Tantric Approach (Teddy)

[dragon]

Dorava couldn't help but chuckle just a bit. "I have plenty of words already in my mouth, bluerider. I don't need you trying to cram more in there for me. No, I did not say that. And you know it well. You know sharding well just exactly what I said, and it was nothing about fists or boots. Or the lack thereof. I was talking about falls. Landings, and everything in between. Something that I do, actually, know more than a thing or two about, if you don't mind. So don't go talking to me like I'm a snot-nosed kid that's still wet behind the ears. Besides. You know as well as I do, the best kept secrets are the ones never told." Maybe that would put a stopper in his ego for a moment. Make him wonder what it was he couldn't see, what he didn't know.

"Maybe you should take your own advice, while you're at it, and make sure just which head it is you're thinking with before you open your mouth, hm?" It had not escaped her attention at all that he was reacting to her, rather than thinking. And when there was a barest amount of thought, it was all testosterone, masculine, patriarchal driven. It was worse than just ego and self assurance. He was arrogant enough to put a great many stuck up bronzers to shame. Granted, someone like him had a little right to some, but this much? It was amazing he was better known for his talents in war rather than his imagined peacock feathers.

"Because I asked. Nicely, too, I might add. If you are part of this Weyr, than you should start acting like it, yes? We shore up each others' weaknesses, here, in case you hadn't noticed. How else could 'a bunch of weaklings' like Selenitas successfully fight off the rest of you for so long? Hm? Ever think about that for a moment? Selenitas is still its own Weyr, and for good reason. If I knew what you were 'weak' in, then just maybe I could help fix that. And in return, you could help fix some of my 'weak' spots. I scratch your back, you scratch - not stab - mine, yes?" Dorava shrugged. "Or, you can jump off that ledge, and break your neck half way to the bottom." And half the world would celebrate that event, too, more than likely. If not all of it. Well known, but not particularly well liked, that was F'ur. Almost everyone was terrified of getting aced. "So, what will it be?" Of course, people like Kali would have promptly screamed at her for lecturing, or rambling, or whatever in the world people like Kali said. But he'd asked, so she told him, exactly why, he would tell her. Of course, people like Kali wouldn't be happy even then, so all Dorava could do was hope that F'ur wasn't as weird as Kali. Because if he was ... he'd likely knife her sooner than yell at her. People should be more careful what they asked for, around here. That or Dorava had to learn to figure out what was actually asked for in that veiled psuedo-question that wasn't actually meant in the fashion it was said. Which only frustrated her more ... they were alternately literal and ambiguous from one moment to the next. There was no knowing what exactly they meant at any given time!!!

Dorava was just tempted to leave sometimes, and start her own Weyr. Even if it was a Weyr of one.

[Requiem]

Wow. The not-so-subtle twist of words that should have made it clear that Dorava was being ridiculously forward...obviously had gone straight over her head. Just wow. His brow arched clear to his hairline at her statement about secrets. The best kept secrets were the ones never told. No shit. That was the definition of a secret, wasn't it...something that wasn't told? Quite the brainy one, this greenrider.

I believe this little Benden pup just called me a cock. Actually, I believe she said you were thinking with your cock. I've never known you to think very well when... I wonder what sort of thoughts a cock has? Whatever they are, it's most likely more interesting than this drivel. I usually don't see why you care to be around males more than females...but in this instance... Is she done talking yet? You're still registering her. Bother. Could always just hop off the ledge. That should get the point across.

"So what will it be?"

He stared at her for a moment, rather blankly. What will what be? Summary? Whine whine whine, blah blah, I'm not useless, blah blah whine, trust me, blah...and we can help each other. Help each other with what? I don't think she ever made that clear...or maybe I just wasn't paying attention either. Eh, if it's remotely important, I'm sure she'll say it again. There doesn't seem to be an off switch. Unfortunately.

So how did you answer a question when you didn't know what they were asking? Just ignore it, obviously. F'ur was far more interested in something else, anyway. He stepped closer and poked her lightly on the arm. Then with a bit more pressure. "Not a figment of my imagination, anyway." A brow cocked at her. "Though I'm at a loss as to how someone like you is still alive, in Benden. You'd be lucky to get out of Fort with a mouth like that." Settling his hands neatly in his pockets while he fantasized nice little accidents, the bluerider grinned wryly at her. "If I told you it wouldn't be a secret. And we all know the best kept secrets are the ones never told." If she didn't hear the sarcasm in that, she was just plain deaf.

