In One's Element (K'ian)

[Ember]

Qaena sat along the bank of the river, feet dangling into the water from the rock she sat on. Selenitas was such a beautiful place! She'd heard stories of the original weyr, of course, but she rather thought the 'Burimyu' site was beautiful as well. It had a sense of mystery about it, almost as if there were old ghosts in the weyr somewhere. Not that it didn't have its dangers though...like those creatures in the library. Compared to them, even her little terror of a mandyr seemed like a lamb. Speaking of Gneiss...the greenweyrling gently stroked the brown's sleeping form.

She'd let the brown gorge (within reason) on some of the meat she'd brought out for her lunch break. Between the pleasant warmth of the rock and the full belly, he'd fallen soundly asleep. As she finished up her sandwich, Khiraeth piped up again. Nana! Let's go swimming! It's niiice and waaarm, and the water is nice, right? The green didn't even wait for a response as she waddled into the water of the river, fully expecting that Hers would join her.

"But...but if I swim after eating..." Qaena began uncertainly, "A-and I don't have anything to swim in!" If you have troubles you can always hold on to me! Besides, no one can 'see the tree for the forest,' Khiraeth responded, trying out a new colloquiallism and failing spectacularly. "That's not what it means, Khir. But I get your meaning...I think." There really wasn't anyone nearby so it might be safe...maybe. Here, I'll count with you! One...two...three! Khiiiir!

When all was said and done, Qaena still ended up in only her undergarments in the water, clinging to Khiraeth's tail as the green swam out a little further. See! Not so bad! The greenweyrling had swam her way to Khiraeth's front and clung to the dragon's head gently. The green dipped her head a little lower so her nose was under water and blew out. The air that bubbled up around Qaena had the girl giggling until the pair noticed a shadow overhead. Apparently they weren't quite as alone as they thought. While Qaena was busy being mortified, Khiraeth called out, Well hello there, big, bronze, and shiny! Care for some company, or are you busy?

[Zephyr]

Giant wings brought the big bronze effortlessly through the air. K'ian sat on his back, thoughts wandering. He hadn't wanted to accompany his dragon out on his hunting mission, but Romeoth refused to leave him alone for some reason, and where K'ian went, Mouse was never far behind. The tall man quickly found out that his green salamandyr loved flying. She seemed to think she was a queen, and as such, being queen meant being on top of the world, something no salamandyr could ever hope to accomplish...unless they had an obliging dragon to take them up into the air. The minty green monster was currently stationed in K'ian's shirt.

Suddenly, without much warning, she shot out, straight to Rom's shoulders. K'ian cursed and reached for the mandyr, but fell short when it seemed like she was perfectly fine. She'd come back if the ride got too rough. Brotherrrrrrr! She trilled happily, looking over the edge of the flying dragon. Mouse had always been extremely close with her siblings, and K'ian found himself talking to people he likely would never have spoken to because of her. Anyone else would have been happy, the bronzer was merely annoyed. Suddenly, Rom slowed and started to circle in the sky. K'ian was immediately on guard.

What's up? Rom took his time answering, then...There's a weyrling green down below who wants to know i we want to hang out. K'ian sighed deeply. Do I even have a choice? Romeoth chuckled. Not really. I like her. To the green, his voice was warm and pleasant, Hello, little green. If yours is obliging, we would certainly like to come talk. Speak for yourself. Rom ignored his rider and started circling down towards the river. Before he had even reached the ground, Mouse had leaped from his back and was gliding towards earth, searching frantically for Gneiss. Brother? She intoned, looking for the brown.

K'ian, on the other hand, had finally noticed Qaena was in nothing but her skivvies, and grinned at the girl lightly. " Hello there. I'm K'ian. Want us to come back when you've dressed?" Rom rumbled lightly and reached out to Khiraeth. Forgive my rider, he can be an ass sometimes.

