Grief is the Price We Pay (rei, open?)

[Ruby]

Meagan's death had hit M'kai hard. He wasn't the only one, of course - although Cr'oph hadn't been there, Futh had informed Mavenath as soon as he knew. Once the lesson was over (with no more mishaps, thank Faranth, three was about all M'kai could take), Futh had taken M'kai straight to Cr'oph's weyr, where the brothers had grieved privately. They had been practically inseparable since then, taking meals in one weyr or the other and splitting up only at night or when they had other duties.

M'kai, for his part, felt like he was going through life in a fog, robotically performing tasks that needed doing and ignoring the rest. His weyr was gradually becoming offensive to Futh (which really just meant it wasn't obsessively clean), and he'd actually taken to borrowing Cr'oph's eyeliner to make his eyes look less red. Stupid as it sounded, it worked, and it kept people from asking what the problem was all the time. He'd been confused with Cr'oph more than usual, even with the now noticeable difference in the length of their hair.

Now he was waiting for his twin to join him after wing drills. M'kai had finally decided it was probably a better idea to eat in the main hall than remain a hermit forever, so he'd had Futh ask Mave if Cr'oph would join him. He didn't want to eat in his weyr... but he also didn't want to eat alone. If Cr'oph was there, it would fend off questions and conversations M'kai definitely didn't want to have. For now, he was literally in a corner facing the wall, at the end of a table as far away from the kitchen and the door as he could get. Way to make an entrance back into society, M'kai.

[Rei]

Erilena moved her food about her plate. Will you stop playing and eat? Not hungry. You’re never hungry anymore. You eat like a darter most of the time, it’s a wonder you haven’t lost more weight. Okay mom. I get it. Lenamine… I told you not to use that name. Fine...Erilenamine. Please don’t call me your dam. Noted sorry. Apology accepted. Now will you eat? Still not hungry. The heaving mental sigh the greenrider earned in reply made her flinch but it was shrugged off right afterwards. She really wasn’t hungry. Likely she’d make herself sick if she forced herself to eat. Rising from the table she had been sitting at alone, as usual, the rider made her way over to the refuse area to dump her food. Part of Erilena felt bad for wasting it but really she hadn’t taken much to begin with considering she was quite good about judging her appetite as of late. Needed to get back to the infirmary. Lunch break was almost over.

Turning to make her exit from the main hall the woman stopped in her tracks as she caught sight of a familiar figure. Familiar because his bronze had grown up with her green. Cr’oph. Pretty much the whole weyr had heard about the death of the weyrlings and part of the greenrider remembered that the greenrider who had passed was in some way connected to her classmate. He seemed really upset and although Erilena didn’t particularly like Cr’oph…at all, he still looked torn about it and if there was one thing she had a hard time ignoring it was depressed people. No matter how much she detested him, it was sad and so with a deep breath she made her way over to his table.

“Um Cr’oph? How are you doing? Do you need anything?” The words where soft and uttered as she leaned her hands on the table to his left, tired eyes automatically seeking his lined ones. Erilena unfortunately hadn’t really noticed the difference in hair length. Due to the fact that neither R’ven nor Cr’oph attended lessons with her anymore and she hadn’t seen either rider in over two weeks now. Nervously the greenrider pushed her blonde hair back behind her ear mentally reminding herself again that she needed to chop it all off.

Cr’oph had paused in the doorway as he saw Erilena approach his brother. Ducking around the doorway he peeked out at the pair and briefly wondered if he should just go. But no. Instead he would wait until he saw what M’kai would do. Maybe they could mess with her a little. It really was to bad his brother hadn’t cut his hair as well…Hang on a sec. Twisting his shorter hair into a runner tail and tying it up he smiled. S’rei didn’t allow him to wear the liner and he had just left the Weyrleader. With no time to reapply it he didn’t have any on. So technically he could play at being M’kai.

Depended on how his brother handled the nervous little greenie that had at one time been a member of his weyrling class. Maybe all his brother needed was someone to screw that wasn’t male. A good lay did worlds to improve a mood. To bad the little mouse wasn’t the type. Tch. Ah well his brother would figure that out if he attempted anything. She’d flee. Knew her type. Far to fragile and flighty to be of any use that way.

[Ruby]

"I'm not... um..." M'kai began, some sixth sense causing him to turn his head just so at just that particular second, long enough to see a flash of suspiciously red hair over near the doorjamb. M'kai could barely help but smile; it had been such a long time since he and Cr'oph had had any fun, especially of this type. Yes, the tragedy of Megs' permanent trip between still hung darkly behind his eyes, but for the first time in weeks M'kai felt the shadow receeding a little. Just because she was dead didn't mean he had to be.