[dragon]

He poked her! He poked her! Dorava was so flabbergasted she simply stared at him for a moment. While this was happening, however, Aonith raged, beneath them.

I TOLD YOU THAT YOURS HAD BETTER NOT TOUCH MINE![/b] She roared at Inocenth. Turning hard on a wingtip, Aontih popped her wings twice, launching herself upward in the air toward her weyr and her rider, eyes swirling in vivid shades of red and orange.

Dorava came out of it fast enough to stall her though, settling her back down somewhat. It's alright, love. It's not like he stabbed me.[/b] Of course, it was obvious when men tuned you out ... they all got that glazed, glassy-eyed look as they thought about other things. Sometimes she wondered if there really was a physical switch somewhere for their auditory sensors.

Suddenly, she just burst out laughing, and that was it. She just laughed at him. He was so pathetic, he couldn't even handle being spoken to. Apparently the only thing he could understand was killing, and that was it. And that was just ... sad. So very sad. "You poor, poor little man." She chortled, before wandering sideways two steps and collapsing to a seat on a chair, choosing to completely ignore his comment about Benden. It was none of his sharding business how she'd gotten out of that cess pit. Nor did she feel inclined to enlighten him any.

Aonith snarled audibly, now several weyr levels closer up to her own, swirling madly back and forth in the air like a hemmed-in fish. Frustrated, concerned, scared for hers, and completely confused, all at the same time. Just what was it that Dorava was finding so hilarious, anyway?

[Requiem]

Got a little vixen headed your way. Yeah, can hear her just fine. He measured the distance from the ledge to the door into Dorava's weyr with a practiced eye. Definitely not too far. Queer, actually. We haven't had this sort of reaction to us in turns. I'm not complaining. This place is incredibly dull. And, yes, Inocenth was almost blissfully alert at the moment...and F'ur could catalogue all the different things that Inocenth wanted to do to that sleek hide of hers. Starting with the wings. If it comes down to it, make it neat. Spoilsport.

Another moment passed, and the disappointment was palpable. Got cold feet, Inocenth commented, disdain dripping.

Laughter, hm? F'ur flashed a broad - and decidedly unfriendly - grin, though only F'lix probably could read the subtlety of expression well enough to know that such an expression meant danger. Poor and little, too. The woman was clearly mad. And they'd called him mad dog? He didn't fluctuate from outright terror to arrogant, high-browed derision with no provocation. "Alas, it's true. Poor little tiny creature that I am. A gust of wind would blow me clear away. You must anchor me, miss Dorava. Your robust and hearty frame could keep me from being borne off without a problem. If I were but that chair, straining beneath you, I would have no need to fear the wind's caprices."

Left. He took a step that direction, not even an eyeblink as reaction to the dark blue that pulled out of his dive at the last possible moment, catching the ledge with the spark of well-maintained claws. His wings swept outward abruptly, then folded to his sides, tail lashing to within inches of Dorava. The blue bared his fangs in a silent snarl. Going to scream at me again, precious? Inocenth questioned snidely. Perhaps if you do so loud enough, it will make my brain bleed.

Evil mindmates would be evil. He shrugged in Dorava's direction, his posture clearly suggesting his 'helplessness' as far as Inocenth's behavior was concerned. Her roll.

[dragon]

Remaining seated where she was, Dorava crossed her arms over her chest, watching the blue for a moment. The pit of her stomach was cold with fear, but it didn't show elsewhere. Turning her attention from the blue to his rider, she arched a brow. "Are you here to kill me? In my own weyr?" She asked, well aware of just how far away the door was. Aonith was no longer an escape option if it came down to it, due to the blue brute being in the way. "If you are, then kindly get it over with and stop toying with me. If you aren't... kindly get him off my ledge." Dorava requested, with as much politeness as she could muster.

Aonith snarled, ascending again. But she didn't stop at her ledge. Instead she shot past, up to the cliff top right above the weyr. Landing on the edge, she swirled around, looking over the edge and down at where Inocenth was sitting. On her ledge, far too close to hers. She addressed the blue again, but this time with a far calmer tone, despite the riot she was feeling. Move away from mine, and get off of my ledge. Or I can always tell the entire Weyr that you are a spy. She offered, sweetly. They would be quite ready to believe me, too, given what you are doing... Remember - if you harm mine, I have nothing to lose. I will gladly take you with me. she promised. She breifly considered alerting Salenth anyway, but held off for the moment. Aonith liked the bronze and felt she could rely on him, but she was reluctant to escalate matters if they could be cooled off without it. She did wish to tell someone, though, just in case things went south and she wasn't able to tell anyone who was responsible before it was too late. Aonith was scared - the same as Dorava was, and it was making her angry.

