I see you... (Cainith)

[Ivy]

I see you, before I ever knew you, before I ever knew you...
I dreamed of you...
I dreamed of you, yeah…
You’re a stormy night, thunder crashing...
Mystery, full of passion...
Quiet as a Sunday morning, change without any warning...
Love has a thousand faces, love has a thousand faces...

Eros chirruped happily as he swooped into the dining hall and claimed a table for himself - and his slave of course. His hide was gleaming and very healthy looking, and as a very tired looking Ivy came shuffling in it was obvious why. The slender Blue had been so upset about her lack of attention lately (as if it were her fault she was making more friends and had lessons and chores!) that he'd bugged her ALL NIGHT until she finally gave in. A long bath, a long scrub, and a long and even oiling - only then did Eros finally stop his squawking at the young woman. Before she could close her eyes and sleep though he began to complain for a new reason... he was hungry.

So here the pair were far too early in the morning (or very very late at night, depending on who you asked), Ivy looking completely worn out and Eros looking just chipper as ever. He deserved care like this every day, maybe his slave would remember next time and he could let her rest. Only if she was good though. Perched in the middle of an empty table he chirruped and flashed images of meatrolls and bubbly pies to the girl. How could he even know about the pies?! Its not as if they were overly common in the Weyr, in fact the last time she'd had one was at the Hyphen Gather.

Shaking her head she frowned, "No pies, they don't have any."

WHAT? Why wouldn't they have any? Couldn't his slave make him some? He wanted some, they looked so delicious! The Green that had shown him them seemed to think so too. He must have some! He must!

Another shake of her head, "Eros, NO."

Sulking a bit he squawked again but decided he'd make her get him pies next time. She was obviously just cranky since she was tired. So he curled up and waited for her to get him some of those yummy meat rolls. Hurry it up please, kthx.

Dipping into the kitchens Ivy batted her weary eyes at the nearest drudge - which was a very masculine looking woman, but at this hour Ivy just didn't care. Her goal was to feed the annoying thing back in the dining hall and get some sleep before she needed to be up for chores. Grabbing two plate fulls of meat rolls with the drudge's insistence they wouldn't be missed (after all, it was only the wherhandlers up this late and they were almost all on patrol right now) she winked and headed back to the table her Blue was curled up on.

Standing, Eros eyed the offerings and turned some over with his tail before deciding they were acceptable. Grabbing one he took it to the edge of the table furthest away from Ivy to eat it. "You are so strange."

Ivy sat down and propped her elbow onto the table, head resting on her left hand. Her fiery hair was pulled back behind her head in a runner-tail, the tip of which tickled against the back of her neck, just a few finger lengths beneath her shoulder line. Stray bangs had come loose and framed her tired face. Blue eyes began to dip closed and she felt herself starting to doze off in her seat.

[Aftershock]

Cainith stumbled into the dining hall, his hair a bit more wild-looking than usual, and deep bags under his eyes. He knew he would have to get used to this schedule eventually if he Impressed a wher, but right now he was starving and exhausted. It takes some getting used to taking care of a baby salamandyr when you've had no experience with anything depending on you but yourself for your entire life up to this point, and when that baby also considered you his "Goddess" and spent hours upon hours trying to get you to tell him your "commandments" and wanting you to go out and "smite heathens", it could get a little exhausting. He'd finally escaped by telling the fanatic little blue that he had "offended the Goddess and must repent," which sent the 'mandyr scrambling onto a shelf above Cainith's bed to lie on it's stomach with it's paws clasped in front of it and chant strange little litanies over and over.

Seeing Ivy sitting at a table, Cainith smiled and stumped over to join her, sitting across from her and shaking the table with his weight as he sat, likely startling her awake from her near-catatonia. Grabbing three meatrolls from her plates in one hand, he took a bite of two of them at once, and through his mouthful said, "Good evening... or morning. I can't even tell which at this point. Of course, you'd have to get up pretty early if you're trying to eat as much as me." Laughing uproariously at his own joke, he noticed Ivy's half-concious expressoin, and said, "You look to be in about the same condition I am." Glancing over to spot Eros nibbling a meatroll at the end of the table, and noting his pristine, shiny hide, he laughed a bit (quieter than normal, as if he didn't have the energy for a full-on belly laugh), he winked and asked, "Prissy flit trouble, huh?"