"I'm not doing that great, to tell the truth," he sighed bitterly in his best Cr'oph impression, searching his mind for blonde greenweyrling's name. Nephele's friend, in Cr'oph's class... K'sel came to mind... Erilena, that was it. Of Four-winged Feyrianth. "M'kai'll be here in a minute, but since we lost Megs, it's - you won't tell anyone, right? It's embarassing." Waiting for her approval, he went on, acting as uncomfortable as possible. There was no way Cr'oph would pour out his feelings without a pretty good excuse, but unfortunately for Cr'oph, M'kai was in control, now. And he still owed his brother for Bomb. "Honestly, it's been hard for me to be without some company, these days. If I'm alone too long... well, I just can't stop crying, sometimes. Would you mind just sitting with me for a bit? Until he gets here?" A very un-Cr'oph-like note of pleading entered his voice near the end, and it was all M'kai could do to stop himself from cracking up. That was a great feeling, he had to say, even if he ws 100% sure Cr'oph would beat him up for it, later.

Scooting down so there was enough room for Erilena on the bench next to him, M'kai met her eyes again, noting how tired she looked. Interesting. "Is... are you doing alright, Erilena? It looks like you haven't slept in a week, if you don't mind my saying so. I don't mean to pry, it's just..." fixing his eyes stoically on the wall across from him, M'kai heaved another sigh, then finished, "Misery loves company, I guess." His Cr'oph wasn't perfect, but M'kai figured anything wrong could just be blamed on grief. It was, truly, the perfect set-up. Poor Erilena.

On the cliffs above the main hall, Futh rolled his grey-tinged eyes and shot a thought in Mavenath's direction. Mavenath-twin, Yours may want to stop skulking and go introduce himself. Mine is playing him very out of character, the blue said, not bothering to block his voice off from M'kai. Futh was all for His cheering himself back up, but not at the expense of others. Feyrianth's deserved better.

[Rei]

Erilena blinked for a moment and then leaned closer to the red head to catch his words. Wouldn’t tell anyone? Why would she? Mildly confused the greenrider shook her head and gave M’kai a concerned look. “I have no one to tell anything to Cr’oph.” His admission that he had been crying, was he serious?, threw her for a moment and she was pretty sure the first expression that crossed her face was slight shock. Thankfully she was growing practiced in painting on a smile and it wasn’t hard at all to give him a slightly worried smile. “It’s no bother. I’m sorry about Meagan.” As the bronzer near pleaded with her Erilena gave him an actual worried look. Cr’oph just didn’t seem the type to be so bent out of shape about anything. Although it was part of his family that had died. So was it any wonder that he was upset? She probably wouldn’t be near functioning.

The greenrider obediently moved towards the bench near him as he moved over. “Sure. I don’t mind sitting with you until your brother gets here.” Yes her lunch break was almost up but it would be really cold of her to leave him when he had near begged her to stay. Sure he had been an asshole to her in the past. But well that was no reason to be a jerk back to him. Just as she was about to sit down next to him his question came across and she blinked at the other rider.

“Me? Oh umm I’m alright.” A light smile was offered to M’kai. “I just haven’t slept well for the past two weeks. It’s nothing to worry about really, just adjusting.” Cr’oph had lessons with R’ven didn’t he? So he had to know they had broke up about two weeks ago now. The whole weyr likely knew. Or maybe he didn’t know? The brownrider was a pretty closed person and Erilena wasn’t even sure he would talk to Cr’oph about…well anything really. His admission however caused an actual smile to flit briefly across her face. She had said those same words to K’sel only a few weeks ago. “Yes misery loves company.”

Mavenath back winged to land a few lengths behind Futh and mantled his large wings before tucking them along his back. Striding close to the large blue he crooned and dipped his head a low rumble starting in his chest. Mine is well aware of yours and his antics I am afraid. I do not see what is so amusing about playing that they are each other. The bronze briefly touched his nose to the blue’s before looking out over the canyon. Flopping down gracefully near his companion he spoke again. At the very least at least this will stop them from moping yes? There was the slight worry that this was his green sister’s bonded that his was playing with. But well that couldn’t be helped.