Valiant peeked out from under the bed, and looked at everything there was to see, alerted that something was going on. For a moment, the mandyr was still and observant. The next found him moving at a slow gimpy trot across the floor over to where Mandyr was still sleeping. He nudged her first, trying to wake her. When that failed, he turned and scampered back to the nearest person. That happened to be F'ur, though. Val started up F'ur's pant leg, and climbed all the way to the man's shoulder, where he sat up like a meercat, frill flat to his neck. First he peered at F'ur, and then down the bluerider's collar at Terror.

Hi? He offered, amiably. Not yell. Not nice. Say hi. Hi? Hi. He told F'ur. Food good? Much not. Hi. Pretty blue. Pretty pretty. Hi. He turned his little head to look at Inocenth, before uttering a short chirp. More food. Fetch. Mandyr fetch. Good. Nice. No bite. Nice. Hi.[/i] Val offered, turning his gaze upon F'ur's face again for a moment before dropping to all fours and poking his nose at Terror. It seemed that the little half-blue salamandyr had remembered what all others had apparently forgotten; they were all on the same side, same team. And if no one else was going to extend the olive branch, he would. Even if he had to start with Terror.

[Requiem]

An eyebrow arched mildly at her. "Suddenly we're a lot more polite. What do you know?" He came to lean against the stone right by the door, a parody of a friendly smile touching his lips. "He came because your green is throwing up enough of a fuss to have him a touch concerned. Considering how - excitable she is - it really isn't in my best interests to send him away." Bracing his foot on the wall, he cocked his head to one side, obscuring part of his face. "Babe, I'm not an assassin. And if I was I'm pretty sure Fort wouldn't be wasting resources on bit players."

What exactly is it that I'm doing, greenie? he responded, amused and not bothering to hide it. You start screaming over a poke. Frankly, I'm concerned for your sanity. Too much stress, perhaps? Keeping Mine company in the presence of a mad dragon seemed reasonable enough. He stretched on her ledge, digging his off-color talons - their ichor-stained sheen catching the light - into the stone of the ledge. Of course, if attacked without provocation, I shall sadly have to kill a comrade, and such a lovely one, too, he added silkily. But who knows? You may just be the lucky dragon who accomplishes what no other has.

Look. A salamandyr pest crawling up him. F'ur's eyes narrowed briefly, his irritation more that he knew Terror wasn't going to respond well to this encounter than by the fact that someone else's obnoxious pet was on him. It did, yes, occur to him that salamandyrs made excellent means of striking at riders. He could have Dorava doubled over in pain and shock in an instant...do anything he wanted with her. Which really wasn't extremely appealing for the simple reason that he could do that anyway. Using this little thing would be highly unnecessary.

He did wish it wouldn't bother his mindmate, though. Tch.

Don't see. Invisible am, Terror whispered at Val, trying to make his voice sound as convincing and soft at the same time as he possibly could. Val couldn't seeeeee him. The voice said so. Yes? F'ur very nearly facepalmed at that. Really? You think that's going to work? It's worth a try and get him away, away. He's talking about eating me. Can't you hear? Can't you hear?!

Trembling, the blue distrusted the mandyr calling him pretty. Blues did not find blues pretty. What was he up to? As their noses touched, he squeaked and dove all the way down, curling against F'ur's abdomen. Go way. Go way. SaviorMine make squish you, go way! he cried desperately. The bluerider winced, though whether it was at the volume of the voice projecting from his shirt or the strength of the fear...impossible to tell. His hands slipped into his pockets.

[dragon]

"I can't really blame her. But she hasn't gotten anywhere near you." Dorava pointed out, wondering just who was being the twitchy one. But she dropped that for the time being, as her concern became for Valiant instead. She found the expression that crossed F'ur's face just as interesting as the reaction from his mandyr to hers. That was all a sidenote, though, to her wanting Val away and safe... she already knew first hand what happened when her 'mandyr was harmed. "Val." She called, softly.

The blue tilted his head at the very peculiar reaction to his greeting, then looked over at Dorava. Aware that a second greeting was not likely to get a better response, Val obliged everyone involved. Invisible am. Bye. He told all three, before taking a flying leap to splat on the floor in front of F'ur. Jumping up to three feet, he scuttled across the floor with a distinctive side to side wriggle that allowed him to move at a decent speed despite a limb that was only half-functional. When he reached Dorava, he scampered up her leg, across her lap, and into her pocket. His favorite spot! Curling up there, he mumbled audibly to himself, content. He'd grown quite used to his efforts at socialization being snubbed... the few attempts he made, anyway. It was normal, and didn't hurt his feelings at all.

