Gotta Be Somebody (J'on)

[Shiny]

((lulz prepare for angsty!J'ash ))

You should get some sleep, J'ashmine.

The thin figure in the bed rolled onto his side and brought his knees closer to his chest, staring out at the blue-green dragon lying on the weyrledge. Craivaruth lay draped on his couch with his head resting solemnly on his forelimbs. He'd been like that for several hours, keeping an eye on His. Ever since the dragon had gotten back from his trip, J'ash had been totally silent and reclusive, save for hugging him and curling up into his colour-bisected side. Craivaruth hadn't been there to protect His when the Weyrlingmaster decided to "teach him a lesson". He'd been off trying to calm down from the events of the firelizard Hatching when J'ash got beaten up. As much as he detested it, he knew Ioth's was just trying to teach him - them both, really - a lesson about controlling their anger. It wasn't good to just blow up and go berserk - that was an easy way to get killed.

Although J'ash was hot-headed, Craivaruth knew he shared a good part of the blame for the scraps His got into. He would try to maintain his calmness now, for His' sake. The last thing he wanted was for his rider to get hurt because of him.

Stinging pink eyes shifted from staring at the immobile dragon to the dark night seeping in from the weyrledge before drifting closed in an attempt to force sleep again. It was close to the middle of the night, and still J'ash was awake.

It was because he felt awful, both physically and emotionally. What Iskierka had said really hurt a lot, but he knew it was true. She was right... No one likes me, he thought, curling into a tighter ball. Craivaruth lifted his head a little, yellow eyes observing His as he tried to send him comforting vibes. Sleepily, Tux stretched from his position on the pillow right above J'ash's head to try and play with his hair, but didn't quite reach the strands before falling back asleep. The other Brown curled next to J'ash on top of the furs was deeply asleep and rather oblivious to everything.

The only sounds in the weyr were the occasional loud beep from Ilea (the purple and green darter bird whose favourite perch was either of Craivaruth's headknobs), and the infrequent sighs of his sleeping firelizards. The night wind gave the quiet soundtrack an empty ambience. Glows were spread throughout the room, giving off a soft, slightly dim light that also seemed to be trying to comfort J'ash by attempting to chase away the night.

I have to change who I am. The twenty-turn-old's thought alarmed the Blue, and caused him to fully raise his head to look at the weyrling with concern. No. You will not change yourself. You are perfectly fine the way you are, Mine. We just need to work on controlling our emotions a little better. That's all.

He felt the water building up in front of his eyes despite having them closed, a lump heavy in his throat. Slowly, J'ash got up on an elbow and draped his legs over the side of the mattress (being careful to avoid knocking Vomit off the bed), wincing the whole while. His furs pooled around him, legs poking out between mid-thigh and knee. Holding back groans of pain, he slid himself the rest of the way into a sitting position and sat there for a moment with his head hanging, just simply breathing, somewhat-grown-out hair flowing an inch or two over his shoulders, fringe hiding his face.

Several big, nasty bruises decorated him; some were on his arms and legs, while a particular one heavily discoloured his left eyesocket and cheekbone, the eye in said eyesocket red with burst blood vessels. Other, lesser bruises dotted him at random, one of which was from a punch to the stomach Iskierka had held back on. Although these areas were the most painful, he was sore all over from trying to fight back. Like that had done him any good...

A hand came up to try and rid the tears from his eyes, the process slowed down for his tender black eye. At least Iskierka wouldn't see him cry this time. Nobody would. That's because you have no friends, he thought, causing the tears to immediately well up again. Faranth, Iskierka was right about that too. He was pathetic.

No. No one will see your tears because it's the middle of the night, J'ashmine, Craivaruth interjected, trying to make him see truth. But His was just too depressed to think otherwise.

[Kisha-Ra]

J’on growled and turned over in his bed, restless. The room was too cold, the cat too hot, and Wraith was snoring in his ear. For a small mandyr she could certainly snore, and the fact that she was curled by his ear really made her louder.

