Too much to soon (Tags F’lix)

[Rei]

Sel’n wound his way through the crowd toward a area of tables set up to the right of the dance square. The harpers where warming up for another bought of playing and gatherers where quickly making their way to the floor. The brownrider didn’t intend to dance however. Oh no. Dancing was not something he relished. Actually he pretty much detested it. Wasted movement it was. Plopping himself down in an unoccupied chair the man leaned back and idly examined the passersby. Kaaoloth prodded him none to gently. You are tired. I told you that you would get tired. Come back so we can head home. You hate gathers anyway. Too many people you say and now you demand on staying. Your doing this to spite me aren’t you?

The brownrider groaned before picking up the ongoing argument. I told you before. I’m sick of our weyr, sick of the infirmary. I just want to get out for a bit. Is that so much to ask? He flicked his eye to an unattended wine glass and quickly snatched it up, downing it in a few swallows. Sel’n you are driving me crazy. Do you want to get yourself killed. Exerting yourself in lessons is one thing. You can rest afterwards and I can take up most of the work. Here I can’t get to you if you need me and Vanity isn’t around either. I don’t want anything to happen to you. A pause. I am warning you now. If something happens I swear I will trample the crowd too get to you. The brownrider grimaced at the thought of his brown trampling through the crowd of happy gatherers. You wouldn’t. Try me. The immediate retort was uttered in a quick sharp tone and Sel’n sighed. I am not going to fall apart you know. They stitched me back together remember. That has healed. Yes but you are doing too much. I should have never agreed to this you are tired. I’m fine. You lie!

Sel’n rolled his eyes and paused as he became aware that he was not alone at the table. To his left the rider had company. Company that was now staring at him. Part of the Weyrlingmaster wanted to ask if he had a problem, but the more sensible part of him made do with a short greeting. “Sorry for my intrusion. I do hope I haven’t taken a reserved seat.” He made no offer to move and ignored his dragon’s continual prodding. Overprotective beast.

[rii]

Had he gotten the time wrong? It wouldn't surprise F'lix if he had a miscommunication. He was attempting to recall when F'ur had mentioned he'd be competing in the storytelling competition. Yet all F'lix could manage to do was stare at the wineskin in his hand. What had started as a method to relax (Lilitu's extreme irritability made him overly twitchy) had taken an unexpected twist.

F'lix wasn't a heavy drinker, but whatever strange swill he held was hitting him hard. Either that or the effect it was having on his small mindmates brought his altered state of mind to an entirely new level. He could no longer separate his own thoughts from their muddled ones. In the end, F'lix had grown confused, disorientated and claimed a seat in hopes the tipsy world would settle down.

Liiixheeers.

The bluerider softly grunted at the voice, turning his golden eyes away from the dance floor to seek out the speaking salamandyr. He sat in the wet circle on the wood where once stood a glass–one F'lix had claimed somewhere in his awkward trip around the gather. Something about it being pretty with it's clear surface (a thought purely Simper's but F'lix couldn't seem to stop himself from taking the glass to admire).

Is gone. Taken. Was mine. The distressed blue circled around the small puddle before craning his neck around to frill at the thief. Not that Simper had any room to judge, the little fiend had taken to raiding the weyrs for small shinies to stash and use as presents for his lovelies. Still, the pretty colored liquid in the glass was his and the man had taken it.

F'lix found his gaze shifting to the stranger seated beside him – odd, when did he get there? The bluerider often gave off enough of a strong go away vibe that he could easily keep a table all to himself. F'lix set his chin into an upturned palm and lazily let his amber-hued gazed sweep over the ..brooding.. man.

I take back. Simper announced and took a few approaching steps across the wood, standing up on hindlegs to address Sel'n. You. You. Nothers, you take, give back. And, with absolutely no fear of this stranger, Simper dropped back onto all fours and began to bound toward the man with full intention of wresting the glass back.

At least, until F'lix's hand came down, thumb pressing firmly against the back of Simper's neck to pin the salamandyr to the table. It may as well looked cruel, but truly, as the blue writhed under his hand, F'lix knew that Simper was enjoying the treatment. Eyes never straying from current company, F'lix omitted another dismissive snort at the overly polite and proper words tossed in his direction. Such niceties were a waste on him. The almost rolling flick of eyes to the side speaking clear enough of his apathy to such false manners.

