Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 14, 2009 20:55:49 GMT -5
Merridan glanced around her suspiciously as she walked down the hall to the infirmary. She was hiding something in the folds of her shirt and looking rather embarrassed about whatever it was. She didn't other people to know this part of her, but M'ta had been stuck inside for so long, she thought seeing it might brighten his mood. For a while she had wondered if she would ever see him again. That maybe he would die from his illness. But he was a tough as ever. True they had only met during the attack, but that didn't matter. She thought of him as a friend and one who needed cheering up.
With Auran standing guard on her head, she made her way to M'ta's bed. He looked paler and skinnier than she remembered, almost fragile. But he was alive and probably grumpy from being inside so much. Mer grinned. "I see the rumors of your death were false," she said in a laughing tone. She pulled a chair next to his bed and sat down, careful of her hidden surprise. "Remember me?"
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jul 14, 2009 21:06:31 GMT -5
In all honesty, he didn't recognize her right away, although that could have had a lot to do with the fact that he was currently trying to figure out how best to slip out of the infirmary and sneak past Behruth. So yes, he'd been sick (technically still was to some degree) but how were you supposed to build back your strength if they didn't let you do anything but lie around all day? Thus it was that he started at the sound of her voice, certain that he'd been caught and that they could somehow discern what he'd been thinking just by looking at him. M'ta would not put it past R'wign to tie him down. Meddling healer.
"They were greatly exaggerrated," M'ta agreed drolly, pulling himself up to a half-sitting position as he blinked at the creature on her head. "You seem to have your own special parasite." Jabari was wrapped around the young man's arm himself, and he made a note of protest at being called a parasite. M'ta ignored him. "Looking good, Mer," he commented, trying to infuse his voice with some cheeriness for her sake. He was tired of the distressed expressions he kept on getting. So he was a little (make that greatly) emaciated. At least he was aware now. A definite improvement.
She still had her candidate knots. That was...odd. Although he couldn't say much, really, given how many hatchings he'd stood for himself before Behruth came along. "So...you must be rather bored, to drag yourself into this place in the middle of the day. Don't they have you people doing chores anymore?" he needled playfully. Okay, so maybe he just wanted the company. Merridan was all right in his book, though; she'd fought beside him. That carried a lot of clout with M'ta.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 15, 2009 8:07:05 GMT -5
Mer glanced up at Auran, who hissed and glared at M'ta's comment. "Parasite, huh? That's one way of putting it." She turned back and smiled at Jabari, pleased to see the little brown looking so well after his injuries. Then she looked M'ta over more closely. He did look bad, but at least he had remembered her. "You look terrible," she announced bluntly, with a wry grin. She had never been one to smooth things over.
"Oh, with so many candidates coming in, our dear candidate master has his hands full keeping track of us," she explained with amusement. "No one will noticed me gone for a while." She was usually very good about chores and classes, so she doubted anyone would care if she took time to visit a friend. "But I'm not nearly as bored as you must be. Don't they ever let you outside?" she asked incredulously. It didn't seem right to keep one cooped up in here. How did they expect him to get better?
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jul 16, 2009 22:05:40 GMT -5
"Thanks. I knew you'd always be there to boost my confidence." His own grin mirrored hers closely. In all actuality, M'ta didn't have an ounce of vanity in him. Rather, he considered it good to look terrible, considering how far looking less than terrible had gotten him.
Eyeing her askance, he fished around for his carving knives (courtesy of some kind soul, likely R'wign, who knew of his hobby) and finally produced the barely worked piece of wood that had yet to take shape. "I keep myself busy," he commented. "Though I doubt you'd go unnoticed for long. I never did." Whatever that was supposed to mean. M'ta didn't clarify it. He played with making this next statement or not, but then decided that he might as well, considering a solitary jailbreak was looking to be impossible.
"You're not one of those people who would scold me for getting out into the open air despite the healers' orders, are you? Because I could really use a partner in crime about now. For some reason muscles don't seem to work very well after months of neglect."
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 17, 2009 18:15:53 GMT -5
Mer pretended to considered M'ta's request carefully. She frowned thoughtfully, but her eyes twinkled merrily. "I suppose I could lend a hand." She grinned. "All in the interest of curing boredom of course." Auran looked like he might have protested such insubordination, but he just watched moodily.
She started to move, but remembered she had a present to give. "First though," she reached under her shirt and brought out a small bowl filled with soil. Poking out of the soil was dark green plant with two purple buds. "So you can have bit of the outdoors in here," she explained with a nervous smile. "It's called an orchid. If you water it everyday, it should bloom soon."
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jul 19, 2009 18:21:33 GMT -5
"Oh, of course. It couldn't possibly be from a sense of well-being toward your fellow captive." M'ta attempted a straight face, but it came out rather lopsided. In truth, he was rather relieved she'd agreed, because the prospect of sneaking out past the healers and Behruth entirely on his own was daunting. Mer would increase his chances quite a bit. Now, just so long as Checkoth didn't see him and alert the infirmary mother hen...His thoughts broke off abruptly as Merridan continued to speak, however, M'ta's eyes following the motion of her arms curiously.