She is only breathing, J’on. Do stop that and go to sleep, you’re keeping me awake, and I need sleep.[/color]

J’on snorted sardonically and shoved Yu over to roll onto his front and beat his pillow, on a part that didn’t house a small green mandyr. Naturally that just upset Wraith anyway, and the woken lizard frilled at him and slunk off to perch on Yu. Of course my lady. I forgot that you’ll need energy for a full day of flirting and goofing off the greenrider replied sourly, flopping onto his back, and then onto his side.

Rinagth lifted her head to give her rider a baleful glare. You are annoying all of us now, even the feline. Either go to sleep, or go somewhere else so we can sleep, there’s a good boy.[/color] The green’s wings flared up and out as her neck snaked around, looking for something to distract her rider with. He clearly wasn’t going to sleep. It looks like Craivaruth is still awake, his rider is probably annoying him too. You should go over there and see if he wants to mate with you. Then you won’t be here. Too bad for Craivaruth but I’ll let him use my ledge if two restless riders in a weyr is too much for him.[/color]

J’on had to laugh, Rinagth was totally shameless, and quite determined to get him out the weyr so she could sleep. Well, he decided he wasn’t getting any sleep here, and he did seem to be inflicting the same problem on Rinagth, Wraith, and even Yu. It wouldn’t hurt to go and see why J’ash was still awake, if he really was still awake, and maybe the bluerider would be up for a little fooling around. alright Rinagth, I know when I’m dismissed.

Rinagth rumbled softly, the low sound rolling around the room. You mean you know when you’re missing a pretty rider from your furs.[/color] she replied with a flick of her tail.

A few minutes later the greenrider padded barefoot down the hallways, already thinking the better of his plan, what if J’ash wasn’t awake? He’d be pretty annoyed to have J’on wake him up. Or what if he was awake but, er, accompanied? J’on prodded at Rinagth, but without her rider cluttering up the weyr, the green was already asleep.

Without Rina to ask Craivaruth if his rider was awake J’on just stared at the door for a moment or two. He heard movement in there. He’d knock quietly, that way if J’ash was occupied he probably wouldn’t even hear the knocking.

[Shiny]

The figure sitting on the bed seemed to crumple inwards slightly. His chest... hurt. J'ashmine! Are you okay? Craivaruth called, starting to rise quickly from his couch (which earned several annoyingly loud beeps from Ilea, who refused to be kicked off of his right headknob). I'm not injured... I'm fine. The thought did not comfort the Blue, who paused with his upper half mostly raised. With a hung head, a tear dripped onto the furs covering J'ash's thigh, a small shudder running along his shoulders. Craivaruth's yellow eyes swirled at the upset of his rider, not sure what to do. He'd never seen His quite like this before.

A quiet knock got no reaction from J'ash. You should get the door, Craivaruth suggested softly when His just sat there like there had been no knock at all. I don't want to, J'ash moped. Who would visit me anyway?

Craivaruth flicked his bi-coloured tail in annoyance. Mine, answer the door, or I will.

You can't answer doors. You're a dragon.

I'll find a way.

Slowly, J'ash raised his head, a hand going up to wipe a stray tear from his cheek and clear his eyes of the water buildup. He sighed for a moment before weakly pushing the furs off of him, making sure not to disturb Vomit. Planting both hands on either side of his hips on the cot, he gingerly lifted himself to a standing position, wincing at the use of his sore, bruised muscles. Thankfully he wouldn't have to struggle to put pants on to greet whoever was at the door - he'd been too sore to attempt taking them off when he'd come home. He was topless though, but wouldn't bother pulling a shirt on. Yes, it was cold, but he would suffer through that. He'd rather be cold than have to move his aching body any more than was necessary.