"Not at all," The Bendenite mused in his usual soft tone. He wasn't completely drunk, just disorientated by his two salamandyrs (the other of which remained curled up in his hair, her dark hide masked by his ink black strands. The only part visible were the two venomous green slits of eyes peering out at the rest of the gather. At least she was being quiet. A small blessing.) But there was enough in him to alter his words so his accent became more blame worthy on the wine instead of his Benden origins.

"I do hope you enjoyed my wine." A smirked twitched on his lips as he reached over, fingers curling around Sel'n's hand and the glass to pull it over and.. pour in more wine from the skin he held. F'lix released the limb and made a vague gesture of his hand. Go ahead it said. F'lix wanted to be rid of the poison by all means. "Perhaps it will help with your mental battle–" Because the stranger had looked to be wrestling with his thoughts. He toasted the skin at Sel'n before playfully singing in a sly purr.

"Raise a glass for ignorance, drink a toast to fear. The beginning of the end has come that's why we all are here~"

[Rei]

To be fair Sel’n was used to toning out mandyrs. When one lived with Vanity personified one had to have selective hearing. Simper’s threats and displays paled in comparison to the volume and violence Vanity was capable of. So the small blue’s attempts fell on near deaf ears. Only when he became aware that F’lix was speaking did the brownrider give pause. The man had almost forgotten the other’s presence to be truthful. The words the man offered where innocent enough but appearances could be deceiving. Dimly in the back of his head he heard Kaaoloth make a snide comment. Something to the effect of. See I told you that you where tired. You almost sat on someone. How could you not have seen him… Blah, blah, blah.

Sel’n smiled darkly at the bluerider’s words. His action’s however caused the brownrider to raise an eyebrow. He didn’t resist as the other man took his hand an offered him more of the drink. Interesting. A slow smile spread across the older man’s face but he remained guarded just the same. “To be honest I’ve had better but I won’t refuse your offer.” The makeshift toast had Sel’n chuckling lightly and he raised the glass before taking a large gulp. “If only winning a mental battle against a dragon was as easy as knocking back a few drinks.” Swirling his drink around the glass he watched F’lix from underneath his eyelashes.

The song was amusing to say the least. The brownrider waited till the other man had finished before examining him fully. Not bad looking. Pity he wasn’t at the gather for such things. What are you here for then. You aren’t escaping me. Sel’n ignored his dragon, instead he turned his attention to something a bit more interesting. He felt Kaaoloth’s annoyance only dimly. Perhaps the drink was helping.

Idly the man poked at Simper with a fingertip. “Terrible creatures these mandyrs. I see you have become infected with one as well. I left mine at the weyr. Good thing too, because she would no doubt increase the pain in my head tenfold. Her voice could break glass on a good day.” If Vanity wasn’t shrieking about something or another, she was slobbering over Lust, or primping herself in a reflective surface. Typical female, his harpy. No wonder he preferred males. Turning his attention back to F’lix he smiled. Yes he much preferred males.

[rii]

F'lix was staring at Sel'n. Not openly, but the faint narrow of his eyes and way he focused his attention on the man's lips suggested otherwise. Why did that accent sound so familiar, was what currently wandered through his disoriented mind. He didn't know the man, quite sure of that, but that accent drew his immediate attention. He liked it, but couldn't figure out why.

"That's why they call it poison," F'lix mused with a returning smile. He rested his features back into his upturned palm, finger lightly tracing over one of his scars. "Whether it acts fast, or slow, they are all designed to have the same ending." He titled the wine skin back and forth in his open hand. "It's not the taste that matters."

Golden eyes dropped down to Simper, narrowing in what could be mistaken as agreement toward the disdaining comment. Rather it was his disapproval for anyone touching the blue – his over friendly salamandyr that trusted without a second thought. Said blue took the poke and extended arm as an invitation. He scampered up the length, diving on to the other limb and coiling along Sel'n's hand; more specifically the glass. Miiiine.

F'lix gave a snort, too sloven at the moment to pluck the creature away from potential harm. "Infected with two parasites, actually." His head tilted, examining the blue against the pale hand. Quite ashen. His eyes took in the rest of the man – seemed a bit underfed, gaunt even. Like a risen dead man, that or F'lix had been around the grinning skeletons of the gather too much. It started to rotate his mind around death. "Mm, the wine makes my own demoness quiet." Aside from the occasional curse at passing strangers.

F'lix took a drink from his skin, shifting around to lean his back against the edge of the table and look out at the dance floor. "Perhaps it will silence your annoyances as well."

[Rei]

“True enough.” Sel’n returned evenly with the same slight smile crossing his face. Interesting this one was. If the brownrider was aware he was being analyzed he gave no indication. Talk about poison caused his mind to drift towards thoughts of the recent poisoning at the river. Depressing that. Simper proved a welcome distraction, as the little creature crawled up his arm to coil about his hand. Chuckling lightly the rider stared down at the little creature.

