BFFs (Boyfriends Forever?) {tags K'lir, Caravan}

[neeuqtar]

Beauty beauty shining bright! Dael crowed, fluttering overhead through the trees as Uu'n made his way along the riverbank, leaping over one-too-many gouges gashed into the banks by the torrential rains which had broken the drought. He sighed, glancing up as Dael's brilliant form alighted on a branch. The salamandyr scurried back along the branch, spiraling down with impressive speed along the trunk of the tree to display at him, her eyes bright. Walk fast! Shining ahead! she trilled at him. He barked laughter, setting one hand against the trunk.

"I know you can see the caravan from up there, but I am a poor land-bound two-legger," he laughed at her. She trilled, rippling her frill at him, before turning 360 and racing vertically up the tree into the foliage, reappearing as she launched herself back into the air. "You've got the right idea," Uu'n called back up at her, looking around. His eyes brightened and a reckless grin spread across his face as he caught sight of the perfect thing. And Adith was far too asleep to tell him not to be stupid.

The bluerider backed up a few steps, to the soggy edge of the ravine, and crouched down into a sprinter's pose. He narrowed his eyes, estimating the distances with practiced ease. After all, he had to think much quicker when practicing maneuvers on Adith's back. "Three, two, one, RUN!" he cried, in the style of those calling the races at Gathers. At the last word, he launched forward, sprinting across the soft ground. Like a gymnast, he leapt, twisted in the air, and vaulted off of a boulder with his arms to go flying up in a half-somersault, grabbing a treebranch with a whoop and swinging himself up onto it.

Without losing momentum, he trotted his way through the dense foliage of the jungle trees, using the heavy vines and branches of the lower canopy as his walkway, leaping when he had to. It didn't take long at all to get past the ruined path along the riverbank and to the Caravan's clearing. He paused at the edge, holding up a hand as a falconer would, which Dael promptly landed on, prancing back and forth in a display of delight. Uu'n grinned at her, marks heavy in his belt-pouch. He'd cleverly worn the hat Kalierre had plopped on his head at the last Gather, less because he minded sunburn (which he got less of, now that he spent mornings outside) and more so that she wouldn't fuss at him if she saw him.

Uu'n strode to the end of the weight-bearing capabilities of the branch before jumping off, landing in a crouch. Dael cleverly leapt from his hand mid-air, used to her pet's little peculiarities. She flicked through the air, slowly losing altitude until she landed atop a stall of what appeared to be eggs. Whistling, Uu'n followed her. He didn't have anything particularly in mind to buy... maybe something for Caevaniara. But what did one even buy a baby? Maybe he'd buy something for K'lir...

My Showoff's pet good your boyfriend, Dael said wisely, displaying from atop the cart for a moment, the sunlight striking her brilliant golden hide for a moment, gleaming brightly. She leapt and glided to a pole holding up the canopy, spiraling down it to sniff at the eggs with an expert eye. Dael chirped delightedly and was about to pounce on the firelizard eggs when Uu'n dashed over, grabbing her mid-leap.

"You may not eat the eggs! And K'lir isn't my boyfriend!"

[glamourie]

"I'm not?" K'lir inquired with a curious lilt to his voice. Ever a morning person (thanks to Kahrelir), the greenrider had been at the caravans for quite some time... but thus far, saw nothing he really wanted to purchase. The reason for that was simple: K'lir was cheap. He was perfectly happy with hand-me-downs and second-class clothing so long as it was in decent shape and not completely atrocious. He didn't need to buy new things, and he didn't like most of what he saw anyway. K'lir found new clothes... odd. He liked the ones that carried the scent of people. And, whether Uu'n realized it or not, K'lir had at least one of his shirts ferreted away because it smelled like him. Creepy? No -- he just felt more comfortable with Uu'n than most anyone he knew. Showoff could be blamed for that, but K'lir wasn't sure that he really minded. It felt... nice to be sure how he felt about someone. Everyone else in his life, except for his son, confused him. Kahrelir he was sure about, too. Why did his feelings have to make no sense? And more over, how could any sane person try to figure out how they worked? -- He'd asked R'wign what it all meant. And got the answer "You're clearly a woman." Not helpful at all, except that it caused K'lir to blame his conflicted reactions to people (namely Beka) on Calistoth. It was clearly all her fault.

