What’s worth the prize is worth the fight. (M'ta)

[Rei]

Er’ani was like any other weyrbred kid with the drudges. He had started to endear himself to them as soon as he had arrived at Selenitas. Clumsy, cute and awkward had it’s advantages in the kitchens. And a couple of them who’s children had already grown were quite happy to ‘adopt’ him in a sense. The pluses of such a relationship? He got to hear tons of gossip and besides that he got snacks almost whenever he wanted. Being quiet and helpful helped too. So when the albinowyerling stumbled into the kitchens hungry and all sweetness it wasn’t long before he was perched on a stool nibbling at a fresh meatroll. Dark eyes watched the drudges in their normal interactions as Er’ani kept an ear out for anything interesting. It was his day off of lessons but he still had come from candlemarks of archery practice so it was nice to just relax for a moment.

The almost constant shadow that was Lketh was currently absent, curled in the dragon part of the infirmary. Not because he was sick but because he was going through his routine check over. Hide, eyes, over all physical condition. Seemed healthy as hell but well you never knew plus it was probably time to readjust the albino’s supplements again. He had gone through another growth spurt. Not such a tiny fragile thing anymore. Which made Er’ani extremely happy and gave him at least a little peace of mind. It helped that Lketh was almost fond of the infirmary staff at his point. (Not that he remembered any of their names still) He liked the place. Faranth knows why.

He was brought out of those thoughts by M’ta’s name and immediately his attention snapped to the woman who was speaking. Dark eyes widened slightly as the drudge continued and for once he couldn’t resist interrupting. “Wait. You’re sure about that?” When the drudge turned back to him with a wide smile and a nod Er’ani’s face broke out in a broad grin and he leapt off his perch to hug her the woman. The older woman blinked in surprise when the youth then grabbed a few more meatrolls and exited the kitchen at a near sprint. “Thanks!” He called over his shoulder as he ran down the hallway.

Well if the drudges knew then M’ta had to know. Right? The brownrider had likely just neglected to say anything. Like he had before. Well then. Having Lketh pass their success down the line to all his siblings the human part of the weyrling pair went on his own search for confirmation from a more reliable source. Once receiving that he jubilantly began looking for one small brownrider. He had an important message for him.

When Er’ani found M’ta outside near the trees he didn’t even break stride or really give much in the way of greeting. Nope instead he just charged up to him, called out his name at near the last second and ended up grabbing the brownrider in some bizarre version of a tackle combined with a hug. Grinning brightly at the older and smaller man the teen then slightly narrowed his eyes, speaking only a few words. “I told you so! We won!” Happy Er'ani was very happy.

[Requiem]

"You're cheating again." The words were greeted by only another giggle. Of course she was! It wasn't her fault that M'ta always projected what he was doing. He practically asked her to cheat like that! Silly man. The girl darted around the tree as soon as she sensed his decision to go left, darting around another one. Teri thumbed her nose at her father, wiggling her fingers at him.

"Can't get me!"

Sadly, it was the truth. M'ta may be able outpace a three-turn-old easily, but not when they were darting in and out of trees and she always seemed to know which direction he'd go. Behruth couldn't help it; the male was laughing in M'ta's mind - and no doubt the Teribug heard it, too - while watching them through one eye a short distance away. The brownrider pretended not to notice everyone teaming up against him.

Speaking of which...he heard the approach of swift feet and whirled, dirk springing to hand an instant before Er'ani called his name. The Weyrlingmaster had the space of about an eyeblink to drop the blade before his student impaled himself on it. M'ta felt his feet actually leave the ground with the force of the teenager's momentum, the weyrling's hold on him all that kept the small man from being thrown back (probably into the tree).

He grunted in surprise, arms having naturally wound about the boy's waist when he felt himself losing grip with the ground. Literally. Now they dropped like Er'ani was on fire. M'ta's look of shock had taken on the more familiar expression of irritation and exasperation. Idiot kid brother E'rro had. Everyone else in the Weyr would know better than to rush the brownrider like that. "You told me. Now let me go," he grumped.

That was when Teri decided to get in on the fun and tackled M'ta's leg from behind. "We won!" She wasn't sure what they'd won, but she was very sure she wanted to be part of it. Winners got tasty things. Like cupcakes. Using his other leg, the brownrider did what most short people do when presented with people much bigger than them throwing their weight around; he kicked Er'ani in the shin.