The thin, bruised man made his way to the door with an almost defeatist gait. He wouldn't be surprised if the person had given up waiting for him to answer the door and just left entirely. Then again, he didn't even really want to see anyone. Didn't want to answer the door in the first place, but with Craivaruth on his case, he couldn't not answer it.

He shook his head a little so that his bangs were falling to cover his nasty, sore black eye, and wiped the other one more time with his hand to try to make the sting go away. He sighed, then opened the door.

His visible eye widened a little, gray eyes staring at that familiar handsome face. For a moment he was speechless, though his lips were parted as if he was going to say something.

"J'on... What're you..." His voice was croaky from not being used in a while, not to mention because he was upset (although he was seriously trying to not let his upset show on his face). And now, he really wanted to close the door and hide under his covers until J'on went away. This was just great - his new mate was here, and he looked like a piece of crap, what with his puffy eye and hidden black eye, and unattractive bruises everywhere.

[Kisha-Ra]

For a long moment J’on just stared at the closed door, listening intently for human noise, but the sounds of a very loud darter drowned out any more subtle noises that might be heard. Maybe J’ash was asleep after all, and Rinagth had seen Craivaruth out on the ledge because the darter was keeping him awake. Despite that thought the greenrider hung around a while longer anyway, feeling rather self-conscious about standing around in the corridor. At least at this time of night no one was likely to see him.

Just as he was giving some thought to giving up and returning to his weyr to annoy Rina some more, the door opened, causing J’on to smile crookedly. That is until he noticed what kind of a state J’ash was in. ‘Doing here?’ J’on finished the trailed off question, stepping inside the door. ‘I couldn’t sleep and I was annoying Rinagth, she noticed Craivaruth was still awake and suggested I come down here and occupy you so both of them could sleep.’

The greenrider gave J’ash’s body a frank look over, finding a multitude of dark bruises on the tanned skin. ‘I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to see you looking quite so battered.’ He added, tipping his head to one side curiously. ‘Have you been fighting with someone?’ J’on asked, mostly rhetorically, because you didn’t get a collection of bruises like that from walking into a door.

[Shiny]

Craivaruth watched J'ash answer the door from the weyrledge with eyes a concerned orange. His edginess was taken away upon seeing who it was, and he slowly lowered his head from its alert position to nuzzle into his forelimbs again, tail swinging close to wrap around his body. Ilea chirped and beeped some more at this new change in position, hopping sharply along the headknob (her headknob) and tilting her head this way and that. Unlike Craivaruth's intentions to doze, the tiny bird was not yet ready to sleep. There was someone new to boss around, after all.

J'ash shuffled to close the door gently as his mate entered the weyr and turned to face him, back resting against said door. He listened to J'on's explanation, trying to control the emotions showing on his face. He liked this man, he did, but so far their interactions had been only about sex. And as much as J'ash loved said sex he didn't think he could deal with it right now - not just because of his aching body, but because of the mood he was in. It would remind him too much of the fact that nobody loved him in that way. So J'on was just here for some action...? and not only that, but his dragon had to order him to visit.

J'ash. the strictly-spoken name didn't even have the usual "mine" attached to it. Listen to yourself. You're moping. Stop it. J'on has come here because he w[/color]ants to see you. I [/i]o[/color]rder you to let him in and cheer you up.[/i]

...Fine. came the upset reply from the Blueweyrling.

A small smile that clearly did not meet his eye twitched at his lips, trying to make it look like it was no big deal. He took a couple of breaths, trying to find words to say in a controlled voice. "Iskierka decided to, um, teach me a lesson," he said, sentence punctuated with several pauses, "because of a fight I got into during the Firelizard Hatching. She said... if I let my anger get the best of me all the time, this would happen." Her words came rushing back to him despite him trying to block them out, and he lowered his face to let his hair hide it from view, knowing he couldn't repress his sadness from showing. "She said I was pathetic and have no friends," the words came out as a whisper. Before J'on had the chance to say anything, J'ash walked around the Greenrider and stopped a few paces away in an empty spot further into his weyr, back facing J'on. And there he stood.