[Ivy]

Eros glanced at the large man and took a moment away from his food to hiss at him. Why was he eating the food his slave had brought for him? And why was the giant talking about him? Didn't he know it was rude? The blue glared at Ivy - since obviously this was her fault for not correcting the large man - and then went back to his food. He was too hungry to be bothered with these things right now.

Ivy jumped slightly when Cainith sat at the table, his weight causing it to creak and move. Blinking a few times and giving a soft shake of her head to help wake up a bit more she looked over at him. A weary smile was offered to the man and she noticed immediately he lacked his 'mandyr. Of course it was hard not to notice, since had he been there she was likely to be hearing about how unworthy she was of the 'Goddess'. Chuckling a bit to herself her smile became a tad more lively.

"Prissy isn't the only word I'd use for him, but yes. He seems to think he deserves all of my attention and devotion all the time. Too bad he couldn't be more like Rollhead, I don't think I'd mind something worshiping me for a change. Where is he anyway?" Her voice was quiet, and she spoke slowly - she was tired after all. She really just wanted to sleep.

[Aftershock]

Cainith laughed a little louder as Ivy mentioned wanting Eros to be more like Rollhead, the conversation with the attractive redhead seeming to bouy his flagging energy. "You don't know what you wish for, Ivy my dear," Cainith chuckled, "At least your flit seems to know what sex you are. A worshipper is fun for a bit, but when said worshipper is as fanatical as my Rollhead, it gets old fast. I only got away from him for a bit by telling him he had 'offended the Goddess' and telling him he had to repent, which sent him into some kind of 'mandyr prayer vigil. I don't know how long till he's done and he comes to find me, so I'm taking advantage of it as I can to get some time alone." Scratching his disheveled hair, he added, "For someone who's been alone for so long, it takes time to get used to someone sharing your brainspace."

Winking at Ivy as his eyes twinkled, Cainith grinned laviciously and said, "As for worshipping you, I could be a convert myself. Definately couldn't ask for a shapelier altar to worship at."

[Ivy]

Ivy's cheeks flushed a shade just a tad softer than her hair at his words. Shaking her head she avoided his gaze for a moment - clearly embarrassed - before she looked over at him. "You're obviously delirious from lack of sleep Cainith."

Her attention was brought back to Eros when the blue stood up and waddle-walked over to the plates again. He gave Cainith another hiss for stealing his food then grabbed up another meatroll and retreated to his spot on the far side of the table. Rolling her eyes she smiled softly at the larger man, "He doesn't seem to like you much, maybe he thinks you want to eat him?"

Her tone was teasing and she gave a playful giggle. Shifting her body she turned so she was facing Cainith more and switched arms so her head could be propped up by her right one instead of her left. This made it easier to watch him through half-lidded eyes. "I'm sure you'll get used to it in time, you'd better at least. After all if you Impress you'll have a wher sharing your mind with you - and Rollhead. Wonder how the little guy will handle that?"

[Aftershock]

Cainith bellowed with laughter, his mirth seeming to have nearly fully recovered to full volume, and said, "Delirious? Not at all. I could be half-dead and still be able to recognize the fact that you're one of the finest women around this place. A fine prize for any man who might capture you, indeed." With the last part of his statement, a careful observer would note a flash of hope in his eyes, followed quickly by despair, like a cloud passing over the sun before his playful twinkle resumed it's place in his eyes.

Cainith gave Eros a short glance when he was hissed at, but didn't respond otherwise, continuing to eat meatrolls off the plates in front of Ivy. At her comment, he replied around a bite of meatroll, "I don't think he likes anyone who takes your attention away from him. It's probably nothing personal."

