Home is a Special Kind of Place (K'sel)

[Ember]

Are you quite alright, NepheleMine? Nuoth asked her rider as the woman dismounted and was promptly sick in a nearby bush. I'll be alright, love, she responded mentally because she was too busy spewing what little breakfast she'd had to talk. The green crooned uncertainly, tipping her nose up and away from the smell of sickness. Sensitive dragon noses did not like gross smells all that much. What are we doing here? Shouldn't we be back at our weyr tell-

"No!" Apparently done puking her guts out, Nephele turned frightened eyes on her dragon. Nuoth had the good grace to look ashamed. She had done wrong? I apologize NepheleMine. I did not mean...I... Uncertain as to what to say to justify herself, the green fell silent, eyes whirling uncertain colours. She barely understood Hers lately and it was a bit unsettling to the green. Nephele sighed and moved over to her dragon, reaching up to the green's muzzle to pull her head close enough to rest her forehead on the green's face. "I'm the one who ought to be sorry, Nuoth."

The greenpair stayed like that for a moment just sharing in each others thoughts. Then the greenrider withdrew and smiled at the green. "Think we can even spot our old weyr anymore? This place is a lot worse than I'd imagined." Nephele hadn't bothered to actually go see the sight of her old weyr before. Home had never been about the location for her, though she had certainly loved old Selenitas. Home for her was about...well, not neccesarily the people either but the atmosphere of a place. The right type of people just happened to help with that.

The greenrider sat at the edge of the cliff on the opposite side of where her weyr had been, Nuoth laying behind her so she could lean against the green's chest. Easier to snatch the greenrider into her protective embrace should the cliff give out or something. "Silly, I'm sure it's fine," Nephele commented though her eyes kept scanning across the way. "I think our weyr is well and truly lost." There was something under that, though. A double meaning that Nuoth picked up on. I do not think he would be too upset if you just told him, she offered softly. An explanation for Hers' recent mood swings might actually be welcome.

[Lotty]

Drills were done for the day... which was convenient to say the least, but when K'sel made it back to the weyr he was a bit baffled to see Nephele missing. To the point where he ducked his head underneath the bed just to make sure she wasn't for some strange reason hiding there. Considering the way the woman had been acting lately he wouldn't be surprised to find her there... no more than he would to see her hanging from her feet up in the rafters like some slumbering blood sucker. That was neither here nor there though, and he was forced to come to the conclusion that the woman must certainly be attending to some of her own duties, like milling about the infirmary or search riding. Settling on this, he bathed away an early morning of "Legatus Fun Time" .... or at least attempted to, still finding himself annoyed with the fact that not only was he clueless as to where the hell his weyrmate was, but also that wherever she was, she was most likely pissed at him.

For something. He didn't really know. He had kept his promise, and he shaved, so he wasn't sure what the big deal was.

I could... I could ask Nuoth where she is? But she seems... out of range to me, another grumble... and another, but no real response. Finally, "I think... she is doing that thing women do, with the hiding and chasing, and...." his paranoia was baseless, and he splashed at the pool of water he was sunken into before a thought cropped up in his head. A loud swishing broke out as, he flailed about in the tub and snagged the towel resting aside him and wrapped himself in it, blurting out to whomever would listen, "I've got it!" If Nephele was the difficult woman he thought she was, she'd be in the exact place he'd least expect her to be in. Yes, this reasoning did sort of twist itself into a paradox, but nonetheless he jumped into the first clean clothes he could find and bolted to Pettahth's back. In his rush there wasn't even a bother for riding straps, or the like. They had places to be, and the pair flashed between...

To the wrong place.

Ok, so the first try was a major failing. She wasn't hiding out on the coast where he caught her pondering that one fateful night months ago.... but his second attempt.... that one panned out just a little bit better for him. Gliding past the Old Selenitas ruins, the little brown picked up on a distinct signature and slipped the green a greeting. K'sel might have wanted to swoop in all suavely, but the brown at least knew a little thing called space, and warned his ledge-partner of their approach, Nuothfriend. Mine urged me here looking for Yours... it is ok that we land yes? We can wait for you instead back at the weyr? The dragon angled in to settle on the ground anyway, though tentatively enough, with his feet and legs poised to spring again and take off. The rider on the other hand leaned half off of his mount, trying to spy a Nephele on the other side of the green.

For all of the jokes he could have made, it was a shock even to himself that he came off remarkably more concerned than jesting, echoing out a, "Are you alright?"