Cr’oph had been watching for a few moments and had started to draw a bit closer inch by inch as M’kai drew his classmate into conversation. Could this be any more perfect and….what in Faranth’s name was his brother trying to pull! Brief irritation flashed across his features. Who gave M’kai license to play him like he was a pussy? Well two could play those games. Crying? Seriously? As if. He had cried maybe once and oh shard it all his baby brother was going to pay for his amusement later. Now though he could technically enact a bit of sweet justice. Considering he was now cast in the role of M’kai.

Purposely half stumbling around a few drudges ‘M’kai” came upon the pair and immediately ‘tripped’ over his own two feet barreling into Erilena right as she finished answering his brother and made a move to sit down. “Oops! I’m terribly sorry!” He exclaimed in his best ‘fake M’kai’ incredulous tone as he caught her before she fell. Problem was as he ‘caught’ her he ended up with a handful of breasts. Total mistake~ To illustrate this fact he put a shocked look on his face and ended up half flailing at her as she blushed and gave him a scandalized look. “Oh Faranth. I am sooooo sorry. I really didn’t mean to grab your boobs. I’m just a terrible klutz. I’m sorry really. Oh Faranth Cr’oph tell her that I am sorry?” He turned to look at his brother putting Erilena in his blind spot. The turning was intentional so he wouldn’t bust out laughing and could regain his composure.

The greenrider in turn fought to control the blush that had raced across her face. Really? As ‘M’kai’ turned back towards her he did look apologetic though and so she fought to keep her composure and gave a strained smile. “It’s okay mistakes happen. Really I’m not mad.” Okay now M’kai was there so she was free to leave right? Erilena was about to say her goodbyes when ‘M’kai’ walked towards her again. Swiftly Cr’oph pulled the greenrider against him in a hug.

“I’m M’kai. It’s so nice to meet you.” Dipping his head he sniffed at her hair. “Oh your hair smells good. What do you use to clean it? Cr’oph you should smell her hair it’s lovely.” Okay so what if he was playing his brother as creepily overly friendly? M’kai was playing him as a pussy so all was fair in love and war or something like that. Erilena on the other hand had stiffened immediately upon being pulled into an embrace. To be honest she was really considering running and was it any wonder? This is what she got for trying to be nice. Faranth.

[Ruby]

Futh reached out to meet Mavenath's touch, rumbling in response. Neither do I. No one would confuse me for you; I don't understand how Yours and Mine could be mixed up, anyway. But you do have a point, I've been worried about Mine. Tarath's loved Mine, and now he feels bad about being so reticent. I hope they do manage to make themselves happy again... he mused, staring off into the canyon in unconscious imitation of Mavenath. It might be clear that one was Blue and one was Bronze, but sometimes Mave and Futh struck the same position without even thinking. Must have to do with the twin thing.

Meanwhile, M'kai was all ready to taunt Cr'oph into embarrassing, embarrassing submission. He was even starting to plan his twin's ultimate demise (i.e. dissolving into tears in the dining hall), but something Erilena had said caught his attention. 'I have no one to tell anything to.' That, added to her dismissal of his question, seemed incredibly odd. He knew a few things about Erilena: she and Nephele were good friends, and the two of them plus K'sel were practically inseparable, not to mention wasn't she dating that Brownrider from Cr'oph's class? She was also one of the ones who had overindulged a little at M'kai's graduation, and ended up making out with Nephele. M'kai expected her to be some sort of social butterfly who would immediately gossip to the whole Weyr, not... well, not someone without friends. There had to be something wrong.

He'd just pulled his eyebrows together, about to try to draw her into conversation, when Cr'oph barreled onto the scene, really going out of his way to make M'kai's life awkward. Any other day he'd have plowed on, making Cr'oph's tantrum huger and huger until the entire Weyr was watching, but... something in Erilena's face caused a flash of pity in M'kai, and he figured the game was up. Shaking his head, he reached back to pull his hair into a runner tail, dropping it behind his shoulders - and revealing the Bluerider's knot pinned to his shoulder. "I might say you were sorry, and I might smell her hair if you were really M'kai, but it looks like you've already taken care of both of those for me, Cr'oph," he said, counting on the confusion that statement was sure to generate to allow himself a pause. "Now let the poor girl go. Sorry, Erilena, it's just been a long time since my brother or I had any fun. We didn't mean to put you in the middle," he said, patting the seat next to him again. "I'm the real M'kai. Let me make up for the insufferable little snot's presumptions," he added, waving a drudge over.