"...If you play to stay, um. Make yourself at home..."

[Kisha-Ra]

J’on just stood inside the doorway, looking mildly confused as various emotions played subtly across J’ash’s half concealed face. This was a mood he hadn’t encountered before, J’ash was normally playful and more than a slight tease, but today it was fair to say the blueweyrling was about as far from his usual self as J’on had ever seen him, and he didn’t think it was all to do with the bruises J’ash was sporting. So rather than step forward and pull J’ash into his arms, which had been his original and charmingly direct plan, the greenrider hung back, looking concerned.

The smile that flitted over the bluerider’s face did nothing to comfort J’on, nor convince him that J’ash felt anything other than miserable. As soon as J’ash began speaking J’on decided he’d have to recruit some help and pull a dreadful, humiliating, prank on Iskierka, assuming the weyrlingmaster possessed such tender feelings as that. J’on wasn’t entirely convinced she did, but it would be worth bearing in mind…

‘Well I’m not endorsing losing your temper and getting into fights, but I am going to tell you not to listen to her.’ J’on moved to stand behind J’ash and wrap his arms around the lean form, resting his head against a part of J’ash’s shoulder that didn’t seem too bruised. ;I may not know the woman better than in passing but I’ve yet to be convinced that she’d know an honest emotion if it bonked her over the head and ran off laughing. Besides,’ the greenrider added with his lips curving into a smile, ‘I know you have at least one friend. If it was your body I was interested in, well, don’t you think I can see how battered you are? I like your company too, silly blue.’ A gentle kiss was placed on the skin in front of him to emphasise that point.

‘Although, I have to say, sitting around your weyr, brooding no doubt, with a pile of bruises may not have been your best idea.’ J’on was forced to add wryly. ‘I’m guessing from the way you’re moving that you didn’t even bother to put anything on those, just tumbled right into bed to stiffen up.’

[Shiny]

J'ash blinked in surprise as he felt strong arms wrap around him, inhaling sharply at the unexpected contact. Goosebumps rose on his skin as J'on's warmth made him realize just how cold it really was without a shirt, and he relaxed into the one-sided hug. A slight frown played on his lips at the beginning of J'on's sentence. "I still don't see how I was wrong in that situation," he huffed quietly, "I mean sure the kid was blind - but I didn't know that - and he was endangering the firelizard eggs with his stupidity. I was just trying to protect them..." He trailed off, realizing that it wasn't right for him to blow off steam at J'on, especially since the Greenrider was trying to help. "Sorry," he said, eyelids fluttering momentarily as J'on rested his head against his shoulder. The slightly younger man was reminding him just how much he'd missed contact (not the physical, fighting kind - he'd had enough of that to last him a while).

A slight smile tugged at his lips. He really appreciated J'on taking his side, he did. But Iskierka was right. He really did need to suck it up, get his act together, stop being such a drama queen. So maybe now was a good time to start - he was sure J'on would appreciate it. He laughed (a little tearily) at the mental image of Iskierka being bonked over the head with an emotion. "She is pretty cold, isn't she?" the grin was becoming rather genuine. He was becoming increasingly glad the Greenrider had come to visit. J'on was lifting his mood quite easily - and that was saying something, considering how low it had been just a few moments before.

Heart skipping a beat, J'ash almost felt like crying (although he refused to flat-out cry, because that was a very drama-queenish thing to do and he'd just promised himself to stop being like that). The confirmation that J'on was indeed his friend made him feel so warm and gooey inside, as cheesy as that was. He couldn't hold back a goofy smile from stretching his face, eyes sliding closed briefly at the gentle kiss placed on his skin.