[Ember]

The green, on alert as she was, picked out the distinct signature of a dragon almost as soon as it entered her range. Not only was Nuoth a rather empathetic green but she'd been Legatus trained as well...no matter how poorly that had panned out in the end. She simply wasn't a violent soul that could handle the Legatus style fighting. Despite the fact that the green felt a confrontation between her rider and Pettahth's would only end well she still informed her rider of their approach. I've picked up Pettahth's pattern, NepheleMine.

There was a moment of soft, panicked cursing as the greenrider closed her eyes. She felt Nuoth shift slightly and heard the sound of a dragon landing. Pettahth is asking if it's okay. They can- The green paused as K'sel spoke up, letting the man address Hers without being a distraction. Nephele tensed at the sound of her weyrmate's voice at first before unintentionally calming at the sound of his concern. Of course, he didn't know about her secret but she'd left without a word of warning to him and he wasn't angry about that.

Alright, Nephele told her dragon. The relief Nuoth broadcast over the bond was almost overwhelming in its intensity and she realized with a pang of guilt that she'd been disturbing the green quite a bit. Yes, Pettahth, it is okay, the green responded. She even ventured to croon softly for his rider's benefit. Despite the relationship Hers had with Pettahth's and Feyrianth's, the green had never bespoken them. She probably never would, either, despite liking them a great deal by proxy. Nephele's own response to her weyrmate was a surprisingly honest, in both tone and word, "Not really."

[Lotty]

Relaxed by Nuoth's permission, the brown dragon settled into an eased position, Thank you Nuoth. I hope you and yours are doing quite alright? The relief washed over even to K'sel for a moment, and he felt his shoulders released for a short lull before emotions could rise again. It was hard not to feel like he was on wild ride in a mine train. There was just enough control to keep from flying off the tracks, but still his stomach jumped up into his throat before falling back down again. There was very little the woman was saying that was helping the effect either. Was the negative response supposed to reassure him? The anxiety melted down to his feet until he swung his whole body around and slid down Pettahth's side with a parting pat.

"Ok..." K'sel managed out and he settled himself onto two feet, "not really isn't a very reassuring answer to be honest." But kudos on saying it like it was, he had to give her that much. For now all he could do however was suck in some air into his lungs and try his best to remember how to do basic and normally involuntary functions. Was it possible for one's heart to forget to operate as well? It was so odd... he cared. He honestly and truly cared about the fact that someone else had a problem, and even a little bit scared on their behalf. Was this normal?

He approached with some hesitance, sure to try and not offend Nuoth as he learn around the green's foreleg to take a gander at his weyrmate, "Nepheleeeee?" Peek a boo? His eyes peered out from his hiding place before the rest of his body followed, "What's going on goober?" She didn't look like she was dying or anything, although she had been acting a bit weird. He tried not to speculate too much in the hopes that she would just answer and kill the anticipation before it could begin to bubble in his veins. Instead he silently wiggled his way into a sitting place next to her and occupied himself with a look out to the horizon. As if seeing the ruins of his one time home was any better, "You know, it's weird but it's like I didn't even live there once. I guess I'm just jaded. The place I was born into had treehouses. Once that was gone I was convinced that a weyr was a weyr was a weyr."

[Ember]

Nuoth tilted her head slightly at Pettahth's question. She was a little hesitant to answer because she wasn't entirely sure what Hers would like her to say. Then again, the woman had decided somewhere in her heart to reveal the truth to K'sel so... I am well enough, dear friend, she began, her wings fluttering out and closed again, but NepheleMine is...upset. I am afraid I cannot explain why. She didn't like keeping secrets from anyone. For them, yes, but from? It felt perilously close to being dishonest.

Nephele let out a sad little laugh at K'sel's reaction to her statement. "Just saying it like it is, 'Sella." When she'd started using his full name almost exclusively, it occasionally led to her shortening it in such a way. Mostly when she wanted to convince him of something. She turned her gaze to look at him peeking at her. The action drew a small grin from her. "C'mere," she requested softly, not answering his question. There probably was no easy way to tell him, so sue her if she wanted a little build up to it, a chance to work up her courage.

When he sat next to her, she unconsciously let her hand drift to his and listened to him talk about his home. "I...I wasn't born in Benden Weyr," she started when he finished. She'd never really told K'sel much about her family other than Ae'on. "I was born in Benden Hold, had a fairly normal life for a Northern girl...I think. Then my father sent me to the Weyr. What kind of parent does that?" There was indignation in her voice then, though it simmered out pretty fast. "I would never- could never- won't ever..." She trailed off and pressed a hand to her eyes, trying so hard not to cry. It was all too easy for her to do so lately.