[Rei]

Mavenath nodded quietly as his tail tip flicked back and forth in thought. His whirling eyes hinging on the dragons lounging beneath before he spoke. Humans get caught up in silly things. They will remember for a time and possibly never forget. But in time it will fade at least. One day it will be just a sad memory and no longer affect them like it does now. If I know ours half as well as I think I do they will bounce back well enough. Rumbling he leaned against Futh companionably and gave a yawn. Sun felt rather good today.

Cr’oph felt the greenrider stiffen against him and loosened his grip but he didn’t immediately let her go. Instead he kept a loose hold on Erilena until M’kai spoke. Then he immediately let her go and hurriedly stepped back. Damn it. The words caused his eyebrow to raise and he glared openly at his brother. A disappointment he was. It was just getting fun to. “Leave it to you to take all the fun out of it M’kai.” The bronzer drawled in his usual arrogant tone. He would have gone on to if not for the pain that suddenly shot through his shin. Ouch. Wincing he only barely restrained the urge to lash back at the little snot who had just viciously kicked him in the shin. Damn it all. Had to tell Erilena when it was painfully obvious that the greenrider didn’t count him amongst her ‘favorite’ people. Next moment said woman was openly glaring at him and her voice was rising. Oh yay pissed off female ahoy. Much fun to be had. Sarcasm aside he gave a sidewise glance to his twin the look a clear. Now look what you did.

M’kai’s words where hardly out when Erilena outwardly bristled. What? How dare they. So the one that had just grabbed her was Cr’oph then? Sharding Faranth. No way was she letting that bastard get away with grabbing her now. Unintentional her ass. With a sudden move she kicked the bronze weyrling in the shin and stepped forwards towards him. “How dare you! You think that’s funny? Well It’s not. Where do you get off thinking you an paw at me like that?! I’m not your plaything. I don’t know that you think is so funny about the situation but I fail to find it funny at all. Your both just immature idiots. Stop getting your kicks messing with other people and grow up. I swear if you touch me ever again you’ll regret it Cr’oph. I don’t need your nasty hands on me.”

Glaring openly at both she then turned to M’kai. “and you! I felt sorry for you. I don’t need you to make anything up to me. To be honest I don’t think I’m interested in anything either of you have to say.” Snorting the greenrider gave each of them another glare before she started to walk off, ignoring the looks and soft snickers shot their way. Of all the nerve… Okay so maybe she had went a tad off the handle there but shard it if she wasn’t irritated. Last thing she needed was to cater to two weyrbred arrogant riders who got their amusement by playing with people.

Cr’oph snorted openly as Erilena turned to leave and just barely resisted the urge to make some snide comment. In the end he bit his tongue and gave his brother an exasperated look. “Way to blow it. Now you have miss Erilena’s feathers all in a ruffle. She already doesn’t like me. Now she really thinks I’m a sleaze.” Unfortunately he punctuated that comment with an amused smile. “Congratulations now you will be lumped into the same category as me.” Not that Cr’oph cared, there where far more interesting and sexually open greenriders in the weyr. Giving a sigh he plopped down beside his brother and laughed. “Mave says we need to grow up.”

[Ruby]

Futh snuggled a little closer to Mavenath, then curled his tail tight in to his side and settled down with a drowsy Mmmmm... for a possible light nap. They made an odd couple, to be sure, the chubby little blue and the obviously fit bronze, but Futh took comfort in Mavenath's presence none the less. He'd been fond of Tarath, what little he knew of her, anyway.

M'kai ignored his brother, feeling the cloud of loss settle back over his shoulders again. Maybe he should have just gone with it, had some fun at some unknown Greenweyrling's expense- He was a rider, anyway, he could pull rank if she had any problems with it, not to mention that he was a Weyrlingmaster, even a temporary assistant one. He could send her scampering off to fetch him things, make her do chores, make her do Cr'oph's chores. And yet, something in those few words, maybe deep in her eyes, had changed his mind. Now it was too late.

However, she'd forgotten one important point, and M'kai wasn't about to let it slide by. Eyes fixed on Erilena, he clarified, "Actually, you made the original mistake. If you'd been able to tell the difference between us, we never would have started. We don't even look that much alike!" His tone was lightly matter of fact, the last statement an obvious hyperbole, but the glance M'kai shot Cr'oph's direction was questioning: better? At least a little?