Cainith sighed at the mention of Impressing, the smile fading from his face. "Two more years is all I have. I certainly do hope I Impress, though I've gotten used to disappointment in that regard. I might just end up being 'the old giant', only useful for scaring children and lifting heavy objects. Oh, and hitting things when someone finds a use for me." He sat silently for a moment, then glanced up at Ivy once again and grinned, saying, "But enough of such gloomy talk. I'm sure you'll Impress your dragon soon enough, and poor Eros will have to deal with sharing you permanently." He laughed at that, though his eyes betrayed the falsehood of both smile and laughter.

[Ivy]

"Prize? I'm no prize. I feel pity for the man who finally gets me to settle down. I'll likely drive him nuts." She giggled and smiled up at Cainith, her cheeks still flushed just so. Her smile dimmed when his did and she reached out to touch his arm gently, "I'm sure you'll Impress. Likely before I do. Knowing my luck I'm not truly suitable to be a rider... Its not as if any dragons ever found me suitable to Search. I had to come here for a few turns before one finally said I should Stand. To be honest I think the rider had something to do that. I was sleeping with her weyrmate... heh."

A short, bitter laugh came from the young woman before she shook her head a bit, "But enough of that. I think you're underestimating your own worth Cainith. Surely you must be good at more things than scaring children, hitting things, and lifting heavy objects. After all, I'm sure the cooks rely on you to eat up leftovers so they don't have to deal with rotten food when it goes bad."

A playful wink was given and she squeezed his arm, "Maybe fate will smile on both of us and we'll each Impress when the time is right."

[Aftershock]

Cainith laughed with Ivy, responding, "Oh, I'm sure you'll make some handsome dragonrider very happy. You've got more fire in your little finger than most Northern women have in their whole bodies, and a true wife should keep a man on his toes, or else he gets sloppy." He thrilled a bit inside when she touched his arm, and was reminded sorely of the connection he felt towards this young Southern woman since his first meeting with her.

"I'm not the only one who gives themselves too little credit," Cainith said, reaching out to put a massive paw on Ivy's shoulder. "It seems we've both lived lives where we've let ourselves determine our self-worth through what others get out of using our bodies." Tightening his grip slightly, though not enough to cause pain, he said, "I think it's time we both put a stop to that, don't you?"

Smiling at Ivy, looking into her half-hooded blue eyes, he suddenly cringed. In a moment, Ivy determined the source of his discomfort... a tiny mindvoice, slowly growing in strength as it approached their position. "GODDESS!! GODDESS!!! GODDESS!!! I finish repenting as commanded, and return to bask in divine glow!" With a leap onto the leg of the table and a quick scamper, Rollhead climbed onto the tabletop, panting in exertion before flopping onto his belly before Cainith. "I live to serve, Goddess! I see you already gather other worshippers to give proper thanks for your presence," Roll continued, flicking one orange-flashing eye open in Ivy's direction for a moment with the kind of disdain a true believer feels towards a weekend worshipper.

"Yes, Rollhead, that's exactly what's going on here," Cainith grated through his teeth, giving Ivy a desperate "Please just go along with this so I don't have to argue again" look with his eyes as he said it.

[Ivy]

Ivy chuckled as the little blue salamandyr crawled up onto the table and began worshiping Cainith again. "I see he found you again." She said under her breath, just loud enough for Cainith to hear. Winking up at the larger man she lifted her head up and pushed up from the seat so she could kiss his cheek.

"Rolly, you are quite lucky to share a mind with this man right here, I hope you know that." she addressed the 'mandyr and offered him a meatroll - to which Eros squawked out a protest, but she ignored it.

"As for the use others get from our bodies... I don't quite mind it. Though sometimes I wish I felt there was more to it than just that." Shaking her head she yawned a bit, "And who said I was going to get a rider? Half of the lot around here are shiny chasers or into other men. And I don't fit the bill for either of those."