[Lotty]

Oh... it was a simple reply, maybe even a little bewildered. Dipping his head a bit the brown was almost embarrassed that he had managed to bring up such an awkward subject. Still, he attempted to rectify the situation, poking his head out to nuzzle the green as he mentioned, Yes, sometimes it is hard to explain our peoples. Perhaps her worries will pass and there will be no need to explain after all. There did seem to be some kind of progress happening after all. K'sel was talking to Nephele's so that very clearly had to be a good sign... or at least a better sign than if she was shutting off all communication.

Even if it was admittedly a little bit confusing talk... Pettahth could tell at least that much from the way his bonded's head was swirling. K'sel tried not to let it show, instead occupying himself by snorting at the littlest of comments and inwardly snickering at the use of 'Sella. Clearly with everyone's propensity for calling him such he should have shortened his name to the frilly moniker, but that was a story for a different day. He instead owed it to his weyrmate to keep his mouth shut for once, since she clearly was very distraught and in need of his ears and not his tongue. For every moment that he considered opening up and offering his thoughts the nervous energy was instead transferred to his captured hand which would offer a tiny caress to the fingers entangled with his.

So he heard her out, listening to her tale, and wondering why it was then that she had decided to offer these details, with her previous silence about her past he considered it something of a non-subject. After all, he wished more of his own past was a secret, but it was far too hard when your mother worked there in Selenitas gossip central. Still, with the information out he couldn't help but feel... a little touched maybe? Her birth in the hold didn't seem to be open information, and getting to hear it made him in on some little conspiracy. A rather sad one at that, and his brows crumpled together in sympathy as his lips drew out into a long frown. He didn't know what to say.

K'sel didn't have the words.

It took a while for him to grasp onto something, and he whispered out, "That's awful... your father should be ashamed of himself," cue another loss as he tried to come up with how to proceed. One hand began to search his pocket for a handkerchief as he sensed the impending tears, but in his rush to get dressed and run out on his hunt, such nice things were left behind. She would have to then just settle for his shirt if it came down to it, "And of course you won't Neph... I'm sure you wouldn't even if you had to... Now what is making you think of such things anyway?" Leaning in he pressed his mouth to her temple in a quick kiss.

[Ember]

Nuoth immediately felt bad for making her friend feel awkward. She really hadn't meant to but until Hers told His of her own accord she couldn't say anything about it. She met the brown half way with a return nuzzle and said in her ever-soft tones, All too true, on both accounts. Yours is... The green paused, searching for the right words, good for NepheleMine. I do hope they work things out together. The green wasn't the best versed on human romantic relationships and the results of them, but she understood that golds often preferred it if bronzes stuck around to help afterwards. Or browns, on the rare occasion.

Nephele was mildly comforted by the slight caresses K'sel was giving her hand and also by the fact that he was still around, still willing to listen. She used to think she knew him but clearly there were still sides to him she was discovering. She might even get to see a completely unexpected side of him if he didn't utterly hate her for what she'd done, what she'd chosen. She chanced a look at her weyrmate to judge his reaction to her little story and noted curiously his expression. Not quite pity, she didn't think, though it clearly didn't make him much happier to hear it than it made her to talk about it.

The tears did finally slip out and down her cheeks though she was a blessedly quiet crier. His words brought out a slight tear-choked laugh and she squeezed his hand gently. He really ought to be but she knew that her father never would be ashamed of his choices. His question, though, brought a shaky sigh from her and she closed her eyes against his kiss to her temple. Nephele couldn't look at him but she did manage to say, in a fairly steady voice considering, "Because I'm pregnant Kasella. Just recently found out." The last bit was tagged on to make sure he didn't think she'd been hiding it from him for ages.

[Lotty]

Oh yes, yes... Pettahth was quick to agree with Nuoth, adding in his own thanks and hope for the continuation of their bonded's current arrangement, And mine is much better with yours. I worked hard on him you know, there was no doubt about that, and really the brown wanted to take most of the credit if he could, but as fair as he was, that meant giving a little to the greenpair as well, but yours was a needed extra push. I'd hate to think of what may happen if they do not work out things. If anything the concept sort of alarmed the dragon, and his eyes whirled with a tinge of concern before adding in a bit of a hushed tone, Why, I think if they don't it will undo all those turns of hardwork for mine. K'sel after all could be known to resort to hysterics.