Apparently not, since Erilena took that moment to storm away angrily. But Cr'ophs words of defeat were met with a sly smile - M'kai had a plan. "Just you wait," he challenged, feeling the grief retreat once again. "And tell Mave should have more important things to worry about, like Greens or something. What about Erilena's dragon? Make him invite her over, Futh will cuddle her within an inch of her life and maybe that will make the Rider a little more... friendly."

With that, he slid out of his seat and strode after the fleeing Greenweyrling, his long legs easily closing the distance between them. "Hey, hey, hey," he said as he slid around in front of her to block her path, hands held up and away so she knew he wouldn't try to touch her. His tone was pleading as he continued, but his smile was genuine. "Look, that was pretty rude. I'm sorry, and I'm sorry Cr'oph touched you - I don't let him touch me either, if I can help it." Pause for laugh track. "Seriously, though," he continued, tone changing to suit his words, "Give me another chance. The stuff at the beginning wasn't a lie, I really am having a hard time after... Megs. She... you know she thought she was in love with me?" He let his eyes mist a little, for dramatic effect (and because he was having a hard time keeping himself from actually crying). "Just come sit, have a glass of wine-" Then again, maybe wine wasn't a good plan "- or juice or something, talk to me for ten minutes, then if you still hate me you can go. I promise."

[Rei]

Cr’oph ignored Erilena as his brother called after her. “Don’t waste your time or breath brother dear. She thinks she’s to good for you. Believe me.” His eyes narrowed on the retreating back of his classmate. Bitch. He still stood by his previous comment. The girl needed to lighten up a little. No fun at all. However if M’kai wanted to waste his breath. Far be it from him to put a stop to it. His brother would get bored of her sooner or later anyway. His brother wasn’t the type that ‘stuck around’.

Grinning the bronzer snorted. “If Mave speaks to Feyrianth she’ll dissolve into twitching fits. She has a fear of bronzes. Green is as temperamental as the rider.” Waving his hand in dismissal he tapped the heel of his boot against the stone and watched his brother scamper after Erilena. With a mild snort he gave an amused smile. Good luck brother dearest.

Erilena stopped dead in her tracks when M’kai stepped in her path. Hazel eyes narrowing upon him she bristled, but allowed him to speak. His attempt at a joke had her dropping the glare but little more. He could call it what he liked, but a spade was a spade and she was still a tad put out. Still the rider was trying to make amends. Albeit a little late. The greenrider inwardly debated before pushing her hair back behind her ear and gazing at him curiously. Was he seriously tearing up? Shard it. The words however had her blinking at him in surprise. Did M’kai just go and say that dead girl had been in love with him? Who came out and said that kind of stuff? To a complete stranger nonetheless. Wasn’t that information kind of personal?

Opening her mouth and then closing it again Erilena paused to debate M’kai’s offer, knowing even as she did so that she would accept. Because in the end she was a sap and he was starting to tear up. Who was she to deny him a listening ear and possibly a bit of cheer. Rubbing at her eyes briefly she tilted her head up to regard him curiously. “Fine. Ten minutes.” Turning on her heel she approached a different table not willing to sit near Cr’oph at all. Looking back briefly to make sure the bluerider was following the greenrider shot a comment over her shoulder. “Also for your information I don’t drink.”

Sliding into an unoccupied seat Erilena nibbled on her bottom lip. Ten minutes she could spare. Then she needed to get back to the infirmary.

[Ruby]

M'kai "Pffft"-ed eloquently at Cr'oph's explanation of Feyrianth's shortcomings, then straightened up, both hands on the table. "Watch and learn, little brother," he said, the challenging note in his voice and spark in his eye surprising, perhaps, for one who had so recently lost someone important. But really, how was M'kai going to live if he didn't get over Meagan's death? He wasn't, and that was that. He'd always admired Erilena from afar (admired wasn't quite the right word, but still), and Cr'oph's dismissal just fired him up. His twin thought this was a waste of breath? Unlikely.

The bluerider kept his hands in the air until Erilena stopped looking like she was about to bite his face off, then lowered them slowly as her gaze turned curious. Score one for M'kai - he'd managed to get, if not on her good list, then at least off her 'must kill' list. And then she'd agreed to the talking - that was far above and beyond what M'kai had expected - and he threw a look at Cr'oph behind her back, one that clearly said 'Ha.' He turned to follow just as the Greenrider looked back, and he raised his eyebrows slightly at her before liberating two cups of fresh redfruit juice from a distracted drudge. "Juice it is, then," he confirmed, his tone more gracious than one might have expected. No harm in pretending he hadn't noticed the last time she'd had something to drink.