[Aftershock]

Rollhead jumped up a bit when Ivy leaned forward and kissed Cainith's cheek, his tail whipping, frill extended, and eyes red in aggression. Then, as the emotion brought forth from the kiss reached him through the mindlink, his eyes flashed over to a confused orange, and he settled back on his haunches, his frill retracting as he cocked his head at Ivy. "You touch Goddess without permission, yet Goddess feel joy at mouth-touch. You must be favored servant of Goddess, yes. Rollhead understand now." His eyes switching to a calm green, he settled back down in the worship pose towards Cainith. His eyes focusing on her as she continued to speak, he mindspoke to Ivy, "Of course Rollhead lucky. Rollhead luckiest of clutch, hatched fast enough to claim Goddess for self. Other clutchsiblings not good enough to serve Goddess as needed." As she presented him with a meatroll, he became agitated yet again, though he calmed when Cainith informed him that the two plates of meatrolls were all Ivy's offering to Cainith (ignoring Eros' indignant hiss in response), and he was allowing his best worshipper to share in the Goddess' bounty. Giving Ivy one final look that said, "You're accepted, but remember who the top servant is," Rollhead stuffed his head into the meatroll, devouring the spiced herdbeast meat inside it happily.

Settling back, Cainith sighed a bit, and said, "Yes, it would be nice to have a little more out of things than simply a favor I might be able to call in later. No one wants to be friends with the giant... you're the first person that's ever treated me like a person without wanting something out of me, without an ulterior motive. I think it's why I l..." Cainith stopped suddenly, coloring a bit, then continued, "...enjoy spending time with you. That, and the scenery," he continued, giving Ivy another smarmy grin with a twinkle in his eye. "And who's to say you won't Impress a gold? I think you've got it in you," he continued, giving Ivy a smile. "You may think Rollhead lucky to share my mind, but I know I would not be lucky enough to have someone as beautiful as you share my bed." He continued, his expression growing slightly sad and distant as he mumbled, quietly and seeming mostly to himself, "I'll probably never find one who isn't scared off..."

[Ivy]

"You are such a devoted little 'mandyr Rolly." Ivy said softly to the little blue with a smile and a wink to Cainith before she leaned in against his side with another yawn.

Eros came over and snuck another meatroll for himself before disappearing between - probably for their room as he felt too crowded at the table. Sulky little prissy firelizard he was.

"You are quite forward my dead Goddess." She said the last word with a giggle, trying to conceal it from Rollhead least he decide he hated her again. "Most men beat around the bush when it comes to what they want from me. Where as you just throw it all out there. I like that."

A light blush colored the tired young woman's cheeks as she looked up at him and kissed his cheek once more - mostly to make his 'mandyr angry because honestly it kind of amused her. "As for me Impressing a Gold? Ha. Could you imagine me in charge of anything? Unlikely. Just as unlikely as it is I'll Impress at the next clutch. Not that Eros would mind it, I'm sure he enjoys it more when its just me and him. Wonder how he would have reacted if I had gotten one of Rolly's siblings. Hm."

She wanted to add if he wanted her in his bed all he had to do was take her there. She wanted to add she'd bed him any night if he wanted - after all it had been a few sevendays since anyone had really shown interest in her in that department, and she did enjoy his company. However it was late, they were still getting to know each other, and she felt like maybe pulling back on her sexual tendencies would help her in the long run.

[Aftershock]

Rollhead flicked his tail dismissively in response to Ivy's question, as if to say, "Well, of course." He kept his head buried in the meatroll, which was fortunate when Eros stole a meatroll from "the Goddess' Tribute Plates", as the young 'mandyr would likely have taken extreme offense at such "blasphemy" and Ivy and Cainith might have been forced to break up a fight.