Luckily, for the moment, he was stuck in a bit of shock. He paused mid nuzzle, before moving slowly in the attempt to not seem so petrified. And scared. Let's face it.... he was incredibly afraid. It was a real fear too, without the hype that A'emi and he placed upon themselves during their little ghost hunts. Still, there was but one way to try and remedy the overwhelming desire to vomit all over the place, and so he gunned for it, turning his head to look at the woman past all of the tears, "So..." he began slowly, "Is this your way of telling me that I can't have a puppy now?"

He smiled a bit before adding, "I kid..." Now, K'sel wasn't one to get really excited about anything. Nor was he overly sentimental and willing to whine out some kind of line about how wonderful this all was. Frankly, he was still grappling with the fact that he officially had to grow up, and just about any optimism he could lay out there would sound thoroughly insincere. Instead he glanced at her sidelong and played it as cool as he could, "Now, why is this a reason to cry exactly? I'm not mad at you. Surprised certainly, but I'm only concerned in so far as how well I can do at being a father...." hmmm presumptuous but asking if he was in fact the sperm donor might suggest things he didn't mean, "I mean I haven't got a bit of practice in at even being an uncle..."

[Ember]

Nuoth was rather amused by Pettahth's tangent on training His. She had not consciously made an effort to change or train Nephele. It had sort of just...happened. Her eyes whirled in muted shades of amusement and there was a thread of it in her mindvoice when she prompted, Is that so? That must be troubling. She really was more of a listener than a sharer so prompting Pettahth to spill more was only natural for her. She offered up a soft croon over his concern.

Nephele blinked dumbly for a moment at the joke, trying to process it through the ball of emotions sitting in her throat. When it did come through she snorted softly and briefly squeezed his hand. Idiot. Her loveable idiot. She all but crumpled against him in relief when he told her he wasn't mad at her. She wasn't certain whether she was surprised about it or not. Maybe K'sel was just so used to her doing things in a roundabout way or if the turns of passive aggresive anger at each other had drained them of the ability to get angry over Important Things and not little things like an old married couple.

She sighed quietly before admitting, "Because I didn't ask? Just..." She trailed off, waving one hand nervously. Nephele also couldn't let parental fears pass. "Hey, you can always get practice with Lena's," she teased a bit before turning slightly more serious. "Besides, I trust you." Because, yes, that did say a lot for the greenrider. She may have opened up some since coming from Benden but she still only trusted a small hanful of people. He was undoubtedly number one on her list, despite their rather odd build up to relationship status.

[Lotty]

Quite, the dragon was quick to agree, but was still firm in this confidence. The brown was sure that even if he had to build his rider up from nothing all over he'd still have the best bonded of them all. Lots of things changed, but that was not one of them, still though, I am sure I would have him whipped back into shape. I'd just rather not, it would waste time better spent on other things.... Like training or hunting, or what have you. Pettahth hated inefficiency and nothing would irk him more than doing an overhaul on K'sel when it could be completely avoided. Fortune was on his side, though, and fetching some stray emotions from his bonded assured him that all may actually be ok. For the most part. Somewhere between the overwhelming fear there was... understanding.

And nowhere anger.

Relieved the little dragon stuck out his freckled nose to meet a Nuoth's hide, I think. The worst is over though?

At least K'sel could say that he was sort of funny sometimes, because after that moment of absolute dread, he found that the woman had relaxed with a squeeze of his hand. Well this was good. He hadn't started another war or anything so for now he was walking away unscathed. Considering she was pregnant as she said, he couldn't help but image that he'd stay so lucky forever. Weren't women notoriously emotional when carrying babies? Shit, he doomed. Completely and utterly doomed. But at least through all of it, she had trust in him. Wait...

She trusted him?

He quirked an eyebrow up and pinned his chin in towards his neck in skepticism. He had been pretty sure that she didn't trust him with much of anything... probably didn't trust him not to leave his clothes in dirty piles around the weyr much less with a child. He chuckled then, somewhat dismissing the claim, "As simple as that sounds I'm not so sure she would let me. I'm not very much useful to her children without a set of breasts, which I have no designs on acquiring anytime soon thank you," and even after those twins were weened, would she really want him around her kids? He'd be liable to accidentally teach them a curse word or two before they even got around to just learning 'mommy'. "Are you so sure you trust me? Flaws and all? Not that I doubt your esteemed judgment, or anything." He couldn't say he trusted too many people either, even his own brother was met with healthy doubt. Perhaps Nephele was number one on his list as well.