[Rei]

Idiot kid brother indeed. Er’ani didn’t even notice the dirk spring to his teacher’s hand. Not that it really probably would have given him pause anyway. He had no reason to believe that M’ta would ever stab him. Nope not one reason. Looking down on the shorter man, that he had nearly all out tackled, the teenager grinned in response to the irritated look. If he noticed the way the other man’s arms rapidly left this person he gave no sign. Instead he laughed as M’ta grumped and then Teri came flying out of nowhere to join in too. Obviously it was crush the teacher day. “Yeah we won!” The albinowyerling echoed in jubilation before briefly squeezing the brownrider, just to be a pain in the ass, and then flinging his arms up towards the sky. “Whooo!” That was when the smaller man’s kick met his shin.

Er’ani reacted instantly, rapidly dropped his arms and making a show of hopping away from M’ta on one leg. The overreaction was purely to try and amuse Terilyn. It hadn’t really hurt all that bad but if he could get some reaction out of her he was willing to pretend it did. Wincing the weyrling then affected a pout. “Owww. Damn. You could be a little nicer. Why are you so abusive?” He half whined before leaning over to rub the spot gingerly with his palm. “I bruise so easy too. Tch.” Glancing at M’ta from the corner of one eye he then looked over at Teri. “Well then if you won’t celebrate with me I’ll find someone who will.”

With that he bent down and seized Terilyn, swinging her around once before pressing a kiss to her cheek. Smiling warmly at her Er’ani then crouching to set her down and be more at her level. Removing his arms from around the tiny girl he poked her nose and his smile widened into a grin. “I think we should celebrate. What say you little lady?” Ruffling her hair he looked up at M’ta. “Oh don’t look so grumpy. You should be just as happy as me. Grumpy gus.” It had been a long battle but in the end they had won right? Er’ani didn’t know what there was to not be happy about. His fellow classmates were going to be so stoked. They didn’t have to go to a wasteland teacher and Behruth was going to continue to have a purpose in teaching them. Thus the brown’s temperament should continue to improve. About time something went right.

Looking at M’ta from over Teri’s head Er’ani offered a lighter smile. “I can try and tone it down for you if you want. But I’d rather continue to bounce around like an idiot.” It wasn’t often he got to be this happy anymore and with Lketh a little distant currently the albino wasn’t toning down his emotions like normal.

[Requiem]

Terilyn watched the bouncing weyrling with open amusement. His many mistakes meant that he still worked alone with her father after the lessons during the day, so she knew him best of all the weyrlings. (And she knew all the weyrlings quite well. The little girl almost aways went to lessons with her father, who did not care to use the creche for reasons she couldn't quite get to. Such things were harder than sensing which direction he'd move next.) All of this was to say that she knew this was no fight between them. Maman was fond of Er'ani in his fashion, and Er'ani shared a similar fondness for the brownrider.

The little girl giggled happily when she was suddenly lifted high and swung about, a squeal of excitement leaving her throat. "Yes! 'Brate!" she repeated, turning her head to beam at the man who did not look very happy at all behind her. That was like his no thoughts face, though, the light scowl. It didn't throw Terilyn off any! "Should eat cupcakes," she added, with a broad grin just for her Maman.

"I'm hardly abusive," the brownrider commented, ignoring his daughter's half-request for the time being. The word provoked a strange sense of nostalgia. How often had R'wign accused him similarly...meaning it no more than Er'ani had just now? The deep lines of disapproval etched into an otherwise young face faded now that Terilyn was safely on the ground again. (That he allowed it without saying anything showed at least a modicum of trust in Er'ani, but it didn't mean he had to like it. His daughter was his life. Literally. She was the only reason he hadn't gone with Ruth during the height of their grief to the plane of nothingness where the pain couldn't follow them. And as such he guarded her jealously.)

The Weyrlingmaster could do little but snort at his student. "By all means. Be an idiot," he allowed, with heavy irony as he bent to pick up the dirk he'd dropped when Er'ani threw himself at the brownrider. Before he could straighten, though, Terilyn had whirled from the weyrling and flung herself at her father, arms thrown about his neck. She kissed his cheek and rubbed her face against his, wide, innocent eyes turned up to his. "Please, Maman. Cupcakes? Pleeeease." Her voice lowered, and she whispered against his cheek. "Ruth is so happy. Everyone is happy. Cupcakes is good."