As Ivy leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, Cainith mumbled, "If I said a Wasteland rider was coming, might I get another kiss on the lips?" Turning his head to look down at Ivy, he grinned wide at the buxom young woman, and snaked his huge arm around her shoulders and side, tugging her protectively against him as she leaned up against him, responding, "Physically, I've never been very subtle, so I've never seen reason to be that way socially either." He barked out in laughter, then continued, "I see no need for it; why be indirect when direct action gets results so much faster?" Ivy felt rock-hard muscle covered in a layer of firm, but still soft, fat surround her as he snuggled her in close, and after a bit, Cainith said, "If you believe I'll Impress before it's too late, I'll believe you'll Impress a great dragon. Perhaps our wishes will give each other the luck we need. Deal?" He grinned down at her, though soon the grin was broken by a huge, gaping yawn, and after he kissed the top of Ivy's head gently, Cainith went silent for a bit. In a couple moments, Ivy noticed the weight upon her shoulders and side had increased, and a couple seconds after her observation, deep, rumbling snores began to emerge from Cainith's now-unconcious form.

Suddenly, Ivy noticed a feeling, like something was watching her, and glanced down to see that Rollhead had finished his meatroll, and had his head on his paws, orange eyes staring directly at her. "Goddess happy around you. You keep make Goddess happy, Rollhead consider you special sub-servant, and let you stay around Goddess without problem. You fall from Goddess' grace, Rollhead pull out pretty blue eyes and give as offering to Goddess to quell Goddess anger." With that last line, his eyes went warningly red and his golden frill flared once, then his eyes went back to a pleasant green before closing as the 'mandyr settled down on the tabletop to digest his meal.

[Ivy]

Ivy slumped a bit at the extra weight when Cainith apparently passed out. Oh geez, she wasn't built for holding up her own weight plus all of that of the giant man next to her. Smiling softly to herself she moved her hand to his side and began poking lightly, trying to see if the man was ticklish or not.

She paused in her endeavors to wake him for a moment when Rollhead addressed her. Threatened her, actually. Maybe she was glad she hadn't managed to procure one of his clutchmates. After all, if they were all as batty as he was... well she'd end up with no suitors what-so-ever.

Another tickling, prodding poke was given and she shook her shoulders lightly, still trying to wake him up, "Cainith. Cainithhhhh. If you're tired you should sleep somewhere more comfortable... sitting up leaning on me is likely to make me collapse and end up with both of us on the floor soon... Cainith..."

[Aftershock]

Cainith snorted a bit as Ivy prodded and tickled at him, mumbling, "Oh, that's nice... I knew it would feel this good, oh, Iv..." He then suddenly snorted loudly and his eyes shot open, staring around wildly for a second as he took in his surroundings. Looking down at Ivy nestled next to him, his cheeks flushed in embarrasment, hoping he hadn't said anything of what his mind had shown him as he dozed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ivy. It would probably be best for me to get some sleep now, yes, so as to avoid falling over onto you and smooshing you. 'Twould be a crime indeed, crushing such beauty," Cainith said as he shook conciousness back into his brain. "Of course, if you're tired as well, I modified my own bed to fit me comfortably, so it's large enough for you, as well, if your own bed seems too small and Eros doesn't provide good enough company," he continued, giving Ivy a large smirk and patting her thigh with the hand on the arm that encompassed half her body before disengaging from the redhead and standing up, stretching his back out before carefully picking up Rollhead and depositing the little blue on his shoulder. Cainith paused for a moment before turning to leave, seeing if Ivy responded to his invitation, though if she did not, he would say, "As always, my time with you has been most pleasurable, and I will see you around, my beautiful fellow Candidate," before turning to leave back to his room to sleep.

[Ivy]

Ivy's cheeks took on a rosy tinge as he began to talk in his sleep. Was he... But then he was awake and blushing and she knew, he had been. This made the color on her own cheeks darken considerably as she looked up at him.

He stood and she smiled, standing up as well after he'd plucked Rollhead from the table. At his offer of spending the night she looked thoughtful. Should she? Nothing would happen of course - both of them seemed too tired, but what if he expected something to happen? Thinking another minute on it he began to walk off and she just smiled.

"Rest well Cainith, I look forward to seeing you again soon."

With that she too headed off - towards her room where Eros had claimed her bed.