[Ember]

Khiraeth checked in with Qaena briefly but decided a little mortification would be easy to get over. Besides, it's not like the clothes were far away. So, the green called back up, She'll warm up to you, no doubt! The green swam back towards the shore slowly, Qaena once again clinging to her. This time, though, she desperately didn't want to go back to the shore. She was far more comfortable where she could touch ground but she was also more comfortable not half naked.

Aww, Nana, it's like a...a bikini, was it? It's my undergarments, Khir! I don't get the difference, but okay! K'ian's comment made the girl's face light up in a brilliant red. "See, it is not like a bikini!" Qaena realized, belatedly, that the comment had not been private and she shut her eyes. She couldn't even try to gather her pride since she didn't actually have much. Instead she called out, almost too softly to be heard, "I-if you just...um, turn around I think it might be...okay?"

It's alright, Khiraeth said to Romeoth. Nana is just a little skittish, but she's nice! Really, really nice! There was a pause and the green let out an amused croon. Speaking of Nana, she's actually Qaena. And I am Khiraeth! You are? Her introduction was pleasantly broadcast for the benefit of the bronzerider. Hers was a little preoccupied to remember about giving her name, after all. It was after Khiraeth mentioned her own name that K'ian's introduction clicked. "Oh. Oh, sorry, so sorry. You, um, don't have to do anything I say, K'ian sir." A Councilman! Qaena was terrified.

It was actually kind of surprising that she didn't recognize his dragon earlier. Qaena was nothing if not observational and she...well, she was a bit of a stalker, truth be told. Knowing who the council was of particularly high priority, too.

Gneiss stirred from his sleep at the insistent calls for 'brother.' He might well have ignored them had he not recognized the mindvoice it belonged to. As it was, all he managed was a sleepy, Gneiss in response to his sister's calls. His rock was warm and why should he move for some silly little green? He was Gneiss! He moved only when he wanted to.

[Zephyr]

Well, that's good. The bronze dragon said towards the green's comment. He wouldn't very well like to shove his rider in a volatile situation with another rider who didn't want company. After all, he was the one who dragged the tall man out today. He conveniently forgot the fact that this whole situation was something K'ian didn't want to be involved in, but today, dragons seemed to know what was best for their riders.

Well, this wasn't completely unpleasant, K'ian decided finally, grinning broadly at the girl's comment about the bikini. He laughed a little and tilted his head. " Well, bikinis are basically undergarments, so your dragon wasn't too far off there. Not really any difference." He gave a comforting grin towards the girl, who seemed terribly jumpy. He hadn't wanted to scare any weyrlings today, but sometimes he just couldn't help it. Sliding off of Romeoth's back. The dragon flopped down on the bank, not wanting to tower over the green too much. Well, I don't suppose you would have chosen her if she hadn't been nice. You don't seem the type. He said pleasantly. The bronze beamed at the other dragon, his words too broadcasted for all present, I'm Romeoth. This is my rider K'ian. He's weird sometimes.

The aforementioned "weird sometimes" man was about to turn around when Qaena spoke again. His eyes widened very slightly and he burst out laughing, remembering his manners and twirling around on his heels. " Don't be silly. I certainly don't want to make you uncomfortable." Still facing the other way, he threw a hand up in greeting. " Well met, Khiraeth and Qaena." Romeoth curled his tail about him and tilted his head. What were you two up to besides taking a dip? He asked, stretching his neck out. Not that it doesn't look mighty tempting. It was warm out.

Ah, there he was! Mouse's eyes opened wide when she saw her brother curled up on the rock. She didn't seem to realize that he wanted to be left alone. After all, who didn't want to spend time with her? She was amazing. Gneiss, Gneiss, nice Gneiss! She trilled happily, bounding up onto the rock, despite whether her brother wanted her to or not. She would then proceed to fall on her haunches and nudge the brown with a claw. Sleepy Gneiss? Silly sleepy Gneiss. No sleep. Play! She said with some tone of finality.

Sleeping was for losers.