M'ta blinked, a little taken aback, if only because he knew his daughter wasn't (this time) saying that merely to get the sweets out of him. He glanced up at Er'ani, an arm curling around his baby girl. "Alright. But I can't cook and we're not asking the drudges to."

[Rei]

Er’ani beamed at Terilyn from his position crouched in front of her. She was just so damn cute. Had become such a fixture in his day at lessons that he almost regarded her like a little sister. It only helped that Lketh was very fond of her as well. Which for the albino was actually rather strange in it’s fashion. Or would have been if Er’ani didn’t know the reason why he was so fond of the little girl. A secret both sides of the albino pair jealously guarded. Before the little girl could bounce back to her father the teenager ruffled her hair. “Cupcakes sounds like the best idea ever.” He remarked seriously before straightening to watch the girl throw her arms around her father’s neck.

The albinoweyrling did pull a face though when M’ta made his comment though. “To hell you aren’t. I have the bruises to prove it.” So saying Er’ani rubbed at one of the ones on his chest. “Now my ankle’s going to be all bruised too. For a little guy you sure hit hard.” Any seriousness that might have been in any of the comments was taken out by the broad grin on the boy’s face. “License to be an idiot successfully granted. Can my day get any better?” He remarked cheerfully before running a hand through his dark hair and making a silly face at Terilyn. Shame she wasn’t paying much attention. Nope she was too busy working her cute factor against her father. Who was picking up a knife? Where had the knife come from? The mild frown that flicked across Er’ani’s features immediately fell when M’ta agreed to cupcakes.

Really the teenager wasn’t surprised, he couldn’t see how anyone could resist that face. With a fist pump into the air Er’ani cheered. “Awesome! Looks like we’re going to play experiment in the kitchens.” Well kind of but not really. M’ta said that they weren’t asking drudges to make them for them. That said nothing about kissing up to his favorite adoptive mothers for information about how to make them. The albinorider’s mood wasn’t thrown off a bit. “I’m not all that awesome at cooking either.” He admitted as he moved to tweak Terilyn’s nose. “But I can make eggs and boil water. How much harder can making cupcakes be?” Famous last words perhaps. With that he goofily offered M’ta his arm. “So shall we?” Oh the boy was well aware he’d probably get an odd look and his arm rejected but that was fine. His other hand had reached out for the little girl’s with a wink. “To the kitchens!”

[Requiem]

Yeah. M'ta was just ignoring the word vomit. It wasn't unusual, coming from Er'ani, after all. The child spewed forth without thinking constantly. He wasn't much like his brother at all. What captured more of his attention was that look of confusion that picking up the dirk had caused, and M'ta almost sighed out his annoyance, even with Terilyn at his neck. Would the boy ever learn to pay attention?

The little girl blinked at Er'ani's loud whooping, twisting about in the arm he'd circled around her, her own still around his neck. "Er'ani's very silly," she whispered to her father. "And loud," the man agreed, returning the whisper. Terilyn wrinkled her nose, then smiled. "Funny faces." M'ta extracted himself from his little girl with a grunt of agreement. Yes. Childish faces.

And yes, Er'ani got much the reaction that he'd expected in a sidelong glance and a snort from M'ta, who instead reached down to take Terilyn's hand himself and started walking toward the kitchens. The girl reached up her other hand for Er'ani (even if it wasn't the one he'd offered her) and smiled at him. Daddy wanted her, not Er'ani. She was almost tempted to tease the weyrling about it, but she settled for just beaming at him. In the battle for the brownrider's attentions, she won.

"I think a little more goes into cupcakes than eggs and water boiling," M'ta commented drolly. (The drudges so were not letting him bake. He'd been banned from such practices long ago, as he tended to create a collossal mess.) "But maybe we'll get lucky and they'll take pity on us." Terilyn was bouncing along in little hops between the two of them.

[Rei]

Er’ani took Terilyn’s offered hand with a huge smile and fought the urge to half skip beside M’ta and his daughter. Yeah doubted that would go over terribly well and besides he had probably already made enough of a fool out of himself for one day. Well maybe. With a happy hum in this throat he walked to the kitchens with the brownrider and his daughter. “I’m sure a lot more goes into them but eh we’ll figure it out. Besides the drudges all adore me. So I doubt they’ll kick me out just cause I brought you with me. Unless there is some massive kitchen disaster you haven’t yet hold me about.” Whistling a sing song tune, the albinorider fell quiet then and just enjoyed the rest of the walk and the feel of the sun on his face. He had to avoid the sun too much with Lketh so being able to enjoy it for once was nice.