With another loaded look for his twin, M'kai slid into the seat across from her, then placed the glass just to her left. He leaned forward, arms crossed on the table, rather than his usual sprawl, and began. "So let's start over. I'm M'kai, nice to meet you." He nodded at Erilena and swept one hand out to the side, the seated impression of a bow. That seemed the way to go, instead of offering a hand he didn't know if she'd shake. Plus, a bow was way sexier. "I really did loose someone very important to me, and I'm doing alright, but not great. Company does help, particularly company that didn't know Megs well, or at all. It's nice... it's nice not to have to reminisce, all the time." He stopped himself with a wave of his hand. "No, that sounds wrong. But you get it, right? She's gone, and that's tragic, and I'll always remember her, but how will I live if I have to remember her every moment of every day?"

The spark had gone out of M'kai's eyes, now, and they'd turned haunted, seeing something that wasn't there. He seemed to snap out of it after a second, though, and took a sip of his juice before continuing. "So, enough of me, I'm not all that interesting anyway. I wasn't lying when I said you look tired. I know I'm in no place to ask after that little stunt, but unlike my dear brother, you might find that I both care, and am a fairly good listener. Can I pry? It's not like I know anyone you know - except Cr'oph - and sometimes, it's good just to talk," he added, the last sentence surprisingly gentle.

[Rei]

Cr’oph would be lying if he said he didn’t find M’kai’s particular brand of determination a bit amusing. At the very least it should be interesting. The red head watched his twin brother as he approached the irritated greenrider an amused smiled curling up the corner of one lip. For a moment he expected Erilena to simply brush past him but no. Low and Behold the princess was giving his brother the benefit of her presence. Well now. Color him surprised. M’kai’s triumphant look was given an eye roll in return, the message clear. Don’t count your firelizards dear brother.

Erilena blinked at M’kai the expression in her eyes wary and guarded. It was hard not to lump him in the same category as his twin brother automatically. One thing was for certain she no more trusted M’kai than she did Cr’oph. Perhaps that wasn’t fair but the other red head had not given her reason nor desire to trust him. So M’kai was on a steep slope. He’d have to fight to change the greenrider’s already biased view of him. Hazel eyes examined the bluerider across from her as he sat and offered her the juice.

Immediately Erilena took a small sip more out of a desire to be polite than anything else. She wasn’t hungry nor thirsty. With perhaps mild interest she continued to regard the man as he spoke to her. The bow was noted with a flash of amusement. “Well met M’kai. I am Erilena of Feyrianth but you already know that don’t you. Through your brother more than likely.” Yes she was being very formal but currently she had no reason nor interest in exposing herself in any way and formality was a shield of sorts. Or at least it was for her. A quite convenient and good one at times.

Taking another sip of the juice the greenrider watched as M’kai’s expression changed and became blank, almost haunted. She felt bad about the death of his sister. Truly did. Losing someone was never really easy. The pain never really went away, just grew less severe with time. She had experience in that area due to the loss of her mandyr. Leo was something she would never forget and that pain would never truly leave, although it had faded to something she was better able to manage with the passage of time. Meagan would be like that for M’kai. No it wasn’t exactly the same thing. But loss was similar. Even the loss of friends hurt.

The sudden change of topic onto her had Erilena immediately hardening. She didn’t talk about herself. Even under the best of situations. Her problems, especially now, where her problems. He wouldn’t understand anyway. His dragon wasn’t different like Feyrianth. His blue didn’t have the problems her green had nor did the red head have to worry about becoming a leech to the weyr. Besides his brother was one of the ones who viewed Feyrianth with disgust and it made her want to slap that look off Cr’oph’s face every time she saw him.

Hazel eyes examined M’kai with an unreadable expression before she spoke. “There is nothing to tell you. I am just as uninteresting as you it seems. Just having a bad day is all.” Her voice was light and friendly enough even if her words where pretty dismissive of the topic.

[Ruby]

Alright, so she wasn't going to play nice. Well, maybe that was a little harsh - but she certainly wasn't going to make this easy on him. M'kai, however, was still out to prove his brother wrong, and that was exactly what he planned to do. He could make difficult girls talk, he'd been doing it all his life. First things first: the girl was tenser than a cat in a bag. He had to get her to relax if he was going to make any progress at all. Of course, his little stunt couldn't have helped her stress level, but... well, what was done was done. Back to the present.