With an almost sincere amount of scandal in his voice, K'lir stalked right up to Uu'n and pushed him lightly with one hand. "You've been leading me on all these months! You're horrible!" His proximity to Uu'n triggered movement in his baggy blue shirt, and a reddish-bronze head poked out of the collar to look around. K'lir did not notice, going so far as to step away and fake a frown almost well enough to look genuine. "I thought - I thought we had something -- I thought you --"

DAELMINE!

Showoff's outburst made K'lir's expression change immediately - from a near teary-eyed frown to one of amusement. "Little nuisance, I was trying to put on a show," he stated plainly (suddenly back in his normal voice as well) with a poke to his shirt that made Showoff scurry out into the open. "You could've waited until I was through. You just had to ruin everything, didn't you? It's not like you haven't seen her in a long time - so overdramatic."

Silence, Dunghead-mine, Showoff said as he promptly displayed and eyed the stall in front of him. Eggs. Eggs. Lots of eggs. They'd been there before, when DungheadHis bought something. He didn't like it, but His didn't keep it. Hmm. Oh! But! Daelmine shiny me has! Bouncing into K'lir's pocket, Showoff rooted around before climbing out with an earring in his mouth - an earring given to him by Saeo, that just happened to match one he'd stolen and given to Dael several weeks previous. A matching set. Pretty pretty Daelmine I get?

[neeuqtar]

Uu'n squeaked at K'lir's voice, not having suspected the greenrider of being right sharding behind him. His surprise relaxed his fingers enough for Dael to squirm loose of his grip, racing up his wrist and arm to his shoulder, her eyes sparking red at the indignity of being snatched from the air, pacing back and forth. Uu'n kept a tendril of his mind on her, fully aware that she was likely to make a try for the firelizard eggs again. She was worse than a tunnelsnake in her taste for the eggs of her cousins, especially when she was near her Runs or getting egg-heavy. Worse because she could tell what was in eggs, and selectively chose the largest flitter eggs for her foodstuffs. He had a good deal of marks, but not enough to feast her on firelizards!

Uu'n blinked in surprise at K'lir, not expecting the drama--until he realized it was drama, catching the undertone of amusement. He crossed his arms over his chest, sternly staring K'lir down. He opened his mouth to respond when Dael caught sight of Showoff and ceased her angry pacing, prancing in place and frilling at him flirtatiously. The gold trilled sweetly, clearly not caring about whatever her pet was doing with Showoff's pet. Uu'n started snickering before K'lir dropped pretense, unable to maintain a straight face when confronted with Dael's silliness and K'lir's at the same time. Apparently he'd grown a sense of humor beyond his dry trickery over the Turns... he blamed it on Dael and Adith. Maybe a little on K'lir.

"He's a salamandyr," Uu'n teased. "Do you really expect him to do anything your way?" Dael peeped happily at Showoff's attention to her luminous self--another indicator of her approaching Run. She always got more vocal around her Runs, and more affectionate... at least to Showoff. Uu'n was studiously ignoring this fact. He always hurt for days afterwards, but Dael didn't seem to care about that at all. And he always wanted to jump K'lir for days before, which was not helping his case that he wasn't K'lir's boyfriend, especially in Dael's mind.

Oh, is shiny! Dael cried delightedly, sliding down Uu'n's shirt to his second belt-pouch and nosing around inside, coming back up with the matching earring. Beauties, not pretties, she scolded her mate, wriggling her butt before jumping off of Uu'n's side, flapping her wings a few times before alighting on Uu'n's wrist, which he automatically offered her. Is matching! Uu'n grinned down at her, then raised his eyes back to K'lir. K'lir, he decided, needed new clothing. He was always wearing old things.. which wouldn't have bothered Uu'n, if they hadn't been so... baggy.

Uu'n himself preferred tight clothing, as was obvious by his outfit: a tight black shirt of pebbled weave, with silver embroidery at the slashed neck; black riding breeches that were just about skintight; dark-stained, shin-high laced boots; loose black gloves with the fingers cut off. And, of course, a rather large number of piercings: silver and bone ornaments today. He had a good deal of choice, with all the shinies Showoff brought Dael (and those she stole herself). "I need to spend some marks," he sighed. "And I don't think I need any more holes..."