[Ember]

Yup, there was the expected laughter at her expense. Qaena had known it was coming, of course, but that didn't mean she liked it all the same. His verbal response was met with confusion. "But...if it was like a bikini, then you wouldn't have said anything about it and I wouldn't have to be embarassed..." She temporized, trailing off towards the end sheepishly. She really, really shouldn't be saying anything against the bronzerider in the first place. Really, she wouldn't have to be in such an awkward situation if Khiraeth hadn't called her new found friend down for an impromptu visit. She was still getting used to her green's spontaneous nature.

Qaena felt Khiraeth's happy croon through her fingers and felt the emotion shimmer across their bond, strong and true, and she ended up smiling faintly in response. Oh, how nice of you! Thank you, I am quite certain Yours is as lovely as yourself, too, Khiraeth said in her bubbly speech. A most wonderous pleasure to meet you and Yours, Rommy! Why yes, she did just give the newly-met bronze a nickname. No one was spared from her nicknaming...except perhaps riders of dragons because it was oh so difficult to remember them sometimes.

The green and her rider reached the shore (perfectly timed, in Khiraeth's opinion) when K'ian turned around fully. Khiraeth gently encouraged Qaena to go put on her clothes while she flopped on her belly in front of Romeoth. We are on lunch break from lessons, actually! Such a long break and Nana eats so fast and swimming seemed oh so fun. I do believe there's some extra food, if Yours is hungry? Much better to see him that way. Qaena herself was a vibrant red in the face as she said, "I...thank you, sir. W-well met K'ian, Romeoth." She pulled her shirt on over her head first thing and she immediately felt a little better. In very short order, Qaena also had her pants on. "Um...you can look now, sir."

Gneiss grumbled as his sister's incessant chatter continued. Really? Nosy, the brown commented, either mixing up 'nosy' and 'noisy' or mispronouncing the latter. Either way, it wasn't really the word he wanted to use. Still, the brown uncoiled at her prodding to look at her with annoyed eyes. Pray? Why? Why bother playing when there was a nice warm rock and he'd just eaten and he was sleepy, damn it?

[Zephyr]

K’ian grinned at the girl. She was kinda innocent, and he liked it. It was refreshing to meet a weyrling who wasn’t overly sexualized. He had a hard time believing that Qaena wasn’t a virgin, which made her being a weyrling and her first run a bad mixture. Rom perked in his mind at the thought, but K’ian ignored it. That was neither here nor there and would likely never come to fruition. Who knew? For now, the tall bronzer was left smiling good-humoredly at the girl (Well, he was facing away from her, so she probably couldn’t see this)“ I was just joking, Qaena. I do apologize if I offended you, it wasn’t my intention.” This was the truth. Rom was right in saying that he could be an ass sometimes, but he really, truly wasn’t trying to be right now. He really was a good guy when it came right down to it.

Rom beamed at the little green, thumping the tip of his tail against the ground. He didn’t usually have the pleasure of just conversing with his fellow dragons. It was nice to see that some of them didn’t blame him for actions he had taken in the past; he hadn’t really wanted to, He can be, when he wants to be. He rumbled in amusement and pleasure when she used her nickname for it. He liked it! It meant that she cared, even a little bit and for someone she didn’t really know. Well, if there was anyone Romeoth wanted to get to know, it was this lovely young lady.

Don’t worry, Rom said, still rumbling. K’ian and I skipped plenty of lessons in our day. I don’t really throw fits over long breaks. At her question, K’ian shook his head. He hadn’t eaten in a while, but he wasn’t hungry enough to steal some girl’s food. Make no mistake though, he would have taken it had he been hungry enough. The man’s nose wrinkled when Qaena spoke to him, and when she gave her permission to turn around, he did. “ You don’t have to call me sir, in fact, I’d prefer you not to. It makes me feel all stuffy and old.” He said, laughing out loud. At length, he smiled appraisingly at her, “ So how are you enjoying being a weyrling, Qaena? I see Sel’n hasn’t killed you yet.”