Come sit up here by me, then. Aonith invited, though it was obvious her motives. Having him farther away from hers would make her far more comfortable with the situation. F'ur had been bad enough, but Inocenth, too? I promise I won't bite, unprovoked. She remarked, mindvoice dripping sweetly. Besides. Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to occupy a ledge uninvited? Last I checked, that was still my ledge. But in any event. I won't bite yours if you won't bite mine.

"It's the salamandyr, isn't it?" Dorava asked, as a shot in the dark. "He's what's got you doing stunts. Am I right?" In any event, it did seem to be a decidedly weak spot in F'ur's self image. One he was apparently sore on. She didn't prod out of malicious intent, but more out of curiosity, an effort to understand just why he'd scared the living daylights out of her ... especially if he really wasn't an assassin. There had to be a reason.

[Requiem]

I can keep my word just as easily here as up there with you, greenie. What, did she think he was hatched yesterday? Ludicrous. You're welcome to join us if you'd prefer, he added, the tendril of ice behind his mindvoice natural and unaffected. He actually didn't care one way or another. It would be easier to mess with her down here, but he didn't actually particularly want her company beyond making her more agitated. So either decision was more than fine by him.

He hadn't bothered to respond to her earlier comment regarding Aonith's behavior. F'ur didn't...blame...her either, per se. Inocenth was being deliberately provocative, which was hard to ignore under normal circumstances. The lack of control exhibited by both rider and dragon, however, was rather disgusting, in his not so humble opinion. Aonith would not be so upset if Dorava hadn't shit a brick simply because he'd landed on her weyrledge in a slightly out of the ordinary manner. Nor was it even remotely reasonable for the green to go off screaming and raving over a poke. No, neither were impressing him much, and the fact that Inocenth was involving himself at all merely proved how pathetic it was. The blue didn't have a tendency of acting out unless he thought he could provoke a fight.

Glancing at her from beneath hooded lids, the half-hunched figure didn't visibly change his stance or his expression. The pocket formed by his abdomen - strangely enough, not the hollow thing most pictured when first catching sight of the man masquerading as a rather shortish pole - protected Terror to some extent. Really, it was more to help the salamandyr feel safe, considering there really wasn't anything at all after him. That half hunched posture was actually a fairly useful one, as it also pocketed your chest cavity, and it wasn't entirely unusual for him to fight with his hands in his pockets, looking for all the world like a punk skulking around. As F'lix could attest to.

"Interesting assumption. When did you raid the wine cellars?" he questioned mildly. Sharding Inocenth. The blue was too ready for a fight, and F'ur couldn't trust him enough to just walk away. Sadly. He'd grown more than tired of the present company...several verbal exchanges ago, in fact.

She thought she knew him so well, did she? Based off rumors and a brief exchange of words? Pushing up off the wall, he was on her in a flash, thumbs digging into the pressure points beneath the armpits with just enough force to make it clear that he would make use of them if he had to and it would hurt like all hell. Given a knife, a man bleeds out in less than twenty seconds from a wound to the same spot. Bundle of nerves there...highly convenient. This was how little people evened the score. He bit her neck, planting a knee into her stomach. "Who says I didn't see a pretty, defenseless woman sitting around, munching daintily at her food. It's been quite awhile since I've had a woman."

No shit.

[dragon]

Aonith shifted her weight from one front foot to the other, before pouring forward off the edge of the cliff. Move left. She responded, in the moment before she landed upon her own ledge. Folding her wings, she crowded onto her own ledge, despite how it was already taken up by so much blue dragon. Shifting awkwardly, talons digging into the stone, she tried to not fall back off, or shove the other one off either. Tail dangling over the edge, she poked her head and neck inside, shoulder shoved up against Inocenth's. I don't think this ledge was designed for this. She quipped, good-naturedly. Despite the initial alarm, Aonith was by far more calm now that she was there. Hers was safe, now, and she relaxed for it. Inocenth hadn't done anything but be rude - which all told was normal behavior toward greens, especially where she'd come from. So that was not held against him. He was male; what else was to be expected from him?