As the group entered the kitchen with little in the way of fanfare Er’ani wasted no time in seeking out his favorite drudge. A few moments of chatting to her and he had gotten what he wanted. License to bake and even a recipe. Coming back to Terilyn and M’ta with the recipe sheet he waved it like a banner. “I got a map. A map to deliciousness.” The weyrling said in a cheerful tone. “Suppose they might not be as good as someone who bakes without a cheat sheet but hey I’ll take what I can get.” Setting the paper down on the counter he crouched and poked Terilyn in the nose. “Okay then little lady. Lets make us some celebratory cupcakes.”

Glancing at the recipe sheet briefly he pursed his lips and gave a serious nod. “I’ll get the flour and sugar and eggs and stuff. M’ta be a dear and get me some bowls would you?” Er’ani asked in what was supposed to be a sweet tone before humorously batting his eyelashes and chuckling. Okay maybe he should lay off the teasing but for once the albinorider was in a pretty great mood. If M’ta wanted to be a grump that was fine. But the weyrling was going to enjoy this victory.

[Requiem]

"Well...not exactly a kitchen disaster." More like they hadn't exactly been discreet all the time while they were in there and you know food fights. Like celery dumped down R'wign's pants. (Yes, M'ta always acted so mature and all.) Of course, he didn't mention that many of the drudges had half-adopted him when he was new here and fifteen and looked little older than ten.

Terilyn smiled big and proceeded to half-climb up M'ta's leg until the man lifted her to his hip, where she snuggled into his side and tried not to giggle too much as he he made war against the tall cupboards. You know, where all the bowls were kept, because no one in this part of Pern was short. He did find a stool at the last, however, and tossed a couple wooden bowls in Er'ani's general direction with no regard as to whether they struck the weyrling or not. The albinorider could handle it.

"Next time find a taller 'dear'." The weyrlingmaster set his daughter down directly on the counter and placed the largest of the bowls in her lap, showing her how to hold the big mixing spoon. Then he took up the flour and without even measuring it (no one said that this was a great skill of his) the brownrider dumped some into the bowl, the white poofing up in a cloud and coating his daughter.

Terilyn sneezed and giggled, waving her spoon about then stabbing it into the flour and beginning to stir even though there were no other ingredients added yet. M'ta stood back and crossed his arms, giving Er'ani a satisfied smile that clearly stated it was the boy's problem, not his. Then, just to further cement that, he wandered off to go talk to one of the kitchen drudges.

[Rei]

Not exactly a kitchen disaster. Well yeah that sure cleared up like everything. Really Er’ani wasn’t sure he wanted to know what you could do in a kitchen that was not to be a disaster but still bad enough get you banned from cooking. Not that the albinorider really liked cooking all that much. Nope. He rather thought that women were supposed to do that stuff. He was mainly doing this for fun and of course for Terilyn. She was quite adorable. He was just fine with playing indulgent big brother for her.

It was as he was trying to figure out just what ingredients went in what order that bowls suddenly started flying at his head. Er’ani managed to dodge one before he scrambled to catch the others. A slightly exasperated look was offered M’ta. “Or what? I’ll have to play bowl dodge ball again? Not my fault you're child sized. They should put things in the lower cabinets for you.” He remarked cheerfully before raising an eyebrow at the dumping of the flour. “Err. Yeah that stuff is supposed to be measured.” He shot at M’ta’s retreating form before turning back to Terilyn, who looked like she was just having the best time ever.

With a soft sigh the albinorider set aside a bowl for himself and made his way over to the little girl. “Looks like it’s just you and me princess.” Hmm now what? He had no idea how much flour was in the bowl. Looked like they would just have to make two batches and see which one was better tasting. Measuring out the correct amount of flour (according to directions) for his bowl, Er’ani handed Terilyn two eggs. “Crack those in your bowl sweetheart.” Adding a couple of eggs to his bowl as well, he measured out some sugar for his bowl and then just dumped a reasonable amount into Teri’s.

Pulling up a chair close to her the weyrling began to stir his mixture. “So we have to make vanilla cupcakes cause that’s the only thing I have directions for. That okay with you?” Why yes he was planning on having a decent conversation with the three turn old. He might even teach her some interesting words. That’s what M’ta got for leaving her with him.