still – when she sat, she wasn’t on the very edge of the chair, at least. Which was good. A good start, anyway. Past that, though…Meira was kind of stuck; she’d kind of been hoping that she could apologize and everything would just fit from there, but it…didn’t, and she ended up just looking at Mi’rah, hoping he’d speak first.

[Lotty]

Peccadillo looked down on the two browns. Oh great, they were together here. In her area. Even worse was the moronic one was talking to her, this was definitely a thorn in her side and she twitched her wings visibly in annoyance. How to even respond to this...this fail-slave. Join you play in busy hall. Many feet squish squish. You go first... She gave the option to Mimic, hopefully Doppel wouldn't be dumb enough to join his brother in agreement but she wasn't going to hold out too much hope. She would even give the pair a headstart before joining in on the run. Counting she began One squishy. Two squishy. Three squishy...

Speeding around the chairs, his little nails digging into Rahlove's rug, the mandyr found himself slowing to talk to his brother. Yes, despite all the conveniences of telepathy, for whatever reason the little guy just couldn't help but devote extra attention to Mimic, and that extra attention slowed his pace, along with the ring proudly residing on his head. Notsister play then? Go out to hall? He felt like he probably needed permission for that! He stopped and looked up pleadingly to the bronzerider as the man turned back into the room behind Meira. Play outside? Play Dilly and Mimicloves? Well the definite answer to that question was going to be a resounding no. Hmf, as if he wasn't aware of the green's very awful intentions for him, "Not now. She is being mean to you. Go play on the bed."

Oh yes...coveted permission to go play on the bed! Doppel wiggled excitedly and made a beeline in that direction, looking over to see only if his eggtwin followed. Typically you didn't want children jumping around where you slept but it was the two cutest brown mandyrs in the weyr, and at very least there were pillows and soft things for them to run into. Nothing that could get them hurt, which was the man's concern. As for the green mandyr, she was just one to handle later, after inviting the goldrider in he didn't want to waste her time as he chatted with the buggy looking creature.

He sat down after Meira, regretful that he hadn't anything to offer her but a drink of water - stale water - that had been sitting in a pitcher since early afternoon. Yes, it would probably be better to just not mention it at all, and instead Mi'rah tried to jump right into what he was meaning to say, though as usual with the man, when it came to social interactions, even the most direct methods started with him going around in his typical avoidant ways, "I promise I won't keep you long..." he leaned forward a bit as he crossed a leg, there was some kind of security for him in this position, "Uhm...I appreciate you coming, but...I just. I don't think you needed to apologize. N-Not even for R'wign, if anything really I should probably apologize," he didn't expect her to understand his reasoning, because he didn't understand it himself. He just felt like he needed her mercy, "I uhm. I shouldn't have been duped by him. I didn't think to speak to you first and save you the embarrassment of being bombarded with gift from a stranger m-more or less?" He had no idea how that statement turned into a question, but he was more than willing to blame it on nerves.

"I just thought that since R'wign thought that you thought that I uhm..." what was he even saying? He was so tongue tied, "I thought that you hated me, but now I would understand if you really did for putting your through all of this mess."

[Avu]

Okay, if Peccadillo thought that the hallway would be a better place to play, he was fine with that! Mimic leapt over Doppelganger, and twisted in the direction of the door. It didn’t occur to him to ask permission – so it was probably a very good thing that Doppelganger did. Mimic had just been in the hallway, after all, so what could possibly be wrong with going back out there? Especially with not only his favorite eggbrother but also Peccadillo? Go now – no? Disappointed shades fled across Mimic’s eyes for a moment; he reared onto his hind legs, as if it would change what he’d heard, but the offer of the bed made all the upset vanish.

Mimic bolted after Doppelganger, a quick leap carrying him halfway up the bed, clinging to the post, teetering precariously as he attempted to keep the ring on his head. Bed better, play? he called to Peccadillo – just because they couldn’t play in the hall didn’t mean she didn’t want to play, did it? He scrambled entirely onto the bed, and then peered down at Doppelganger, crooning at his eggbrother. Love brotherling, come bounce? Like crowns, he added, tilting his head up to indicate the ring. Kings, yes?

…nngh.

So much for staying still. Meira fidgeted, hands coming to curl around each other in her lap. It would have made her feel infinitely better if Mi’rah had just accepted the apology – or even rejected it, as long as it was certain. Because she definitely felt like she needed to apologize; being told she didn’t was just…completely unexpected. And weird. Very weird. “Uh,” was her eloquent, very faint response, mostly a knee-jerk reaction to express her surprise, because what? Why was he apologizing – oh. He was apologizing because…because R’wign was a good liar? No. That was just…no.

“I don’t – uh, I don’t hate you.” Her smile was uncomfortable. “And I don’t – you really don’t need to apologize, I mean…” Meira shrugged, wishing communication could just be that easy and there was no need for words. “Riaren likes them,” she finished quietly, unsure as to how else she could possibly end the statement. “And, I mean, you’re not a stranger, Riaren’s met you before…and with Mimic and Doppel…and, um, I’m rambling. Sorry.” She bowed her head slightly in embarrassment, chewing on her lower lip, and maybe she should just…not talk anymore.

Right. That sounded like a pretty good idea.

[Lotty]

Doppelganger was glad that his brother wasn't too hurt by the sudden change of plans. The bed was obviously better anyway, very bouncy and soft and there were soooo many places to hide in and between the covers. This made hide and go seek an option as well as tag! Besides, maybe Peccadillo would still want to play. He turned and looked up at her spot atop the throne and hoped she replied favorably to his Mimiclove's question. No dice though, the green practically snorted at the twins finding their game ridiculous, Play from here. It I am. Give you head start. Though she had no intention what so ever of joining them. A little mean spirited she was, and if Mi'rah wasn't already occupied he would have given her a good glare.