Mouse was getting fed up with Gneiss’ behavior. She pouted at him, Funnnn She said simply in response to his question. Just as quickly, she seemed to make a complete about-face. Not nice, no fun. No no. She said huffily, gliding off the rock and scampering over to Qaena to investigate this new human. Gneiss just made her realize that Mhir and Titania were her only fun siblings as far as she was concerned. The salamandyr came upon Khiraeth, narrowing her eyes at her, which rapidly began flashing red and yellow. In her mind, if you were green and NOT Titania, then you were a threat in her eyes. No good. Even dragons were not excused from her scrutiny. She hissed at the dragon, frill and wings extended, but not coming any closer. She knew that Khir could crush her in an instant if she wanted to, so the mandyr showed her displeasure at the dragon’s existence from afar.

Romeoth only looked at the salamandyr, sighing heavily. The little beast had been more trouble than she was worth from day one. The only thing keeping Rom from getting physical with it was the bond she shared with K’ian, and in part now, with him. He lifted a paw and slammed it down on the ground inches from the salamandyr. Shoo. He said simply, watching Mouse jump and then run to scurry and hide behind K’ian, who was unaware of this exchange. The bronze sighed and looked back to Khiraeth. Sorry about her, she’s a massive headache. Can’t really get rid of her though.

[Ember]

"Oh," Was Qaena's initial response, muffled by the fact that she'd been pulling on her shirt at that moment. When she finished pulling on her shirt she gave a more proper response. "Ah, I...uh didn't mean...I wasn't offended? Sorry, for being confusing." She hadn't meant to make him feel bad by feeling bad herself. Well, maybe not bad. He might just feel like he needed to apologize to keep up some form of a reputation, or something. A lot of what could be read in a person was in their face and at that moment he was facing the wrong way for her to properly read him. Khiraeth rather thought he was being sincere though.

Speaking of the green, she was already well ahead of herself regarding their friendship. The nickname alone might have been bad enough but she was already wondering if Romeoth might make for a good plotting partner. She wasn't arrogant enough to think dragons always knew what was best for their riders but sometimes they did. Other dragons she could form friendships with could benefit any sort of plotting she might have (for others' benefits only, of course!). Besides, friends were fun!

Skipped? Skip...oh! She rumbled in amusement as she got the small colloquialism. I see. What a neat way to say that! But by not going didn't you miss out on some things? The green was most curious about how they'd learned otherwise. Of course, they could have learned elsewhere or on their own but...huh. Qaena didn't have much of a good opinion on skipping class so the green kept that bit of information about the bronzepair to herself. Hers was oh so easily influenced sometimes and she'd really like it if there was as little bias on a first meeting as possible.

The greenweyrling smiled a little tentatively when K'ian laughed because she could tell it wasn't really at her and he meant what he said. She didn't quite manage eye-contact (she rarely did) but her eyes rested just above his. "It's not so bad...K'ian," Qaena responded, testing his name a little hesitantly. "I don't think Sel'n intends to kill us so it probably means I can make it through." Too bad there wasn't really like...wilderness survival training. She would ace that. Most likely.

Gneiss snorted at his seemingly melodramatic sister's behaviour. There was no reason to react like that, in the brown's mind. Had he not been as sleepy as he was he might have gone after her to give her a piece of his mind. And for insulting him. Hmph. He'd track her down sometime later and show her who was really boss - or, more likely, fall asleep and forget all about. Khiraeth was the next one the Mouse approached and the reaction was vastly different. The green crooned at the other female, despite the mean greeting. Such interesting little creatures! She's no bother at all! We have Gneiss, and he's kind of a grump sometimes.