He blinked. Once. Twice. Speechless, he didn't really know what to say about the blooms she was holding out to him, so instead he reached out to take them from her so as to mask his uncertainty. The bowl cupped in his hands, he stared down at it for a moment, then managed something of a shy half-smile at the little ungrown flowers. "Best hide these from Ruth. He'll want to add them to his shiny collection." M'ta carefully set the bowl down beside the bed, feeling just a bit awkward at the change of atmosphere. He never knew what to do when people went out of their way to do nice things - especially when said actions seemed to be entirely out of character. Merridan, giving him flowers?
"Orchid, you say? Thanks. I'll try not to kill them," he added jokingly, throwing her a wink. "For those times when I want to be out and about but don't have a Merridan to help me? You'll have to be sure Checkoth doesn't see, or the busybody will be on top of us in a flash," he added, more serious.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 22, 2009 17:45:02 GMT -5
Merridan was relieved that M'ta had accept the gift. She was never sure how people would react to such things. Her mind instantly switched to the problem of helping M'ta escape. It wasn't going to be easy, but Mer had always love a challenge. She nodded in mock seriousness. "An then we'll have more than being caught to worry about. Checkoth is no hatchling anymore." Mer grinned at the joke.
With a glance to be sure no one was looking, Mer leaned down so she could support M'ta out of the bed. "Try the dragon entrance?" She suggested. "It's bigger and less busy, unless certain brown dragons are waiting for us." That gave her an idea. She poked at Auran with her mind and he cocked his head attentively. "Go see if they are any dragons outside and show me," she ordered. Auran chirp obediently and flew off. Mer smiled. "Even pests are good for something after all."
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jul 25, 2009 14:43:48 GMT -5
M'ta blinked at Merridan, uncomprehending. "I was referring to the rider." He didn't really want to think about where she was going with the comments about 'catching' and Checkoth's no longer being a 'hatchling.' If that wasn't a disturbing mental image, he didn't know what was. (M'ta's sense of humor rarely lined up with anyone else's, unfortunately.)
He found it strange to be accepting the help of a female who was phyiscally stronger than him, considering M'ta rarely was in a position of weakness even with larger people. This sickness was bothersome. Nevertheless, he got over that feeling of awkwardness quickly enough. After all, he'd probably need her to get out of here. "Behruth's in there. I doubt he's awake, but...P.M.S. might wake him if he sees me. The salamandyr likes to announce people," M'ta finished drolly.
Behruth spent little time away from the infirmary while M'ta was bed-bound. "Maybe...out the main entrance?" That would be watched most likely, though. Except there weren't many healers on duty, from what he could get out of R'wign, which meant there was a chance that, with the help of Auran, they might just be able to sneak past when the healers were busy. Jabari wasn't going to be of much use, as the firelizard insisted on clinging to him constantly. Not that M'ta blamed the little creature. It just...got inconvenient at times.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 26, 2009 15:34:11 GMT -5
Auran whizzed back in to report that both entrances seemed clear for the moment. Only Behruth was dozing outside. Mer helped M'ta get to his feet and nodded. "Auran says it's safe." She winked. This was more fun than she might have thought. At least it wasn't life or death, though R'wign was sure to come up with some punishments to make her wish it was. "Front it is!"
It was slow going, but not too hard. M'ta was much lighter than he had been last time and at least he was conscious. Auran chirped a warning, and Mer put a finger to her lips. "We'll have to move quickly and quietly." She grinned. "And I know that's something you can do better than me. Ready?" With luck, the healers on duty would be too distracted with other patients to pay them much attention. Unless they were R'wign.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jul 28, 2009 20:02:52 GMT -5
He was satisfied to find that he didn't have to rely on Mer nearly as much as one might expect, given how skeletal he'd become over the course of his sickness. One thing that had always been true of M'ta was that he really was naturally hardy. No, he wouldn't be zipping through the forest on foot, climbing trees and lifting things like he'd done on a regular basis, not for awhile, but at least he was recovering strength.
"Quickly?" he questioned, a brow rising in mild amusement. Quickly. Yes. That was...oh so very likely. His toes curled against the cool stone floor, as if in preparation for the dash that M'ta certainly wasn't going to be making. He slid away from her and pressed himself to the wall, peering around the corner. Quickly, huh? He could move with speed, of course, but that had been when he was flooded with adrenaline. Now he most certainly wasn't.
Nothing moving right this moment. Nodding his head to indicate he was moving, the brownrider eased around the corner and executed an awkward scamper with the wall to aid him. He belatedly hoped she'd know to shield him from view by walking at his side. With Mer, he could almost forget that she wasn't one of his den; the girl was as solid as they came.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Jul 30, 2009 14:33:24 GMT -5
Good, the cost looked clear. With Auran perched as a lookout, Mer could be sure that all the Healers were busy right then. They would just have to hope that no one was on their way to the infirmary as they went out. She caught M'ta's nod and nodded back. It only took a second to realize what he was doing. With a smile and a casual stride, she rounded the corner next to him, effectively blocking him from this sight of the working Healers. If they're luck held, they would make it outside. Just so long as they didn't run into anyone.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Aug 2, 2009 13:35:10 GMT -5
So far so good. He moved as swiftly as was reasonable, making for the entrance in short order. Movement ahead caught his attention and M'ta swiftly faded back behind Mer, peering around her shoulder and pressing close behind her for better concealment. He didn't really notice what he was pressing against, as he was more concerned with the healer that slipped into one of the rooms just ahead. Coast clear.