So, first things first: reassure her. "Actually, I'd only just learned her name. Cr'oph and I don't spend nearly as much time together as we used to, these days. It comes from one of us being a Weyrling, and the other a Weyrlingmaster," he offered, dropping his title without batting an eyelid. Of course he'd put it there to give himself some authority, to plant in her mind some subconscious knowledge that it was alright to talk to him, to open up. It might backfire right now, but that didn't matter - it still put him in a mental category that was there to help. Handy title, that. Too bad he had to share it with Iskierka. "Futh knows her - or knows of her - though," he added, as that awareness entered his mind. A brief pause as Futh filled him in, and M'kai decided to drop the subject. Futh had returned too late for Feyrianth's flight, but he'd seen Innoceth baiting her. That couldn't be a pleasant subject.

So M'kai kept his smile purposefully open, matching her unreadability with his own friendliness. He did, of course, keep the mental twitch that came from the sudden understanding about Erilena's dragon off his face, but the damage had been done. He knew - at least partially - what was up. Haha, victory. Kind of. At least if he knew what was bugging her, he could make her talk about it, eventually.

On to phase two: make her smile. "Bad day, huh?" he repeated, leaning back a little in his chair to make himself more comfortable before going on. "That's the worst." A sip of juice, to make sure there wasn't an awkward pause, and M'kai went on, "So what do you usually do for fun?" After just a second or two - not enough time for Erilena to cut in, but enough for it not to sound contrived, M'kai added, "I love going on long runs, down to where I can see the ocean." There, that should get her started on a new subject. His goal now was to talk about things that were happy and fun, and stay away from the tough stuff - if this went well, maybe she wouldn't run away from him in the future, and he could coerce her into talking to him again. That was the plan, anyway.

[Rei]

Erilena ended up concentrating on her glass of juice for a few silent moments. Her continued irritation with the situation warring with her desire to be polite. It just wasn’t good manners to ignore M’kai though. No matter how angry the twins had made her. Hazel eyes flicked back up to the red head. Only just learned Feyrianth’s name? She doubted that. Who in the weyr hadn’t heard of, to her knowledge, the only four winged dragon on Pern? Certainly mostly everyone in the weyr had witnessed her birth. Part of Erilena childishly wanted to call him on that fact but she remained silent. Especially since the bluerider’s next comment made her want to snipe back at him. Him a Weyrlingmaster? Well what a good example he was making playing with people in the Main Hall. The greenrider’s gaze hardened on the male but again she bit her tongue. It wasn’t proper nor would it fix anything to go on a rant at him. No matter how badly she wanted to. At least M’kai had apologized to her.

Talk of Futh had her titling her head. “Most dragons know of her somehow. So I’m not surprised he does.” The way the words where voiced where a small clue that that subject should be dropped. Erilena was very protective of Feyrianth. It seemed M’kai had gotten the hint however because he offered nothing else and the greenrider relaxed a bit. Still there was a nervousness about her. Ten minutes seemed to be stretching on forever and she was only on a small break. Had to get back to the infirmary soon. Taking another sip of her juice one eyebrow raised at the bluerider’s next comment. What did she do for fun? Her hazel eyes slightly narrowed on him. Part of her stubbornly wanted to give him nothing in response. But in the end she couldn’t not say anything. He was obviously making an attempt and if the greenrider brushed him off, that would just be spiteful.

“You run? Exercise helps lots of things and the ocean is very nice.” Especially at night when the stars reflected off the water. It was beyond beautiful. But thoughts of the night sky now filled her with a sad longing and so that topic was avoided whenever possible. Instead Erilena curled her fingers around her glass and sighed. “Dancing I suppose. I used to do it all the time purely for fun.” Used to being the key word. It just felt fake and looked terrible when your heart wasn’t in it. “Other than that I visit the creche when I need some mindless fun. The kids are great. It’s hard not to smile, even when one of them is trying to show you something particularly disgusting.”

A brief smile danced across her face. “Feyrianth adores them to. She calls them littles. Keeps saying she wants one of her own.” Silly adorable Feyrianth. That thought made her smile widen. “She has more fun with them then I do. Lets them climb all over her, poke her in the eye, whatever. They can do no wrong as far as she is concerned.” Leaning back in her chair slightly she took another sip of her juice and examined M’kai silently. Okay. Maybe just maybe. He wasn’t as bad as his brother. Perhaps anyway.

[Ruby]

"Most dragons know of her somehow."