[glamourie]

Flaring his frill in a blatant display (Look! Wasn't he delightful? Yes, yes he was, he was the best bronze on Pern, thank you very much!) of ... living up to his name, Showoff scurried up onto K'lir's head. He almost blended in with the dark red strands, except for the distinctly metallic sheen to his hide that was impossible to ignore. The little salamandyr waved his prize around before proclaiming to Dael, Is pretty. Only Daelmine beauty. None else! He hated other gold creatures because they distracted others from the only real beauty. He especially hated that winged nuisance that liked to clutch in the infirmary where the noisy WingedStupid he had claimed often was. He was going to make her pay one day. Possibly eat her wings. Match matchmatch set blue dunghead say SET, has set. Daelmine! More. He carefully held his prize up in his mouth and jumped off of K'lir's head. His wings carried him the short distance to one of the poles for the egg stand and he latched onto it before eying the eggs there contemptuously. Hmm.

"You'd be surprised," K'lir replied dryly. "I'm convinced he's an evil genius in disguise. Everyone says to me how they don't listen. I've found it's perfectly possible to bribe that little monster. He can be reasoned with. Sometimes. Usually. Not when Dael's around and close to Running, though."

No. K'lir wasn't stupid. He was well aware that Dael was close to Running. How did he know? Answer: Showoff was a pain in the backside, more so than usual. Aside from the fact that he was sorely tempted to shove Uu'n onto the top of one of the tables and run his tongue down the other male's black-clad body from head to toe, there was an ever-growing pile of stolen gold and gemstones in the floor of his weyr. Whenever Dael was either about to Run, or close to clutching, suddenly the amount of stolen goods seemed to triple... and Showoff would go so far as to tear big chunks out of his fingers if he so much as dared to try and remove them. The salamandyr seemed to take it as a personal affront every time he returned what Showoff stole, but what the little bronze didn't realize was that K'lir could not afford to pay for his thieving habit. Not that Showoff got caught very often. In fact, he was a gifted little sneak. Odd.

Showoff's interest made K'lir glance at him and then in a quick movement, he snatched the little salamandyr off of the pole. Showoff gave an indignant cry and proceeded to squirm, but stubborn as he was, he refused to release his gift for Dael. It took him a few moments to completely relax from the sudden grab, but once he did, he turned his gaze up to K'lir with rapidly whirling eyes. Most people wouldn't be as rough with their salamandyrs as K'lir was but he knew for a fact Showoff could take it and anything less forceful did not work with him. The salamandyr was stubborn, bossy, ridiculous and prone to fits. It took an almost ridiculous amount of force to make the little monster listen. And K'lir had never hurt him, not really. It probably would have upset him a lot if he had. (Despite their bickering, K'lir loved Showoff more than words could ever describe and he defended him zealously... even when he knew the little monster was wrong.)

"You're not stealing anything here, Showoff. I'm broke after buying R'wign's egg." Squinting at the bronze salamandyr, K'lir made a face. Showoff displayed at him in agitation before looking back at the eggs contemplatively; he was going to snag one of them for Dael to eat, yes he was. K'lir ignored the salamandyr's ever-growing agitation, and let his eyes sweep over Uu'n before he smiled. It was a very suggestive smile. "You can always use more holes," he said sweetly, before adding, "and if you're looking for something to buy, clothing not in black might suit you well. You look like you're permanently in mourning. Blue would be good for you, I think -- would bring out Adith's color better when you're around him."

[neeuqtar]

Dael pranced back and forth, completely delighted at Showoff's adoration. I accept, pretty shinies for beauties! she preened, waving her frill back and forth while holding the other half of Showoff's purloined set. She trilled, a muffled sound through the earring, then dropped it back in the belt pouch again, leaping off of Uu'n and winging over to perch on the pole of the egg stall's awning, keeping an eye on her pet, as she did not wish to be summarily snagged out of the air with so little dignity again. She scurried up to Showoff and frilled at him, making chirping noises at him and clearly flirting obscenely. Uu'n ignored her assiduously.

"Evil genius and bribable I can accept," Uu'n sighed, glancing at the courting salamandyrs with resigned irritation. His eyes leapt back to K'lir. Did he know just how close? Probably. Showoff was as bad as--worse than, really--Dael, when she got close to Running. If he had to guess, Uu'n would say she would be leaping off and taking over his mind any day now. Maybe even today, though he really, really, really hoped he'd get a chance to not be in the middle of a caravan when Dael grabbed Showoff and he did the same to K'lir, copulating like, well, salamandyrs in heat. It would be difficult to live down getting mounted by K'lir in the middle of a crowd. He would probably have to go and live on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean. For the rest of his life.