“Your’s huh? Well excuse me little one. I had no idea that it was already claimed.” There was no mockery in Sel’n’s tone as he addressed the blue. In fact the tone was rather straight forward and matter of fact. He owned his own mandyr after all and was well aware of how their temperaments effected their owners. Harming one was almost like, if not the same as, harming ones dragon. He did not expect people to go around harming Vanity, even if she was insufferable, and he sure as heck wasn’t going to do the same to anyone else’s mandyr.

Putting the mandyr twined glass to his lips Sel’n polished off the drink and gently set it down. “You may have you glass back my friend. Thanks for the lend.” Tsking softly he drew a finger down the mandyr’s back before returning his attention to F’lix. Nice eyes the man had. The brownrider out that thought on hold as the man began speaking. His own demoness hmm. Unfortunate that the man owned two, and if his words where accurate one was female. Interesting. The thought of owning another mandyr made him shudder and he was rather content with just Vanity. Any other pets where out of the question. Leaning back to watch the dancers swirl by the brownrider chuckled. “Actually it seems to be working. My annoyance seems to have faded.” Which should have worried him. Kaaoloth had fallen completely silent. Very unlike the brown. He normally stuck with his arguments until some sort of mid point at least had been reached. Ah blessed silence. So rare a commodity these days.

Sel’n refused outright to contact his dragon. It would only spark another mental battle. Instead he let himself examine F’lix. Something about the other rider was so damn familiar but he couldn’t place him. There was a small feeling that hinted at danger but the brownrider brushed it aside. What was life if you didn’t occasionally take a risk after all. Running his finger around the rim of the glass he concentrated on the forms of the dancers just a few yards from their table. Small talk was not his thing. Sel’n was far from the social butterfly and he couldn’t help but wonder if his current company was waiting for someone. Hmm to voice the question or no? In the back of his mind he felt Kaaoloth stir but no words where voiced. The brown was busy putting face to dragon. The blue rider his was talking to was familiar, and he thought he knew why.

[rii]

Forgiven. The blue arched against the touch before slipping up and over the rim. Around and around the salamandyr went, claws clinking against the glass while his tongue flicked out to gather up the last bits of the pretty colored, if decidedly funny tasting water.

A chill, F'lix suppressed a shiver that strangely felt like a finger tracing down his spine. He instead shifted to lean more fully against the table. Legs stretched out to lengthen his profile. Unconsciously mirroring the actions of the blue mandyr who had laid out along the circular bottom of the glass. F'lix's eyes half-lidded in that moment as he considered the practicality of taking a nap right there. At least until he heard Sel'n's voice, naturally swinging his attention back to the man.

Extending the wine skin, F'lix pushed it against the brown rider's chest – intent on ridding himself of the poison. Continuously sipping at it wasn't helping him get his head back into place, or his balance over his feet. "Enjoy the silence while it lasts. I'm afraid I forgot to tell you," He smirked, head tilting playfully to the side. "The annoyances will come back tenfold in the morning."

Not necessarily a hangover, but that didn't help matters as mind mates scolded you for worrying them and then proceed to let you know all the stupid things you had done while intoxicated. The bluerider chuckled softly at the thought, tilting his head back.. able to touch it against the table from his somewhat slouched position. He was a slender creature, and like the feline he resembled, absolutely at ease with how he lounged; the rest of the gather be damned, he was comfortable.

"There is a spot.." F'lix lifted his head, sitting up more properly while turning to his company. If he had been more sound of mind he would have questioned why this man lingered in his presence. F'lix wasn't pleasant company, and it was apparent enough his humor ran on the dark side of things. No, people only hung around if they wanted something. Alas, alcohol tended to derail any, if all, of his mind's attempts to brood. "Above the mask stall there is high enough.. sturdy... a prime spot for watching."

Of course the former Benden scout would find a location ideal for people watching. Continuing on with his muse, F'lix voice took on a pleasant purr of amusement. "Once it gets this dark, and the dead–" His hand lightly flicked out to gesture at the skeletal patrons. "–start wandering out. Add in a little wine and a lulling social hum. They really are quite clueless.."

Clicking his tongue, F'lix playfully narrowed his eyes on the brownrider. "What of you? You look to have one foot already in the grave. Are you here to join the dance of death? Or would you rather watch the bliss of ignorance?"