Was that so? M'kai wracked his brain, trying to figure out why that would be - oh, of course. Four-winged Feyrianth. He'd always just thought of it as part of the dragon's name, Fourwingedfeyrianth, not as a descriptor. Sure, he'd been at her Hatching, but it was Cr'oph's Impression that had eclipsed that day, not the mutations that were now practically expected from Millieth's clutches. Futh had certainly seen the Green around the Weyr, but Futh being Futh, he'd neither commented nor noticed that she was different. With a hand over his face, the red head smiled, trying not to look too embarrassed. "Of course, Feyrianth is the one with four wings. Futh just thinks she's pretty, " he added, leaving off the bit where Futh thought pretty much every Green was pretty. "Well, it makes sense that she'd be known, then. Four-winged dragons don't hatch every day." There was no judgment in his tone - M'kai didn't care if her dragon had four wings or none - but it was final, closing the subject. Clearly she was tired of discussing that, anyway. He was pretty sure he would be, too.

Alright, the question about fun had gotten her to speak, even if she did like kids. Ugh, gross. First things first, though. "Yeah, it really is a special place. I'd never seen it until I was 19 or so, and it's one of those images that will stick with me forever." And dancing? "I wish I could dance, but Cr'oph's the twin you want for that," he claimed. Hopefully that rumor would get around, Cr'oph would bite someone's head off within six months. "Too clumsy," he explained, nearly taking out his goblet as he spread his arms to shrug. Laughing a little, he carefully returned his hands to the table, and added, "But sometimes I try anyway."

M'kai managed to nod through her 'I love slimy children!' moment without the look of deep disgust he would have normally worn, adding the occasional "That's good," and "Oh, really?" to keep her talking. She didn't seem to need much help, though, once she got on the subject of Feyrianth. That part did make him smile - not that the dragon liked human babies (that wasn't normal, right?) but the way she talked about her dragon. It reminded him of himself, trying to explain to someone how adorable it was that Futh made him purge his weyr twice a week, and woke him up in the middle of the night to get a bath. Most people would not find that fun, but it was Futh! How could they not love it if Futh were doing it?

Opening his mouth to ask another question, M'kai caught sight of a time candle, burning in the back of the hall. "I said I wouldn't keep you, and I won't," he said, gesturing back at the candle. "Ten minutes to the drop of wax. Thank you, Erilena, this really has been one of the most enjoyable ten minutes I've spent in a long time. It was nice to meet you," he added, all sincere. He hoped Cr'oph was watching as Erilena left - maybe he hadn't gotten invited back to her weyr, but he was making progress. Ha.

[Rei]

Despite Erilena’s intentions of continuing to label M’kai as a sleaze ball like his brother, she quickly found that really perhaps he wasn’t so bad. He actually had listened to her unlike Cr’oph and he seemed to actually be interested in what she had to say. Talk of Feyrianth had her looking mildly uncomfortable although she did give him a half sympathetic smile. Not that she believed he didn’t knew who Feyrianth was. didn’t believe that at all. She had heard Cr’oph mention her before and it was never anything good. Hard to believe he wouldn’t say something to his brother. But the topic was quickly dropped and it would remain such if Erilena had half a say. She loved talking about Feyrianth. But only to people who appreciated her. Those who didn’t be damned.

It was different to be sure. Talking to this man that looked so much like Cr’oph but yet seemed. Nice. Despite herself Erilena found she was actually interested in what M’kai had to say. Although she did give a snort at the comment about Cr’oph dancing. That was hard to imagine, but if anything the Weyrlingmaster seemed sincere. Really time seemed to move faster than expected and when M’kai turned her attention to the fact the greenrider found herself actually almost wishing time wasn’t up. It had been nice to talk to someone again. That was an odd thought really…. Just for how long had she gone without much human interaction? She certainly talked to people at the infirmary but as far as anything else? Lately there had been nothing. That realization almost scared her. Carefully though she pushed it down before she could concentrate on that to hard. Not the time or place.

Giving M’kai an actual smile Erilena stood. “Thank you. For your time. I’m sorry I was so rude before. But messing with people isn’t really polite.” Light hazel eyes ran over the bluerider once more. “Perhaps I’ll see you around M’kai. Without your brother.” Giving a polite half bow she downed the rest of her juice and then with a short wave made her way back into the crowd and towards the infirmary. She was in a better frame of mind for the moment at least.

Cr’oph watched her go with thinly veiled distaste before turning his head to catch his brother’s eye. Tch was he supposed to be impressed? Hardly.

(End Thread)