J'ash gently placed his hands on the Greenrider's forearms, stroking the skin there slowly. He was so warm, and he fit so comfortably against J'ash. And he was suddenly hit with a huge appreciation for the Greenrider; between his company, looks, and personality, the Blueweyrling was so happy he'd met him. The blond turned to face J'on, careful to not break the hold those arms had on him. He trailed his hands up J'on's chest and linked his arms behind the Greenrider's neck. "I'm really glad to hear you say that," he said, smile still glowing radiantly. "You have no idea how happy that makes me. I am so thankful I met you." He leaned in to press an affectionate kiss on J'on's cheek, eyelashes fluttering against the skin as he closed his eyes gently. Pulling back, he smirked. "What was I supposed to do? Deposit my pathetic self on your doorstep? And was I supposed to put something on them?" He had no idea what kind of herbs did what, and what he was supposed to use for certain injuries.

A blur of purple and green shot past J'ash's shoulder, and before he could react, a loud beep came from the bird perched on J'on's shoulder. The Blueweyrling winced at the darter's volume, knowing that having that blasted in your ear was extremely annoying and almost painful (he knew from lots and lots of experience, and so did Craivaruth, and his firelizards). "Sorry about that," he said, unlocking one arm from J'on to swat in the bird's general direction, who expertly dodged it, chirping bossily at him. "Ilea, shoo! Go back to bugging Craivaruth."

Oh, no. I don't think so. the Blue snorted, rising drowsily from his couch. Rinagth sent Hers here knowing full well that you two will make much noise together in your Rise and Chase game. I don't need more noise, not on top of that blasted darter. I am going to hijack her weyrledge now so that I may at least get a few hours of peace and quiet. I don't care if she doesn't want me there. This is her fault.

You really think I'd do that with how sore I am? Seriously?

It hasn't really stopped you before. Goodnight, mine. And try not to rouse your neighbours. Some of us do like our sleep. The blue-green launched himself from the ledge with a powerful leap, unfurling his narrow wings. In hardly any time at all, the Blue had glided out of sight.

[Kisha-Ra]

J’on’s eyes narrowed slightly in satisfaction as J’ash began to relax against him, it might only be that he was a warm body pressed against the bluerider’s bare skin in a room cool enough that J’on certainly wouldn’t have braved it without a shirt on. Nevertheless the greenrider was pleased, but not quite pleased enough to ignore J’ash’s grumbling. ‘Shush now, less grumbling about what’s been done.’ J’on pressed a fingertip into an unbruised area of skin in a pale imitation of a poke.

J’on gave a light chuckle and let his hand drop back to wrap around J’ash again, enjoying the feeling of having the lean form of the bluerider trembling with laughter against him. It as a significant improvement over a few minutes ago. ‘Just slightly, This winter’s been more warm and human than her, and sometimes I think the only way winter’s going to completely die is if someone drives a stake through its heart.’ He replied with a note of amusement threading through his voice. ‘I suppose she might have some well hidden virtues that only her closest friends know of.’ The greenrider added thoughtfully, aware that he probably was being unfair to Iskierka, but she couldn’t hear him and it was all in the good cause of cheering J’ash up a bit.

J’on smiled gently at the hands that came to rest on his forearms, pleased to have a definite sign J’ash was relaxing. It wasn’t that he didn’t always think the bluerider was, at the very least, an engaging personality in a very attractive package, but he was always slightly disturbed when a know hedonist became standoffish. Needless to say it was a situation the greenrider felt he had to resolve as soon as possible, and now it seemed to be at least partially resolved.

J’ash hadn’t miraculously healed from his battering, and at this close range J’on could see the blacked eye as the blueweyrling turned in his arms, but nevertheless the genuine smile that J’ash displayed made the blonde, in J’on’s expert opinion, look absolutely gorgeous. Being told how much J’ash appreciated him made J’on grin but he really couldn’t help giving a smart reply. ‘And here I was thinking you only wanted me for my admittedly amazing body.’ He murmured, though his tone was more than slightly smug. It was good to have friendship as well as other benefits, on the whole the friendship tended to last longer.