A perplexed expression crossed Dorava's features, but she never managed to actually say anything in response to the wine cellars quip before she was grabbed. Startled, she grabbed him in return, trying to cushion the blow, though it still elicited a grunt from her. A twitch and nothing more came as teeth met skin; she knew better than to try anything. When her wits returned to her, Dorava couldn't help but wonder if this was his way of being funny, or kinky. Whichever it was, it was very strange. Only one thing was for sure to her; it wasn't a genuine hostile attack. If it had been, he certainly wouldn't have left himself wide open to a blow from her knee. Men were far more protective of the family jewels than that.

She gripped his arms, tightening her grip before uttering a grunt to clear her throat. "If that's all you wanted, you could have said so." she quipped, rather glad that a body couldn't bite and talk at the same time. Regardless of the situation, teeth on her throat made her awfully uncomfortable. It was about then that Val found his favorite pocket a little on the cramped side. The mandyr bailed out while it seemed he still could, scampering across the floor over to where Aonith was now standing.

Hi hi. Pretty. He mentioned, scampering up her front leg and along her neck to sit on her head and stare down at Inocenth. Big. Whether that was a comment on Inocenth's size, or his own warped perception of his own size now that he was high up, was anyone's guess.

[Requiem]

Move? As if. There was plenty enough room for the both of them. These ledges were made to hold two large blues comfortably, and, even if that wasn't true, Inocenth was decidedly green-sized. His color, mindvoice and the fact that he Chased all served to point to the truth, but his size definitely wasn't normal for a blue. In fact, little about him was, given Fort dragons tended to run large and pale. He clearly had more of the sire in him than the dam.

With so much room on the ledge, it was rather ridiculous that she found the need to practically land on top of him, much less stay that way. Ino growled in warning...or maybe simply irritation at F'ur's strong mental presence. Her throat was right there and she was clearly asking for it. If His gave him that disease of his - the one that somehow made people F'ur was meanest too fall for him - Inocenth would never forgive him. Terror still had quite a lot of use left in him, when it came right down to it. He ignored the brief glare from F'ur, applying weight behind his shoulder to knock her off-balance while she was still settling. Said you could come down here, not that I wanted to touch your filth. His head canted around to regard her narrowly, a clawed foot trailing down her flank. Unless of course you're offering to ease my boredom.

F'ur eyed her for a moment. Yes, slow. By the time she truly reacted to him...tch. He was definitely making sure that this one wasn't covering a flank or his back in the event of an attack. Practically useless. Though he supposed he'd at least get the warning of her screaming death rattle before anyone got through. A body between you and the enemy - unless you were actively killing them - was always preferable to nothing.

Letting her go, he recoiled, putting more pressure on her stomach as a result. "You put out for complete strangers? Shards, woman." He wiped his hands off on her shirt. "I don't do fat chicks, anyway." F'ur wrinkled his nose. In truth, all her extra curvy mass did repulse him, so he wasn't completely being an ass. Just mostly for saying it at all.

Inocenth's tail flicked, his teeth baring in a silent snarl at the little menace. Annoying, he returned flatly. Since they were all stating the obvious here.

[dragon]

Aonith rumbled, tilting her head. It's my ledge, tiny. Watch your mouth. She answered, ignoring the talons he tried to threaten her with. Worse had been dealt to her before, and she'd lived. Better yet, she was still one of the better fliers even after all that! If you don't like how I do things on my own ledge, feel free to go elsewhere. She answered, politely enough. It wasn't like he had to stay on her very own filthy ledge! Besides ... she rather liked the way it was. The occasional rain of dirt from the cliff-edge was not something just any weyr could get. Or the view that went with it. As if. I only entertain young. You're too old for me. Aonith sniffed. Young dragons, young people, she rather liked talking to them, and/or playing with them. Older dragons were creatures she spent far too much of her life fighting to feel at ease entertaining. He seemed awfuly excitable, awfully easy to rub toward upset. Maybe his didn't oil him often enough and his ass was itchy.

"I didn't say that." Dorava answered, before releasing his arms and sinking all of her fingers into the thigh of the leg that was resting on her stomach. Thankfully, she had good abdominal strength, and his diminutive weight wasn't hurting her guts. In a flash of movement from the first grip on his thigh, her knee smacked upwards hard into his nether regions even as she heaved on that leg, throwing him off and sideways. It would take an insanely fast save to keep him from just cracking his head on the wall there. He'd definitely be singing soprano for a while after that, though. Dorava spun away from where she had been, in the other direction. That placed her directly in front of Aonith's broad chest, something she knew would not put in her a corner should F'ur come up raging. Which was more than likely to happen after that. But there was only so much abuse she would take. Especially in her own weyr.

"Chicks have feathers." She answered, simply, watching and ready for anything that would come next.