[Zephyr]

Hmm. Well, this one was a little mousy. To the point of almost being endearing. Almost. He watched her with a friendly grin on his face, shrugging his shoulders at her words. He wasn’t dismissing her insecurity, only trying to show her that it didn’t bother him. It actually took a lot to honestly bother K’ian. He was so laid back. It was a wonder the council ever picked him as a representative of the weyr. Though the man thought that the honor had more to do with his past affiliation than with his own abilities. Whatever the case, he wasn’t about to change his entire personality for present duties. Chuckling lightly, he grinned at Qaena. “ Stop apologizing. You’re fine. I actually haven’t met a woman who wasn’t confusing.” Elysia least of all…

Romeoth grinned at the green, rumbling in amusement. Most likely. He admitted unabashed. He wasn’t sorry for much he had done in the past. He had ended up alright, hadn’t he? But it wasn’t anything that we couldn’t learn from experience. I don’t think I’m lacking in anything. After a moment, he regarded his companion, a mischievous glint in his eye. Do you think I am?

The tall man grinned at the girl, the smile widening when she actually managed his name. “ That’s better! And I suppose you could have worse weyrlingmasters. Even that M’ta is better than some of the ones I’d seen up north.” Benden and the whole of the north was really a dragon eat dragon world. If you couldn’t keep up, they wouldn’t keep you. The weyr couldn’t afford to keep any dragonriders not up to snuff. That was the reasoning behind the whole clutch culling of Millieth’s babies…not that he agreed with the practice in the least. He ignored Mouse’s mad dash towards him, until she made a frantic scramble up his leg…under his pants. With each step, her sharp little claws sunk their way into his flesh. The man doubled over, slapping at where he thought the salamandyr was, but she was already ip a little more, crooning franticly. “ Oh fuc..!” He got out, half hissing.

[Ember]

Qaena, at the bronzerider's assurance that being confusing was okay, was about to say something. Her mouth even opened before she realized that she didn't even know what she wanted to say. She closed it with a faint clop and a light frown found its way onto her face. Khiraeth briefly turned her attention to the swirling emotions Hers was projecting. Just say it, Nana! I doubt he'll be too offended, she offered with faint amusement before returning to her conversation with her new friend. "Then...you know a lot of confusing women? So-" The girl caught herself before apologizing, remembering his words. "It...uh, just sounded like you do?"

Khiraeth listened to the bronze rather intently. Not because she planned on convincing Hers to skip lessons because they could learn elsewhere - that would mean seeing less of her siblings and that just wouldn't do - but because it was interesting all the same. When the bronze turned mischievious on her, the green's jaw dropped slightly to mimic a human's smile and she rumbled in amusement. How am I to know, since I have not seen you in action, Rommy? She teased in return. She had little doubt that the bronze was quite experienced in the air, especially compared to herself.

Qaena dipped her head in embarassed pleasure when K'ian expressed that she'd done well. Really, though, she was being praised over saying a name. Hence the embarassment. The teen caught on the comment about the north though and her eyes snapped up and went wide. North as in North north? See, where she'd made an effort to know who was on the Council she hadn't made the same effort to truly know any of them. She knew a couple of the new ones had been from the original Selenitas. She even knew a bunch of the people in the weyr probably were not southern born. She hadn't asked anyone directly, though, so this was essentially her first time meeting one.

"The...the north is-" Qaena was cut off by K'ian doubling over and slapping at his leg though and the greenweyrling jumped in fright. What, what, what? "Are you okay? What's wrong?" Because she had not actually noticed the green salamandyr at all, despite her interactions with both of her mindmates.

[Zephyr]

Before Mouse had skittered up his pant leg, K’ian thought that he saw Qaena about to say something. Her mouth had opened, but it shut quickly. When she finally thought better of keeping her mouth shut, the man’s face broke out into a wide grin of genuine amusement. “ I just know a lot of women.” He said with that grin on his face. “ It isn’t their fault that most of them are pretty confusing. Though, I don’t know if it’s them being too confusing or us men being too simple minded.” The man laughed at his own expense.