J’on opened his mouth, just about to hand out advice on what to put on bruises, when something landed on his shoulder and shrieked in his ear. The greenrider jerked sideways, away from the noise, and tried to glare at the small bright darter that had landed on his shoulder. Maybe J’ash wouldn’t mind terribly if he brought Yu down here…

Apparently Craivaruth had now had enough of the two riders, since the bicoloured dragon stirred from his couch, or maybe it was the evil little bird that was the last straw. Why couldn’t the darter follow the dragon? J’on tried to shoo the feathered terror away from him with one hand, and looked after Craivaruth’s retreating tail. ‘Oh dear it looks like I’m keeping your dragon awake now instead of mine. Rinagth did say he could borrow her leadge if we got too much for him. Frankly though, I think she just wanted to trade me off for someone quieter.’

[Shiny]

A sweet little smile played across soft lips at the pale imitation of a poke. J’on’s words were fiddled with and analyzed to mean that he should just forget about what had happened, move on. But letting things go wasn’t his style; emotions running wild over the smallest things was. But would it hurt to try what J’on was subliminally suggesting? Perhaps a new outlook was in order – one that would simply let the past run as water under the bridge. “Is that what you do?” J’ash asked softly, staring out at the darkness beyond the end of the weyrledge. Realizing that J’on probably wouldn’t have a clue what he was talking about, he rushed to clarify himself. “That is… I mean… You just let things go, don’t you? That’s how you don’t end up like this. Like me.”

He leaned backwards to press himself against J’on’s front a little more as the Greenrider’s arm dropped back down to wrap around him. It was definitely cold, especially without a shirt, but J’ash didn’t want to hop into bed yet. The two were connecting quite well, and although he was chilled to the bone, he didn’t want to ruin this moment. J’ash continued his light laughter at J’on’s comparisons. “Wow,” he commented, a gleaming grin stretching his face, “I think the only way I could appreciate what you just said more is if you had said it directly to her face.” He stroked the most easily accessible part of J’on available; the forearms locked against his torso. Tracing light patterns on them with his fingertips absently, his smile did not dissipate, though it did soften. “Yes, she probably does have hidden virtues. As much as I hate to admit it, she was just trying to help. Forcefully.” A light chuckle. “Not that I’m saying I’m her close friend – I’m anything but that, nor am I saying what she did was a glimpse of a virtue… She might’ve just had a bad day and wanted to wail on someone.” He allowed a brief pause before tacking on a question, humour lacing his voice. “Do you even know her, or are you just bashing her for my sake?”

Face-to-face with J’on, his grin grew slightly mischievous and evermore humoured at the slightly shorter man’s remark. Bringing his face close to J’on’s, he hummed, his mostly-uncovered silver eye trained on the Greenrider’s. “Well, that attribute certainly doesn’t hurt.” Unlocking his hands from behind J’on’s neck, his right index finger teasingly traced down the nape of said neck and along J’on’s shoulder line before finishing up innocently with a few tantalizingly slow loops down his front. He smiled sweetly and replaced the hand on his shoulder, letting the fingers of his other hand play with the hair accessible to them at the nape of his neck.

J’ash watched J’on’s reaction to Ilea’s loudness with sympathy, his hands dropping from the Greenrider as he jerked away, a slight pout set on his lips. Stupid bird, why’d she have to go and ruin the moment? Stepping free of whatever embrace was left, J’ash took a few steps towards where Ilea now was – flying around and beeping loudly – and planted his feet firmly on the ground. “Ilea!” he said sternly, apparently stern enough to silence her. She buzzed around in front of him while he raised his arm, pointing towards the ledge. “Out.”