Oh! Val not know Big be annoying too! Talented! Valiant praised, plainly impressed by Inocenth's self-proclaimed talents. Of course, he had no idea he'd just insulted the blue dragon, as he had no idea what 'annoying' meant. It was plainly a skill, though... right?

[Requiem]

Inocenth crouched, tail tip flicking slightly in agitation, his teeth bared in silent threat as every small movement dragged her hide lightly along his claws, leaving hairline furrows of ichor. His nostrils flared, hearts pulsing just that touch faster. Blood, ichor, burning flesh. All excited him. A bored Inocenth was never good, but you usually didn't want to be the creature relieving that boredom, either. F'ur's constant indulgences helped somewhat, the conversations appeasing Inocenth for the most part, but it wasn't the same. The blue was a war baby, just like his rider.

You are a green. Surely you know how little difference size makes, he replied, his amusement icy.

One of them was amused, anyway. F'ur's eyes slitted as Dorava's hands left his arms, digging into his thigh. The suddenness and the strength she was applying gave away the fact that she was turning hostile. His reaction was instinctive. He curled inward to protect his core, pushing forward against his knee to loosen her grip and throwing himself sideways with a twist of his hips. Which resutled in his being thrown forward into her as her knee contacted the back of his thigh. He went with the thrust, continuing the twist and letting his shoulder take the majority of the impact with the wall, their combined strength causing him to bounce. He landed in a crouch on the recently vacated chair.

His sudden burst of adrenaline had Terror quivering, silent for once, but scrabbling around to the small of his back in response to F'ur's subconscious mental prodding. The other mental prodding wasn't so much a command as a release. Inocenth's claws dug deep, catching just in front of the hip bone, the lowered head darting up with the aid of his grip on her flank and his jaws closed with a certain finality on her neck. Twenty turns as a dragonpair had produced a machine of sinew and muscle that worked flawlessly together when the need arose.

F'ur was springing forward before Inocenth's attack completely finished. hitting Dorava with the full force of his knee in the meat of her waist, a blow designed to target the diaphragm and push all the air from her lungs. He caught her by the hair before she could topple, bringing his elbow sharply into her nose with a satisfying crack before plucking the knife from her belt and tossing it aside carelessly, his other hand still fisted in her hair.

Jerking her around in front of him by the hair, he pushed her forward, chasing it with a kick to her ever so rounded ass with enough force to send people twice F'ur's mass stumbling. He slammed into her from behind as she contacted the wall, wrenching her arm up behind her. The attack itself had lasted less than four seconds. Inocenth growled appreciatively, his fangs digging into Aonith's neck.

F'ur pointed a finger at the blue without bothering to look at him. "No." Inocenth snarled, but loosened his grip enough to allow Aonith to breathe.

That hand found her face, keeping it pressed sideways against the wall. "You're a gnat, sweetheart. Not only that. You're insane. See that blue there? He'd like nothing more than to tear her throat out. I'm all that keeps him from tearing her apart." He smiled broadly at Dorava. "What insanity inspired you to attempt something that ridiculous when you were going to dive off the cliff at the mere sight of me less than ten minutes ago?"

HIs breath wafted against her neck, torquing the arm until she was forced to her toes. "Sneaking in a shot at me over a comment when you didn't bother responding similarly to an actual threat - not very nice, beautiful," he told her cheerfully, as the blood from her nose coursed over his fingers. "Not very nice at all."

You'd almost think he wasn't mad.

[rii]

I'd rather not bother.
I'm not surprised.
You should know better than to ask.
I don't want to deal with him.
And I do?

A smirk quirked on F'lix's lips as he leisurely ascended the stairs. A rather irate green frantically skimming the cliffs had been the first thing to draw Saboth's attention. As the events progressed, the faded blue was quite amused while his rider had given in to his insufferable curiosity. The sounds of shifting feet, movement, impact reached F'lix in the hallway. He didn't need to hear the words to be able to visualize, by noises alone, the scene that would greet him upon arriving. A final glance was cast through the empty hallway as the last few steps were taken in the same casual pace.

As he shouldered the stone of the doorway, F'lix's leathered sole caught the spinning hilt of the tossed knife. He didn't spare it a glance, instead letting his golden eyes calmly survey the entire situation. The gaze lingered on Dorava's bloodied features, recognizing them despite current circumstance. He may not recall her name, but their shared northern origins he did.