[Rei]

Sel’n took the wineskin as it was offered and arched an eyebrow with a smirk. “Well here is to the rest of the night being silent” Bringing the skin to his lips he drained a few more ounces from it. Dimly at the back of his mind he could feel Kaaoloth’s disproval but it was so much easier to ignore now. Fussy creature just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Really Kaaoloth had good reason to be so clingy, but that exact reason was what Sel’n was trying so hard to forget. At least a few blissful hours of thoughtless life where required to set his mind back on track.

Thoughts of such where quickly derailed as the bluerider spoke again. The brownrider leaned slightly forward in interest. F’lix’s voice had an almost hypnotic quality for the rider. People watching huh? Interesting activity but one that could be interesting and even fun with the right company. Tsking Sel’n gave a interested half smirk. The wine was certainly dulling his more paranoid nature and, as such, he was up for anything. Taking another sip of the skin he poured the last tiny bit into the glass for Simper. There wasn’t much and it barely covered the bottom of the goblet but there was certainly enough to get a mandyr intoxicated. Never mind that Simper was already well on his way to the intoxicated point. Shame Vanity didn’t like alcohol. He idly wondered what kind of a drunk she would make until F’lix’s voice again brought his hazy thoughts to the surface.

“Oh I have had both feet in the grave already my friend. I’m just lucky someone was able to dig me out.” The comment was intentionally vague. Sel’n had no wish to banter on about his near death experiences. Even tipsy as he was, he had no desire to give away all his personal information. The paranoia had lessened yes, but it still had not disappeared. As to the question, well he supposed he should answer. Dancing really wasn’t his strong point. Especially as unsteady on his feet as he was. “Ignorance is bliss. I wonder what philosophical genius figured that one out.” He murmured more to himself than to F’lix. I suppose I could do with watching a bit of bliss.” He offered a bit louder before debating whether or not to offer his hand or not.

What an odd meeting this was turning out to be. Still spending time with this mystery man was better than spending it alone. Besides there was no getting around that his unwitting companion was attractive. A bit of flirting never killed anyone. In reaction to that thought, Sel’n stood and offered a hand. Nothing lost, nothing gained and all that. “Why don’t you show me this spot? I could do with a bit of entertainment.” Because stumbling drunks where always fun to watch after all.

[rii]

Simper was grateful, and F'lix was oblivious to his salamandyr's further corruption of their shared state of mind. How was he to know that drunken mindmates would effect him as well? If he had, F'lix wouldn't have watched with a hazy amusement as Simper lapped up the puddle. The blue let out a bubbling croon before pulling himself out of the glass. With a plop he landed on the table and hopped his way over to F'lix.

The bluerider absently scooped him up, depositing the pleasantly buzzed salamandyr onto his shoulder. As the blue curled up under his collar, F'lix chuckled at Sel'n's comment. Those golden eyes narrowed with a silent mirth softly shimmering in the dark hue. The smile was undeniable, simple as it was, and F'lix's eyes trailed over the older man, a very obvious gesture that came off as flirtatious. F'lix's mind, however, was on an entirely different track.

"A walking dead man," He spoke softly against the music filling the air for the twirling dancers. The younger rider thoughtfully eyed the hand extended to him. Eyes half-lidding as if he couldn't understand the gesture – until F'lix finally stood on his own, lightly brushing Sel'n's arm aside with his own. A motion that opened up a clear path to the older man's torso. So easy..

F'lix weight swayed between feet, but he was steady enough to stay up right on his own. His motor skills were not so hindered, just his collected state of mind was hazy and distorted. And he stood there, within Sel'ns personal space, lips quirked in a smirk as he tilted his chin up just enough to look at the brownrider's face. The man had a decent height to him. Leaning in a touch closer, F'lix whispered knowingly up at the stranger. "How fitting – a celebration for the dead. You should be careful. Your friends.."

The word trailed off as his eyebrows briefly raised as he let his gaze flick over to a pair of painted skeletons chatting nearby. F'lix smiled, returning his attention to Sel'n. "They might think to take you back down with them when the sun begins to rise. It would be most – unfortunate – for you, having managed to escape your grave once already.."

Turning, F'lix brushed by Sel'n as he lead the way to – he couldn't remember. He had only been rambling about the perching spot in the moment of idleness. The sight of tent tops had reminded him of his silly habit. Two steps were taken, F'lix's natural grace never failing him even now, but he paused, turning his head to glance back toward Sel'n with the scarred portion of his face.