Slipping past Mer, he eased out the entranceway, making sure that no one was waiting outside in an attempt to surprise him. Glancing about, he bit his lip lightly. Now what? They were out in the open, and waiting any longer only increased their chances of being discovered. He pressed at the loose shirt he'd been given by the infirmary staff absently. This would definitely mark him as a patient. That and the near-corpse look. He glanced back at Mer. "Got anything lying around to cover this?"
He plucked at the overlong shirt that looked more like a shapeless dress on him. Lovely.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Aug 14, 2009 19:54:28 GMT -5
Mer looked M'ta over and frowned. He would stand out, no mistake. There wasn't much she could do about his pale skin and sickly color, but clothes. She thought for a moment. Her bunk at the candidate barracks was definitely too far. M'ta's weyr was probably closer, but she wasn't sure where that was. It was probably near R'wign's though, and that meant several floors away. Green and blue rider weyrs were closest to the infirmary. She didn't know any green or blue riders that well, but surely none of them would mind if they slipped in to borrow some clothes. She could always bring them back later.
Mer helped M'ta down the hall, nodded as she went. "I'm sure we can find something." She ducked into the nearest room, just as someone walked past. Close one. They were in too. This weyr's occupant was out. Mer checked to see that M'ta was fine to stand on his own, the went to check the drawers. "Oh," her voice trailed off. She pulled out a blouse a skirt with a frown. "Um.." She glanced at M'ta apologetically. Great, just their luck. If this rider had any pants, they must be wearing them. She couldn't find anything that resembled male clothing and it might be too risky to go out into the halls again.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Aug 14, 2009 20:37:01 GMT -5
M'ta, who had been watching the door warily to see if they were followed, turned at Mer's strange exclamation, his brows shooting up as he caught sight of what she had in mind. He frowned and stepped forward, making swift work of the contents in the drawer and coming back with just a small lacy thing dangling from one finger as if it might bite him. M'ta gave Mer a look that clearly stated he was not about to do this.
"Of all the places you could have picked..." he commented wryly, his hand moving in a subconscious gesture to the scar left behind from his slashed throat. But could they really afford to try another room? At any moment he expected one of R'wign's many parasites to suddenly pop up, and then he was finished. The healer would keep him in the infirmary indefinitely. But a skirt wasn't going to fool a flitter, especially when M'ta didn't have the sort of frame that could easily hide his gender, even if he was a lot thinner than usual.
Sighing, he dropped the panties back in the drawer, taking the clothing from Mer and eyeing them critically before he discarded the skirt. He needed something to distract people from his torso, and the long skirt wouldn't do that. Oh, this was absurd! The one he chose fell to just mid-thigh, and with the muscles in his legs diminished, they actually were rather...shapely. He slid it up underneath the infirmary shift before discarding that, where he stood for a moment, plucking at the hem of the garment rather dejectedly.
Scarring from the battle months past scored his chest, his arm, and the chafing scars were still very much in evidence, along with the slash across his cheekbone. He wasn't sure how he'd manage to downplay all that, but he definitely felt silly standing around in just a skirt and Ruth's string of eggshells. "Laugh just once," he growled to his friend. The blouse was loose on him, but that was good, as it disguised some of his figure. He took bracelets and a choker from the shelf, settling them over his scars, then paused to check his image in the looking glass. Faranth above! He was stark raving mad! The creature looking back at him could easily be female...he just needed...right. He threaded a couple of dangling earrings through his ears, then turned and handed Mer the brush lying on the drawers.
"Since it was your idea..." Suddenly feeling quite self-conscious (and justifiably so) he questioned, "So, do you think...anyone will notice?" Maybe if he didn't speak. That low voice of his definitely gave him away.
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Rowana
Hive Mind
Handler Roivao Rider G'tor Rider Merridan Rider T'ke Rider N'rik Handler Porita Rider Farryl Rider Kyr'n[/color
Posts: 1,550
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Post by Rowana on Aug 15, 2009 14:48:14 GMT -5
Mer had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud, but he eyes betrayed her amusement. There was no getting around it. M'ta looked ridiculous. Only someone blind wouldn't notice he was a guy. Of course, they might be distracted enough to notice he wasn't M'ta, but if everyone was staring at them, someone was bound to figure it out eventually. It was only a matter of time before R'wign found him missing.
Taking a more serious attitude, she walked around him with a critical eye. Then shook her head. "Nice try, but you looked dumb," she said flatly. Mer never minced words, it wasted time. "This isn't going to work." She frowned, fingering her own shirt and trousers. Then she sighed deeply. The things she did sometimes. "Let me try them," she suggested, wrinkling her nose at the skirt, even as she started to remove her pants. She couldn't believe she was doing this. She hated skirts. But it was true, that she was a girl and he was not. Even if she did forget that fact sometime
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