Dael snarled at K'lir when the greenrider snatched her mate. Miiiine-- she hissed, flattening her body so her ribs showed through her gleaming gold hide, her head low like a 'snake about to strike. He frill was wide and narrow, the spines stark against the tribal bronzing she bore, and her lips pulled back to reveal a multitude of ivory teeth. Biiiite-- she added in the same uncanny voice, her muscles bunching to send her launching at K'lir. Uu'n growled at the gold, icy eyes narrowed. You will not touch him, he hissed back mentally, teeth baring unconsciously. He is MINE! Dael hissed again, but didn't leap, keeping her red jeweled eyes locked on K'lir.

Uu'n gave Dael a warning look, then turned back to K'lir, the words registering finally. "How about this," Uu'n replied in an equally sugary tone. "You can dress me, and I will dress you." A sly smile crept across his face. "I bet you look really cute in real riding clothes. I don't know why you insist on wearing clothing that looks like whers have been wearing it." He mock-frowned and plucked at K'lir's shirt, casting a wary eye over Dael, who was still in battle mode. "If you're going to make me wear colors, I'm going to make you flaunt your form."

[glamourie]

Dael's words caught his attention more than anything Uu'n said; in fact, K'lir completely missed what the bluerider said in sight of the angry little gold and he quirked an eyebrow at her before lifting Showoff in front of his own face. "Your mate's mad at me," he said to the salamandyr softly, as though to whisper in conspiracy. "You see what you did? You cause me so much trouble. Think she'll forgive me if we tell her about the positively massive pile of gold and glittery things you're stowing away in my weyr floor, you little brat?" His voice held a note of amusement as he spoke; if he had any idea of Uu'n calling off Dael, he gave no indication. Once he was positive that Showoff wouldn't make an immediate jump for the firelizard eggs again (he didn't want to have to pay for them), he released the bronze and set him back on the pole. That one touch was gentle enough to make it clear to any onlooker that he meant the obnoxious little twit no harm; he loved Showoff, he did, even if the bronze was a pain in the backside most (read: all) of the time.

Back in his perch, Showoff flared his frill in agitation once more at K'lir, as if to make his point. Then he turned back to Dael and made a low chirping noise of his own before nudging her affectionately. The earring was held out toward her in offering, but his gaze had fallen, once again, on the firelizard eggs. It was only a matter of time before he made a jump for them to retrieve one, really. Pretties, pretties... lots of pretties, we has lots, Dungheadmine sleep-place. Confirming what K'lir said, Showoff flapped his little wings contentedly. He'd stolen quite an impressive cache, he thought. Everything from earrings to belt buckles and even some fragments of dragon eggs from the last clutch - hard still and beautiful to behold. He had to sneak to get those, but it was worth it. Presents for Daelmine. Presents. 'Presents.' Pretty presents.

Ignoring the two salamandyrs (because watching them made him more tempted to practically climb all over Uu'n), K'lir turned back to his companion. "She's not above to beat me up is she? I don't feel like tending to my wounds." He wouldn't have been mad if she did, though. Showoff positively adored Dael. While draconid species did not understand love, if they were capable, Showoff would have felt it for Dael; in some ways, it was closer to that feeling than K'lir had ever come. Nothing the little gold did could offend K'lir. She could bite, scratch and injure him to her heart's content, and he'd still adore her, the same way he did Uu'n, because Showoff adored Dael that much. Thus it was that he wasn't frightened at all. He had returned Showoff to her though, for better or worse.

Wait, he looked good in riding gear? Quirking an eyebrow, K'lir put his hands on the sides of his shirt. His expression was thoughtful. "I don't usually bother with buying more clothes," he admitted with a listless shrug. "Given a choice, I wouldn't wear the ones I have either." A playful grin spread over his face before he leaned casually against Uu'n... but he was secretly flattered; he'd been convinced that Uu'n really only tolerated him because of Dael and Showoff. Which, he still believed was a majority of the reason. If Dael wasn't close to Running, odds were that Uu'n wouldn't have wanted to be around him much. "I agree to your terms on one condition and one condition alone: you buy one of those firelizard eggs for her. So that Showoff doesn't steal one and make me buy it." His gaze flicked toward the salamandyrs, and he looked back up at Uu'n. "I've already bought one today and Showoff about had a fit. He bit me twice in his rage, before he realized I gave it to R'wign, and even then he was not happy with me. So... you can play dress up with me if you keep me from having to explain to everyone here why he insists on stealing things. Deal?"