[Rei]

Sel’n didn’t even seem to breathe as F’lix leaned towards him. The rider’s words caused a spark of unease to run through the man but he quickly pushed it aside. If he was intending to be threatening Sel’n didn’t see a reason for it. His paranoia was placed on the back burner for now. Surely once he became sober again he would look upon this with horror but now he was blissfully ignorant.

“If my friends seek to wrest me back into the grave they will find themselves in for a fight.” He murmured softly examining the man’s golden eyes. They reminded him distinctly of a feline, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being toyed with. Well play away feline friend. As the blue rider brushed past him Sel’n trembled slightly. Chalking it up to the amount of wine he had put away in such a short time, he strode after the man just a tiny bit unsteady on his feet.

From his position by the lake Kaaoloth shifted, his mind reaching out to finally touch Saboth’s. Good day Saboth. He began, tail tip twitching in barely contained annoyance at his bonded. Mine is proving himself quite the fool today. If yours seeks to harm him best you tell me now so I may fetch him before such a thing occurs. Rumbling softly his tail thrashed across the ground sending sand flying into the lake. A few gather couples changed direction after giving the brown and uneasy look. Kaaoloth paid them no mind. No time for them. His was behaving worse than a rebellious hatchling.

Sel’n paused as F’lix paused and regarded the man’s face curiously. Wasn’t he leading? In a few strides he quickly made to catch up to the younger rider. If he had a reaction to the scaring, it was not shown. More than likely Sel’n simply didn’t care. Scaring was nothing new to him and it did not put him out in the slightest. Merely made him more curious. If he was aware of his dragon’s meddling he have no indication. More than likely Kaaoloth was just being ignored completely, nuisance that he was. The brown was always harping on him to have more fun was he not? Well now he was getting his wish. The blue rider had caught his attention. Fun this still could be. One way or another. “Lost your way my eloquent friend?” He asked softly eyes flicking to the skeletal gathers.

[rii]

A subtle smile curved on his lips as he mused over Sel'n's soft comment. It could always be appreciated when people fought to their dying breath instead of surrendering. Although, reflecting on that, F'lix head canted to the side as the dark musing tumbled hazardously through his mind. His golden eyes wandered off to the gaping between the stalls that could lead to a more quiet area. At the same time his thumb curled into one of the thin belts criss-crossing his narrow waist – the hilt of one of his smaller blades resting close to his fingers.

His weight swayed to the opposite foot, and F'lix had a moment of vertigo as the stream of bodies parted and kept moving around him while he remained still. Sel'n appearing next to him provided a sort of anchor to the moving word and F'lix reached out to grip the brownrider's forearm to keep steady. Friend. He was a friend. He had friends? Yes, this one gave back the glass, that made him a good friend. What? A slave, not friend. Wait. Gave colored water, he did, so nice. As he should.

F'lix pinched the bridge of his nose with the hand once curling ominously near the weapon. His eyes were tightly shut to close out the swirling surroundings – the accompanying disorientation in his mind was pushing him toward the verge of being sick. Shardit, this was why he had sat down to begin with. It was a lot easier to processes all the disjointed thoughts of his own and those of his salamandyrs when he didn't have to weave through a crowd.

"Hardly eloquent.." He peeked over his fingers at the taller, older man. "F'ur's a lot more crafty with words.." The last came out absently in a half mumble. A touch of anger stirred in the back of his mind, causing F'lix brow to furrow in confusion. "I can't – I mean – I need to sit down. Preferably not in this graveyard.."

Saboth raised his bloodied muzzle from the feline he had picked off. The blue was still in a foul mood from the decision his had made to move in with that man. That had been a day ago and still the blue had not come back to fetch his. Passive he was in his anger, turning to taking out his rage other objects, such as the feline beneath his claws. Bits and pieces of it was violently strew about the small clearing leaving little behind to be identified. He didn't know the dragon that bespoke him, and for a long while he merely glared up at surrounding trees while his tail make quick, angry lashes across the ground.

Best I tell you now. Saboth repeated, the cold ire seeping into his normally calm voice. Perhaps you should let yours get hurt. Maybe he will actually learn to not be such a fool Saboth lowered his jaws back down, gripping around the feline's chest cavity and crushing the bones in a series of pleasing crunches.

[Rei]

A hiss followed Saboth’s ending words and Kaaoloth’s normally calm gaze muddled with a bit of red. Normally calm the brown’s ire was only roused when he perceived a threat to his. Oh it is not mine who will end up dead. He hissed under his breath to no one in particular. Uncurling from his slouched position he hissed again, startling the green who was sunbathing next to him. The small tendrils of ire passing through to his bonded. His had been hurt. Many a time. Perhaps he had not learned well enough despite his paranoia. It was not Saboth’s place to decide that. The icy tendrils in the other dragon’s tone worried him. However, Kaaoloth was not above killing to keep his safe. He had done it many a time before. With a strangled growl the brown leapt into the air.