"Benden women," Once they had come to a stand-still, F'lix mused loud enough for the entangled riders to hear. The only hint of emotion behind his voice a dark purr of amusement. The nonchalant posture he showed not by any means forced. Violence was nothing new to him. There were a few curiosities of which he planned to inquire upon at a more appropriate time and place. "They come south and just don't know what to do with all this freedom suddenly available to them. Some tend to go a little mad with it all."

For every action, a reaction. Every choice, a consequence. F'lix didn't know the circumstances behind the situation, but he knew F'ur to be a high control individual. But everyone had a line that was not meant to be crossed. F'lix had found it once, attacking F'ur unprompted on the beach. A lapse in memory and a fracture skull had followed suit. It wasn't too hard of a stretch to make a general assumption for the present – especially when he had a blade pinned under his boot. He wondered more what she had done, not what F'ur was doing.

"Mm?" His eyebrows rose, a thumb curling around one of his belts as he regarded the other two riders – certain that his interruption had drawn their attention – and their set of questions yet to fill the air. "Oh right. Do forgive me for intruding, Saboth brought to my attention a green looking highly upset and a particularly unfriendly blue inhabiting her ledge. I couldn't help but be curious." His eyes shifted to F'ur, the message clear enough. Now with the smell of ichor on the air..

Saboth landed on the cliff top and craned his neck over the edge to observe the two dragons. He brushed Aonith's mind, a wave of calmness coming on strong to try and help her keep her wit in the delicate situation. Don't move. Obvious and actually very useful advice; of which others tended to over look when their life was at stake.

To Inocenth, however, Saboth regarded the dark blue with no short amount of amusement. It will be an outright shame if you and yours have to leave over of this.

[dragon]

Things just never went to plan, it seemed. The plan had been to vanish into Aonith's grasp, and the three of them fly away, well out of F'ur's reach. In the end, it was wiser to cede her sleeping quarters to the crazy man and his bloodhound of a dragon than to fight for it. Especially when she knew she was outmatched when it came down to it. There were never any right answers. But, as noted, things just didn't tend to go to plan.

Before Aonith could scoop her up and back-launch off the ledge, she was snatched away and roughed up ... for the third ... or was it fourth? ... time in the span of a half candlemark. In her own weyr, no less! Aonith didn't have time to dive after her rider and bite F'ur in two, either, as she suddenly had Inocenth to deal with. He was fast, but so was she. A quick twist to the side and a punch with the wrist of her wing kept the most tender parts of her throat out of his maw, though she didn't seem to get completely away. She kicked hard with the hind leg that was getting mauled, raking a chunk out of his tail in answer before it slipped right out of her balance. Which resulted in her weight landing hard against his side before yet another blue dragon face appeared.

Don't move. Riiiiiight. Like that was possible at this moment. She bared her teeth in an unvoiced growl, haunches swiveling away from the blue next to her. Valiant was long since gone, having been shaken clean off in the initial assault. Though no one had yet noticed, he was still floating to the bottom of the canyon on the virtue of rapidly-beating wings and extended neck frills much like an umbrella. It was a fast decent, but he'd live ultimately.

Dorava, for her part, found there was little she could do at all other than go with it to keep from her joints being dislocated and her muscles torn. She could be quite flexible indeed, but only when not trying to fight the contortions. She merely grunted in the end, before blinking. Wonderful. Not only did she hurt all over now, inside and out, but her dragon was in pain as well. Worse, she couldn't see any way out, now. Dorava gritted her teeth and tried to push off of the wall but gave up on that quickly as it aggravated her shoulder. "I tend to do stupid stuff when I get pissed off at people. Character flaw." She answered, before spitting a gobbet of blood out.

When F'lix arrived, too, all she could manage was to roll her eyes. Great. First a Fort dog, and now a Benden curr in her weyr, too. What was Pern coming to, anyway? A gal couldn't picnic in her own weyr anymore! At this point, she was pretty sure she wasn't going to live to see Rukbat set. And if she did, either Kali or R'wign would finish her off once they saw her and Aonith.

Love... Dorava thought, sadly.

Stop right there. Aonith answered, before sending her thoughts reaching elsewhere. Her gaze never left Inocenth, but she knew that she couldn't save hers, take on Inocenth, and deal with Saboth, too. It felt very low, to fail so badly in one's own weyr that she had to call desperately for help. In the light of things, convinced that the worst was about to happen, Aonith did not hesitate. Honor, self-respect, it was all paltry when weighed against the life of hers.

Salenth! She called, to the bronze. Not only was he her wingleader, but he was a dragon Aonith trusted far more than most any other dragon she'd ever met. She didn't bother to try and explain what was going on, merely doing her best to impress upon him the gravity of the situation and that she needed help. That hers needed help. Quickly.