The purple and green bird cocked her head at him and chirped, landing on his shoulder and nipping the cartilage of his ear sharply. He yelped a little and rose his hand to shoo the bird away, but she had already launched herself off and was soaring past the ledge and into the night. Showing herself out, she was. She did listen to Hers. Sometimes. And her human was lucky enough that now was one of those times – she’d already inspected the other human, so there was really no point in staying. After all, the dragon to whom she had grown accustomed to bugging was gone.

Sighing with relief and rubbing his ear with a bigger pout, he turned to face J’on again and took a few steps closer to the Greenrider, standing in front of him. Rubbing his arms to try to heat up, he grinned at J’on. “Sorry about her, she lives to annoy the hell out of anything that lives. Looks like we’ve got the weyr mostly to ourselves now, though. Minus the firelizards… but compared to Ilea, they are no hassle whatsoever.” He tilted his head to make sure his throbbing eye was covered with his bangs. “Sorry I look so ugly today,” a laugh with a slightly nervous tone escaped him. “Are you tired? You can sleep with me if you want, I don’t mind at all.” J’ash just wanted all the warmth he could get right now, even if that didn’t include fooling around under his furs. His nice, warm furs...

Craivaruth landed on J'on's weyrledge, spotting Rinagth's relaxed form not too far away. Snorting, the Blue got a little closer to the Green and all but collapsed, ready to drift off to sleep. Finally, peace and quiet!

[Kisha-Ra]

The question made J’on cock his head to one side in an inquiring gesture that J’ash wouldn’t be able to see from this angle, but evidently J’ash felt the movement, or was just going to elaborate before J’on got too confused. For a moment after J’ash fell silent J’on didn’t speak, just held the weyrling close to him while he tried to sort his thoughts into some order. ‘You have to let things go sometimes. I don’t think I can hold onto everything that upset me or hurt me forever. I’d rather hold onto the best parts, remember what I had when it made my happy, then remember how bad I felt when I lost it.’ The greenrider’s words turned out rather more confused than he’d intended, but he thought maybe he’d gotten the point across. Perhaps. ‘Sometimes I feel lonely, or scared, or just plain miserable, but I don’t let it control me. I have to get rid of it, show it that it can’t stay with me forever.’ J’on tried again, then just pressed a little closer against J’ash’s back and fell silent.

There, a laughing bluerider was much better than a miserable one, J’on thought, pressing his face against J’ash’s shoulder again, and a warm bluerider was best of all. ‘Hrrm? Oh I’ve met her a few times, in passing. I’ve certainly heard more than a bit about her, and not just from you, and I’ve never seen or heard of her displaying an honest emotion, so I feel justified. Slightly mean, but justified.’

J’on looked up into the silver eyes, or at least the single eye that he could see, and let his grin grow a little wider. ‘Good to know.’ The greenrider murmured softly, knowing that J’ash was a terrible tease, one who just had to tease even when he was in no condition to follow up on it. Tempting though, very tempting.

Amazingly in J’on opinion the loud little darter seemed inclined to listen to J’ash, eventually, and follow Craivaruth off into the night. He really hoped the bird didn’t end up on Rina’s ledge if J’ash didn’t want it to become a meal for Yu or a mouthful of feathers for Rinagth if it disturbed her sleep.

‘She’s a very good annoyance.’ J’on said wryly, rubbing his ear, he was slightly worried the darter had permanently damaged his hearing. An eye was cast over the pair of sleeping firelizards on the bed. One was a new hatchling, evidently from the same hatching that J’ash had managed to get himself battered during and after. ‘They, however, are not annoying at all. In fact they look adorable, no doubt because they’re sleeping.’ The greenrider’s mouth curved into an ironic half smile, pets and children had a great deal in common, including looking at their cutest when they were asleep.