Sel’n blinked back the anger as F’lix gripped his arm. The other rider seemed disoriented and the brownrider was frankly concerned. Too much to drink? The older rider’s thoughts where also muddled but he had never gotten sick on wine before. Dazed and slow yes, but truly sick. No. Placing a hand over the bluerider’s he gently guided him through the crowd a more quiet destination in mind. One past the crowded stalls. The comment about F’ur brought a twitch to Sel’n’s face. This one must be F’ur’s new love interest. He had heard rumors of such. Pity then. That left him off limits. The brownrider was not one to trifle where F’ur was concerned. He valued his life too much.

Arriving at a near deserted place, he released F’lix’s hand with a soft squeeze. “Sit. F’ur would kill me if I let anything happen to you.” Gone was most of the idle playfulness he had exhibited before. Now he felt responsible shard it. He had come to the gather to partially escape this. Rubbing absently at the stubble on his face he smiled tiredly at the younger bluerider. “Is this a more preferable setting?” He asked gesturing with a sweep of his hands to the bare landscape. Shame that the boy was tangled with F’ur. Sel’n would have rather liked to get to know him better. But knowing F’ur that would be awkward…..at best. “Not quite a graveyard but as quiet as one.” Sel’n felt the pang on anxiety against his mind and raised his head to catch a glimpse of Kaaoloth circling moodily.

Mother hen. Everything is fine. You can go back to roost now. No answer. Hmm The brown truly was angry then. Lowering his head the brownrider fixed his eyes on F’lix. He didn’t feel right leaving the man when he felt off. He would stay. Kaaoloth we can discuss this later. I would rather you land. Please?

Wordlessly the brown did as he was asked and glided to a landing far enough away that he did not disturb the riders with wind kicked up by his wings. He kept them unfurled as he regarded the sky above. It was of more pressing concern than the rider's in front of him.

[rii]

Saboth turned back to ripping apart the carcass, content that the brown had decided to leave him alone. The blue was not feeling particularly social at the time being. He wasn't concerned about his – and honestly he had thought his had been hurt badly enough in the past to learn to not be a fool. He was wrong. Whatever happened would happen. The pain would be just that, more pain. It was never death. Humans were cruel creatures, preferring to see each other in agony. Saboth was so powerless to protect his. He hated it. He ripped out length of spinal cord and whipped it aside..

Already partially leaning against the brownrider, F'lix couldn't pull his hand away from the touch that covered his, but noticeably his fingers clenched under the contact. His mind thought to pull away upon being lead, but Simper's giddy trust made his feet move, one after the other and trailing along with Sel'n.

A squeeze of his hand and F'lix muscles tensed even further. A curious narrow of eyes inquisitively shot up to Sel'n's face. F'lix's own expression had slipped into something more guarded and it may have been more due to Saboth stirring in the back of his mind. Images of blood splatters and crunching bones drifted through his swirling mind. F'lix's brows met in a light scowl as he lifted a hand to cover his expression, again pinching the bridge of nose to ward off a headache.

He swayed on the spot, not sitting down because Sel'n's chasing words caught his attention. Oh.. Faranath. Had he let it slip out – F'lix kept his expression steeled, brow arching in feigned incredulity. Him and F'ur weren't going to tell anyone about moving in, right? Because they wanted to keep both weyrs so that Saboth could have his own ledge. Oh no, had F'lix screwed it all up?

"Hardly," F'lix scoffed with a slight growl to the word. The bluerider made a lazy, dismissive wave of his hand. "He just lives in the weyr next to me.." That should throw off any questions, right? Because the last thing F'lix wanted to do was mess up their arrangement. He had yet to even move in and may have already blown it.

At the theatrical spread of arms, F'lix jostled out of his inner thoughts and quickly jerked his head around to take in the new surroundings. His body pivoted, heel catching on one of the pegs and rope keeping the nearby tent upright. It was safe to conclude, as F'lix roughly met the ground on his back, that he had enough wine for that evening. "And they say felines always land on their feet.." he mused humorously at the private joke while brushing dark bangs aside.