He liked making her laugh, Romeoth decided almost at once. It was odd, not meeting a dragon nearly as genuine as this one. Though, unlike his rider, the bronze seemed to be attracted by non-confusing females. They were just easier to be with, and you didn’t have to worry about offending them accidently, because if you did offend them, you would know why. And Romeoth wasn’t anxious to offend this lovely female. Half standing, the bronze made a show of spreading his wings out some, making sure not to hurt anyone with the action. Would you like to see me in action, Khiraeth? If so, I’m sure that could be arranged. Goofy time over, Romeoth rumbled in amusement and flopped back to the ground, legs splayed out and tail flicking back and forth.

When the little monster, scared by the giant bronze dragon, ran up her bonded’s leg, sure she hadn’t meant to hurt anyone. She was just frightened and probably just looking for support in the form of her bonded…but he hadn’t expected it and it hurt! Not to mention those sharp little claws were getting dangerously close to a certain part of the bronzer’s anatomy that he didn’t particularly want to hurt “ MOUSE, you little…” He bellowed. It was probably not a good idea that he finished his statement. He had heard Qaena’s question, but he was a bit preoccupied at the moment and not at all in the right mind to answer her.

Romeoth, on the other hand, immediately noticed the folly of his ways when he felt the phantom pain from the salamandyr piercing his bonded’s flesh. Stupid salamandyr… The bronze hissed to Khiraeth, turning his eyes to face K’ian’s dancing form. Get out of there at once. I’m sorry I scared you, you nasty little beast. You’re hurting ours. Not that he would call the salamandyr Mouse’s usually, but whatever he had to do to get the salamandyr out of the bronzer’s trouser leg.

The salamandyr finally peeked out of the waistline of the man’s trousers, eyeing the girl in front of him curiously. Sorries. She said meekly, both to Qaena and K’ian, who had finally settled down. He wanted to check out the scope of the damage done by his salamandyr, but didn’t think it was a good idea in front of Qaena. He was sure there was some blood. And he glowered at the salamandyr as she continued climbing up his torso, this time careful of her claws. She rubbed her head apologetically against K’ian’s face. Sorries minelove. Scary brown dragon. It didn’t matter to her in the least that Romeoth wasn’t brown…he looked brown to her. That was good enough.

[Ember]

Qaena digested the information that K'ian knew a lot of women. Kind of naive as she was, she didn't automatically think he was a womanizer. Rather she thought he was really nice for not being biased against women. The south was not entirely free from it, after all. She hadn't been subjected to it too much having been out and about in the wilderness as often as she could manage, but still. She was quick to pipe up, "But you're not simple minded. And men are capable of being extremely confusing..." Or at least Qaena found most men to be confusing.

Khiraeth watched Romeoth begin to rise, slightly alarmed her new playmate might be leaving or some such. When he settled again a moment later and returned her teasing words she crooned enthusiastically. The green crawled forward, rear end slightly raised and tail swishing through the air. The green snuck towards one of Romeoth's large paws and reached out with her own to cover it. She was only momentarily caught by the size difference between their paws before mischieviously saying, Then it will have to be arranged! She backed up a bit but not as far as she had been previously.

Qaena was further concerned by K'ian's exclamation and his lack of a response to her questions. Well, she supposed he partially answered one of them. 'Mouse' was what was wrong, whatever that was. Khiraeth was considerably less confused when Romeoth hissed and bespoke the startled creature causing all the trouble. Ooh, but you two really don't get along, she commented gently, crooning a bit placatingly. Anger was no fun. Well, they are odd and take getting used to. It's not so bad if you think 'oh, they care about Mine, too!' In their...ah, own ways, I suppose.

Understanding dawned on Qaena at last when Mouse poked her head out of K'ian's pants - along with an accompanying blush for looking in that direction at all - and apologized. "Ohhh," was her clever response to the whole situation, gaze flicking back up to K'ian's face to where the green salamandyr had migrated. "Umm, are you okay? I usually carry..uhh, field dressings, I guess you could say? I'm not a Healer or 'nything but it's good to know, in case, y'know..." She trailed off awkwardly, not entirely sure where she was going with her words anymore. Blabbering, most likely.