J’on laughed lightly and shook his head. ‘Iskierka didn’t do that much damage to you y’know.’ He commented, wrapping an arm around J’ash’s shoulders. ‘You don’t look ugly, you just don’t look like you could take much rough handling, or any at all really. My poor little blue.’ If the greenrider’s tone turned slightly mocking in the last sentence the way he leaned into the bluerider’s side with genuine affection and stretch up a little to place a gentle kiss on J’ash’a ear ought to convince the blonde he wasn’t being mcked, teased maybe, in more ways than one, but not mocked. ‘Of course I’m going to stay, aside from anything else going back to my Weyr would be bound to upset our dragons now that Rina’s kicked me out and Craivaruth has escaped us. Now get in those furs before you freeze to death. I wouldn’t stand around in here without a shirt.’

Rinagth raised her head to look through half lidded eyes at the sinister shape landing on her weyrledge. Just Craivaruth fleeing their noisy riders, that was all right then. The green let her head drop back to her farelegs with a soft sigh.

[Shiny]

J'ash let his eyes close, concentrating on just being close to the Greenrider. He was so lucky to have him (at the very least) as a friend. He wiggled backwards to nestle closer against J'on's warmth. "Control," he replied quietly, "is something I lack. But I think it's also something that can be learned..." He smiled as his mate's face came down to rest on his shoulder and tilted his head to the side so that his jaw brushed against J'on's temple.

A sweet smile played across the Blueweyrling's lips. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up. It worked." He gently closed the gap between them and pressed his cold body against J'on's, arms wrapped around the Greenrider's neck in a close hug. J'ash nuzzled his face into the comfortable nook of his own arms, J'on's neck, and his head. "Don't know how I could be miserable with you around anyway," he muttered against J'on's skin, inhaling his scent. He let this moment linger, the embrace relaxing him.

Teasing apparently wouldn't work today. Traces of a playful pout showed itself on his face. Not that he'd really tried very hard. He knew it would probably take a lot to get J'on into that kind of a mood in the current circumstances, and the ache of his beaten body reminded him that the act of hardcore teasing was not in his best interest, nor was the aftermath.

"She is. Craivaruth knows better than anyone. I'm so glad I don't have headknobs for her to perch on. Then again, shoulders serve the same purpose." J'ash laughed, a gentle hand coming up to briefly rub J'on's ear. Not that that would bring back whatever hearing he'd potentially lost, but he hoped the act in itself would be placating enough to override any discomfort. J'on drew his attention to his firelizards, and he observed them with adoration for a moment. "So adorable, aren't they? That one there," he pointed, "is Tux. Sweetest thing in the world. Don't be surprised if he gives you a gift at some point. In fact, I'm certain he'll give you one once he realizes you're my mate. His gifts are genuine, though - not just a randomly shiny object, like other firelizards would come up with."

J'ash wrapped an arm around J'on's waist as the Greenrider affectionately pressed into his side, grinning as lips connected with his ear. The nerves throughout his body tingled at the brief contact. It was just a little teasing, not serious - but it still elicited a light blush from the victim. "Hey," he turned to face J'on and grabbed a gentle hold of his waist with both hands. "You know I'd change that teasing into something else if I had the chance. Don't make me," he said without a hint of somberness, letting his eyelids droop as he pulled the Greenrider closer. He leaned in and affectionately brushed his smiling lips against the younger man's.

The silver-eyed man reached for J'on's hand and threaded his fingers amidst the fairer ones. "I'm really cold," he muttered, the goosebumps on his skin agreeing with his statement, "think I'm gonna need a heater in bed with me to fend off hypothermia." He turned and looked back briefly at J'on with an innocent smile before gently tugging the Greenrider by the hand over to the bed, walking slow to keep his aches to a minimum.

He gingerly lowered himself onto the edge of the bed and tugged weakly at J'on's hand, not having let go, indicating he should follow. He really couldn't bring the Greenrider down assertively, his bruises limiting him to passiveness. Cute could be the only descriptor for the Blueweyrling as he yawned and rubbed his visible eye. Sleep would probably come soon with his better mood and the sheer time of night, especially if he had a lovely J'on to snuggle up against.