Lazily his half lidded eyes tracked over the sky before ending on Sel'n's tall form. "It is quiet.. out of the way.. how long do you think it will take for someone to notice?" Another wave-like gesture of his hand; a whimsical twirl of wrist as he watched Sel'n. A smile on his lips and a shimmering amusement in his dark gold eyes. He had noticed the dragon's arrival and for some reason it made him chuckle. "Just need a body to start turning it into a graveyard, mm? Maybe if someone else fills the grave those dear friends of yours won't think to drag you back down.."

[Requiem]

"And rob the grave of its rightful owner? Tch." A shadow detached from the relative darkness, the thin, small figure moving purposefully and quite deliberately putting itself between the brownrider and the young man sprawled on the ground. It shouldn't have been surprising really, the grin flashed at Sel'n from beneath calculating, glittering eyes. There was nothing at all friendly about the expression or the apparent amusement - which would be better characterized as mocking than amusement. Took quite a pair to mess with F'ur's kitten, and he'd heard enough of the odd conversation to know two things quite clearly.

First, that F'lix was ridiculously, completely plastered. And second, that Sel'n was aware of their involvement. The brownrider had a lot to answer for in F'ur's mind, though he didn't intend to ask any questions. Ignoring Kaaoloth, the bluerider poked the younger man's nose. "Let's not be starting any graveyards just yet, okay?"

Inocenth's amusement was palpable. It was actually the blue who had brought the news to F'ur, via the long and interesting dragon grapevine that he managed to navigate well enough, despite his temprament. To put it simply, the ex-Fortian had no problem with Sel'n on a personal level. The brownrider played the field, but shards, so did F'ur when the mood took him, and even if he'd been part of that field once and too young and naive at the time to escape with feelings completely intact, that was so many turns and so many men ago he could hardly remember the details. And F'lix was his own man, certainly, could make his own decisions - was considerably less naive than F'ur was at his age. But he was also drunk and he was also F'ur's and F'ur wasn't about to allow Sel'n to take advantage of him. Well he knew the man's type. If the man to replace him as Weyrlingmaster - or reclaim the title depending on how you looked at it - wanted to play that game when they were both sober, whatever. Let him play. F'ur knew the kitten was his, when the kitten was in his right mind. Not now though.

"Been getting into the wine, eh, Weyrlingmaster? Had best be careful when you leave for Selenitas...wouldn't want anything to happen." A threat? It was stated quite cheerily, though, and the lighting made his expression even harder to read than normal, though it was some sort of smile. Probably. "Considering mindmates can be effected." Inocenth always got uncomfortably tipsy when F'ur was trashed - which, thankfully, wasn't very often at all.

His hands slide under F'lix's arms, levering the younger bluerider up and back against his chest where he crouched, his hands clasping around the kitten's chest. "And people wonder why I hate wine," he murmured, straightening up with hisbrand new weyrmate. His arms slid down to encircle his waist when it seemed that F'lix was steady enough to stand on his own. "Been looking for you for a bit there, golden eyes."

[Rei]

He really shouldn’t have been surprised as the voice made itself known. Shouldn’t have but was. Sel’n actually flinched and then mentally berated himself. Weakness was not something you ever showed in F’ur’s presence but he’d be damned before he would admit he was wrong here. Absently his eyes flicked from F’lix to F’ur and his face blanked instinctively. Behind him there was a rumble of unease from Kaaoloth. The bluerider was never a welcome sight anymore.

“Rightful owner eh. I suppose you mean me. Well if you seek to put me there you better do it quickly or get in line. I am sure you aren’t the only one waiting for me to die.” The brownrider hardened his gaze and voice as he regarded the other man with something akin to anger. Mostly run off from Kaaoloth. This was just ridiculous, as if he would touch the man after knowing he belonged to F’ur anyway. Sel’n feel silent again, subtly shifting his gaze to the brown behind F’ur. Stay where you are. I won’t move. You know that. I told you that this would happen and yet you insist on not listening to me. Perhaps you are right to stay so cloistered. It keeps you safe. The brownrider brushed those thoughts aside as he returned his full attention to the pair in front of him.

“So we are resorting to threats now?” Truth was if F’ur wanted him dead he would probably die. There was no getting around that. The fact that he was being threatened angered him immensely however. No matter now jovial the tone the words where offered in Sel’n wasn’t stupid. He knew a threat when he heard one, and this one was thinly veiled. It was not his fault F’ur didn’t keep the bluerider on a leash if he was so concerned. Tsk.

A growl rumbled from Kaaoloth’s throat and he thrashed his tail against the ground. Angry he may be, but fool he was not. Striking for something this trivial would be idiotic. Hazy as the brown's thoughts where, due in no small part to his lovely mindmate, Kaaoloth had never been stupid. If anything he was the most rational part of the pairing. Much to his chagrin.