[Requiem]

"A serious character flaw," F'ur agreed mildly. "One that shockingly hasn't killed you yet. Decisions made in anger are rarely good ones, especially when they involve using an underdeveloped skillset." Strangely enough, his upset had faded. Probably because, with her admission, he found her so irrelevant as to be not worthy of the emotion. "You should probably consider working on that. Whatever glamour managed to keep someone like you alive at Benden definitely is no longer working. You're going to need some actual skill." Disdainful a bit? Probably. His tone sounded decidedly bored.

That probably had a lot to do with a definite lack of interest in anyone who just gave up. He found excessive emotion, decision without thought and no backbone quite distasteful. The voice caught his attention however, a ripple of motion going through his body the only indication that he'd been surprised. F'lix?

F'ur's eyes flicked to him briefly. Ironic, really. He'd answered, in that first purring statement, the question that had been at the back of F'ur's mind. How did someone such as Dorava survive Benden? It definitely made more sense to think she'd changed since coming here than to entertain the thought that this behavior wouldn't get someone killed there.

Inocenth was crooning. The ridiculous blue was crooning as he adjusted his grip on Dorava's neck so that her own weight wouldn't tear her throat free in his jaws. He flicked his tail, spraying a splatter of ichor with the motion. Oh yes, his eyes were the pure blue/green of contentedness, as he noted Saboth from his position. It'd be worth it, but no. This one amuses me. I think I'll keep her around to play with. It was a rare beast who fought him when he already had her by the throat. Stupid, yes, but still entertaining.

Bother. Sometimes he forgot he was in the south. They'd actually care here that he and Inocenth were asserting themselves over this pair. Nevermind that he'd only stayed because Ino wasn't to be trusted alone, and that Dorava was the first one to attack...both times. The price of being the more deadly pair. They'd be blamed...particularly since females were treated like goddesses in the south. Tch. Well, hopefully Dorava got the message, at least. He wasn't to be trifled with simply because he wasn't beating the shit out of her. If she needed a demonstration to realize he could and would take her out if she dicked around with him, she'd gotten one.

F'ur released her, skittering out of range before she could decide to get bold and make another desperate attempt at striking at him. The older bluerider walked past F'lix, brushing his elbow lightly and meeting his eyes. They should go before others came. Actually, he probably would have stayed, but then F'lix would, and the younger rider didn't need to be mixed up in all this. The skitter of the knife across stone brought a wry grin to his lips. Trust F'lix to give it back. He ducked through her personal weyr and out into the corridor.

Inocenth, who didn't much care if he was discovered, decided to leave, too, however. It would be a shame if, now that Hers wasn't threatened, Aonith decided to fight him and he was forced to kill her. He scooted suddenly sideways, releasing her and leaving her to topple while he took to wing in a flurry of wingstrokes, gaining altitude swiftly so the feisty brainless one didn't get a swipe in.

---

Leaving already. Salenth had been woken from his doze by Aonith, the bronze watching the odd scene from his favored perch on the drumheights. You're sure it was Inocenth and F'ur? Positive. I think Saboth and His must have diffused it. Only with Inocenth could it possibly be a relief that he was just holding a green captive by the throat. Salenth's rumble of amusement served as agreement. Not that he approved of such things happening at his Weyr, but Inocenth wasn't exactly a typical case. Did she tell you why they suddenly went hostile like that? You heard what I heard.

True.

S'rei reached the ledge by the outside stairs at that moment, the smell of ichor and blood preceeding him. It was a measure of his own confidence that he felt no need to bring Salenth along. Although the bronze was more that capable of intervening, had it come to that. He took in Aonith at a glance. Some nasty wounds there, but definitely nothing fatal, or even serious. He paused by her anyway, brushing a hand along the uninjured flank. "Steady there. You'll be all right."

It was interesting that Inocenth and F'ur had left. They definitely weren't the fleeing type, and they had to know that leaving the scene weakened their position. (S'rei wasn't born yesterday. Three turns with no incident involving the bluepair...there had to be some provocation.) Still, having greenpairs beaten up and slashed at on their own ledge wasn't something to be tolerated, short of attempted murder.

He turned Dorava gently around by the shoulders, frowning down at the mess of her nose. "Get pressure on that," he stated simply, fishing out a cloth for her to clear the blood from her face. He handed it over in silence. After she'd had a moment to compose herself, he asked the question. "So then, what happened? This is highly unusual."