Doppel didn't know what to do. She didn't look like she was going to drop in on them. Notsisterlove play later. Bounce now. Much fun! He hopped up onto the bed, the spring of the mattress would have allowed him a flip had it not been for the crown on his head. Nonetheless he still loved the gift from his brother, and it did make him feel awfully kingly. Best Kings yes! Have crowns. Save princesses? But who oh who could be their damsel in distress? He bounced his way over to the other brown and flopped on him casually.

Oh no. Mi'rah could instantly tell that he had made an oopsie and as she fidgeted around he couldn't help but do the very same thing. Why, in his entire life, he didn't think he nervousness was anymore apparent, after all, was it possible for him to tap his fingers together any faster than he was? How to fix this? How? He desperately wished he had a friend in the room, one that was hiding under the bed or behind a dresser feeding him all the right lines to say. Not that he hadn't done that once already or anything...

Maybe starting over was the only appropriate response, because the truth was, Mi'rah was being an absolute doofus. So much so that his dragon was downright snickering at him in the back of his brain.

"I mean. I'm...sorry, I mean let me start over...uhmmm," quick look to the ceiling because obviously the answer is right there! When he glanced back down he tried to start anew, "I thank you sincerely for the apology. I truly, greatly, appreciate it," much better right? Hopefully it was better, "What I meant was that you shouldn't have had to apologize, because none of this is your fault?" His posture started to straighten up again just a little. Something about this time around felt a little more right, "I'm glad to hear you don't hate me though...and I guess what is really important is that Riaren is putting all of his uhm stuff to good use....speaking of which, how is he doing?" The bronzerider did notice that the child wasn't in tow, but he figured that any mother would bee happy to talk about their kid. Changing the subject to children was something that has worked for him in every single awkward situation so far.

[Avu]

Well…well. She didn’t look like she planned on joining them.

Mimic eyed Peccadillo uncertainly for a minute, but Doppelganger distracted him and he spun away from the green with a cheerful coo for his brother. Beds were nice, after all – no need to make it go to waste. The Salamandyr flopped down on one of the pillows, nibbling on the hem of the pillowcase for a minute as he watched Doppelganger. High bounce, he complimented, squirming contentedly against the pillow before he slid down to the mattress on his stomach, licking Doppelganger when his brother was close enough.

Queen is Lililove? he mused – out loud, of course, why would he ever censor what he thought around Doppelganger? Mimic coiled around his brother, nuzzling at his brother affectionately. Not need save queen though. Save… Who could they save? Lilitu didn’t seem like she needed to be saved, ever. Neither did Peccadillo (and Mimic was a little too wary of the green to even suggest that). Or Jingth, for that matter. He groped for another save-able female, plopping his head onto Doppelganger’s shoulder. …save…each other?

Not female, but…but, you know. They could pretend.

Or maybe they could rescue Theirs. Because, yeah. They kind of looked like they needed rescuing even if Mi’rah was definitely not a female.

Still, Meira recognized when she was being given an escape route, even if Mi’rah was still obviously uncomfortable – which, in turn, only served to make her more uncomfortable, because, yeah, she’d really been hoping that it wouldn’t go this badly. It was tempting to slide down in the chair (though exactly why she wasn’t really sure, since it wouldn’t do anything). She resisted, nodding and responding to her hands, “Fine…he’s doing really good…” Her gaze flicked up, cautiously – Mi’rah was probably just asking to change the topic or something, no need to bore him…

“He wanted to, uh, thank you, but I wasn’t sure, given the circumstances…” Trailing off into a shrug, Meira glanced over at the Salamandyrs. “But – um, I’m sorry, I’m probably distracting you from something…I should go, um…it’s okay if Mimic stays awhile?” The words were accompanied by a vague gesture in the direction of the two Salamandyrs – which elicited a hopeful Pleaaase RahDoppel’s? from the Salamandyr in question – even as Meira started to stand from the chair. So, so awkward.

[Lotty]

Mimic was right. Lililove was in fact the Queen, but still they needed someone to save and she was hardly acceptable. The green was much more likely to save herself from any situation she found herself in and the same went for Peccadillo. Notsister was still lovely, but not one to save. Hmmm that seemed to go for just about anybody around, and so the idea of saving each other was the best one going. He squealed his answer excitedly Eeeeep! Lovemimiclove! Best idea, save you! And of as one could guess, his method of saving his eggbrother consisted of reaching out and wrapping himself around Mimic in every way imaginable: arms, legs, tail, even wings... His frill would be flared with happiness if it wasn't for the crown still sitting on his head.

This was bad. This was so so bad. Even his usual method of switching subjects did not go as planned and Mi'rah was frankly ashamed. After S'rei did al of that work talking to him and telling him how to deal with other people and after he had promised that he was going to have a very constructive conversation with Meira, all he managed to do was make a giant fool out of himself. Maybe it was better that the woman was on her way out already. At least this way he couldn't dig his grave any deeper...but still, the nagging thought that she was running away from him - probably for being a creep or something like that - was just enough to tie his stomach up into knots.

Still, he was going to let her escape, and stood up only to do the polite thing and walk her to the door, "I understand...uhm tell Riaren he is welcome..." he shuffled a little bit more towards the door, looking briefly over at the salamandyrs as Meira gestured to them, "I uh...a visit from you is hardly distracting, but um...." he trailed off and abandoned whatever stray thought that had entered his brain, "Of course, Mimic can stay as long as he likes..." Telling the little brown no would be like smashing a kid's ice cream in their face, it was just wrong.