Red whirling eyes took in the scene before him although Kaaoloth offered no action. The brown would just wait until his had sobered up enough to leave. Besides F’ur could hardly attack Sel’n with his hands full, and if Inocenth thought to try….he would smash the riders before him in retribution before betweening himself. There was something to be said for adrenaline laced anger when you knew you where doomed yourself. Kaaoloth was far too big for Inocenth to stop completely unless he got a mortal blow off. Which was not impossible, but very unlikely. Not when Kaaoloth was expecting such. He had been through enough battles to know instinctively how to cushion blows to avoid the worst of the impact.

Sel’n was aware of the turn his dragon’s thoughts where taking and he did his best to filter in what bit of calm he had retained. No sense in any of this. As far as he was concerned, no harm no foul. If he had to chalk F’ur up as an enemy, he would. Shame when you couldn’t even trust members of your own weyr. He certainly would be watching is back more closely from now on. Not that that was something new. The brownrider kept the mask up as F’ur spoke to his weyrmate. The sooner the pair left the better. For everyone involved. Certainly Sel’n wouldn’t be moving from this spot. Not when the gather offered so many good places for an ambush.

[rii]

"F'ur..?" F'lix tilted his head back into the dirt to peer in the direction of the familiar voice. Oh that's why he had enjoyed Sel'n's voice, the two had the same accent. Unaware of any tension in the air, F'lix smiled slyly at his weyrmate – lazily swatting at the finger aiming for his nose. "You mean new graveyards?"

At Sel'n's tone, and peculiar choice of words, F'lix's smile faded and he shifted his golden eyes over to the brownrider. His gaze flicked back to F'ur's face – Sel'n may have not been able to see the expression on F'ur, but F'lix could, and it caused his brow to furrow in confusion. What was going on? He must have missed something – something important. As far as F'lix knew nothing was going on, or had happened, to cause that sort of reaction in F'ur. Drunk F'lix may have been, but knew the other well enough to recognize the mood. His ability to rationalize or make any coherent sense was completely shot but dark moods he could still detect.

"F'ur?" F'lix inquired in a whisper even as the man helped him back up to his feet. Simper took the chance to abandon the proving unstable perch of F'lix and hopped over onto F'ur during the action. F'lix turned slightly in the arms, not breaking away but wanting to be able to see the older bluerider's face. A hand rested on top of one of the arms encircling his waist, squeezing faintly in uncertainty. Maybe he had done something wrong? The comment about wine seemed like a sublte hint. "I didn't say anything about moving in, you know, so we can keep both ledges.." His whisper wasn't as quiet as he thought it was, but he was blissfully oblivious to that little detail. "I didn't mean to drink so much. Lilitu's being.. neh.. and then Saboth.. "

Again that hand went, cutting through the air in a purposeful gesture that was so habit of F'lix's when he couldn't string together the proper words to communicate.

His fingers twisted in the fabric of F'ur's sleeve as he mumbled incoherent apologies. F'ur had to be upset at him about something, right? Not calling him kitten like he normally did. Sel'n's words again perked F'lix attention – what was this nonsense about threats? – "He didn't do anything." Or did he, F'lix certainly didn't think he did. Why he felt the need to defend Sel'n he didn't know, his thoughts were a strange mix with Simper's feelings on the matter. "He said you'll kill him if anything happens to me." Not that F'lix felt this was about him, but thought the words held merit. No, there seemed to be something else going on between the two older men. Again F'lix peered curiously at his weyrmate. If Sel'n had a healthy fear of F'ur, there had to be reason behind it. "I take it you two know each other?"

Picking up on F'lix's concern, Simper crooned cautiously at F'ur. Nice man. Good friend. Gave back pretty glass. Shared colored water with this Fool. Friend now. So nice. He chirped as he switched back over to F'lix's shoulder, arching against the younger bluerider's neck. Right? Good man? Make friends? Nice? Good? Savehim, savehim?[/i]

F'lix clucked his tongue, reaching up to dismissively pat at the somewhat frantic salamandyr. "Yes, yes. He humored you quite nicely.." Humored her simpering fool, he did. Is good. F'lix lightly shook his head, trying to dislodge his own thoughts from Simper's addled mind. "Poison will take us all to the grave, hardly necessary to threaten a dead man."

And F'lix chuckled, likely the only one that found humor in his words – his poor attempt to make light of the situation; whatever that may be.