Two for the Road (Mi'rah)

[Zephyr]

The near black dragon perched elegantly in the grass when he landed, folding his wings neatly to his sides and surveying the ground before him, looking for the herd. His stomach crackled with hunger and he growled lightly, tail twitching lightly behind him. He hated coming to eat, hated it. Of course the food was quite wonderful, that much was true, and the nap that came after the food was splendid, no doubt...but invariably, someone would deign to wake him before he had had enough sleep, and L'am had said numerous times that he wouldn't take kindly to him if he decided to rip someone's arm off if they awoke him. " You're so weird." The man said, sliding off the dragon's neck with the aid of a muscled foreleg. Jeth tilted his head to the side, crouching down slightly. What about just fingers? They don't need their fingers. L'am gave a sigh and stepped away from the dragon's bulk, stretching his arms out in front of him. " You aren't maiming anyone, you great oaf. Just go eat before you scare all the sharding herdbeast away."

The blue gave a rumbling grunt, shaking his body back and forth a couple times before taking to the sky with wide thrusts of his massive wings. L'am leaned against the fence, watching as the dragon came down on an unsuspecting herdbeast, plucking it from the herd with ease and snapping its neck quickly. With one last gurgling bleat, the thing went limp in the dragon's talons and he flew off, landing near where the man was standing and laying into his meal. L'am grinned and flicked a bit of grass at the gorging dragon. " Be careful. I don't want to clean you after this." Jeth gave another rumbling growl and lifted his bloodied head to gaze at his rider. Eyes whirred with tones of red. You will and you'll like it. The dragon seemed to regard his rider's thoughts for a second before grunting. And you'll wait for me to completely finish too., he said in response to the man's antsiness. Then, it seemed, just to spite his rider, Jeth rubbed his throat and chest in the bloody mess of his meal, a rumbling chuckle reverberating through the man's mind as the blue continued his meal, tearing great chunks out of the dead beast.

L'am grinned broadly, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He should have known better than to try and hurry along a dragon, his dragon in particular. Jeth was one of the most stubborn creatures he had ever met in his life. If he didn't want to do something or go somewhere, no force on earth would make him do that or go there. He was the equivalent of the Terran mule, it seemed.

Sighing heavily, he decided to settle against the fence. It was going to be a long morning, it seemed. He regretted not taking enough time to even down some klah. His stomach prickled with hunger. Jeth was already on his second herdbeast, but he paused enough to regard L'am with some amusement, rare in the blue. Hungry mine? An eyebrow lifted and L'am flicked a hand dismissively. " Not nearly enough for that right now, but stay out here too much longer and I might just steal one of those from you." The dragon rumbled again at the joke, unsure of whether to be amused or protective. Instead, he returned to his meal, ignoring L'am now for the most part.

[Lotty]

There was of course the issue of recruiting.

Mi'rah despite proposing the minionizing of some of the weyr's more amiable characters, did not exactly know how to go about it. Besides, it seemed almost like a dirty sort of arrangement, something that those Wastelanders would do and not he, the gentle unassuming bronzerider whose life dangled only on the mercy of those invaders who spared him. This was however, to be an important lesson in more ways than one. A lesson to himself on how to engage in societal games. S'rei had long ago urged him to view conversation as a puzzle he needed to solve and win and not a tool by which he would inevitably be destroyed. This also, however, would in the long run - or so Mi'rah hoped - teach the masterminds of the invasion that it was a fatal mistake to think he would just sit around passively after having a long drink of freedom in their absence. Once you had that, you didn't go back.

It started then, with the bronzerider oh so casually sending Peccadillo on a series of quests. The tiny little bug-like salamandyr was up for such devious plots as long as an exchange was completed and she had the right to besiege and destroy any firelizard that caught her fancy; typically the man stopped her from carrying out such evil on the weyr denizen's pets, but now he rearranged his morals as to allow her more leeway so long as it was approved by him. The green cooed in response lovingly. Yes. Kill trashfliers fair play. Trash obviously being her substitute for the too classy moniker of Wasterlander, and with the agreement done she was off to parts unknown, picking up any word from voices dismayed at the current state of their home Weyr. And for as cryptic as Pecca's reconnaissance often was, Jokesterblue name of bleating woolymaker, Mi'rah somehow understood every word of it.

It also helped of course, that Kierjaarth was something of a professional people watcher, and when he caught, from his usual perch on his ledge, the sight of the 'bleating woolymaker's' dragon flying to the feeding pens, the bronze thought it best to make a dinner date. The rider of course was subtly nudged to join him, and thus began the trip to that fence where so often human counterparts watched distantly as their dragons mutilated and maimed lame herdbeasts. Still, the dragon beat him there, as if there was any doubt that he would... the man couldn't exactly run due to that parasitic leg of his whose days varied between ok, tolerable, and bad. Even on the 'ok' days he took his time as not to press fate, and so he was still many strides away when he saw Kierjaarth drop in his elegant way to the side of blue Jeth.

The bronze, a smugly refined creature with a penchant for making a mess of his meals, immediately sat upright by the second bloodied herdbeast and poked it with a single ivory claw, once, twice, even a third time before purring and canting his head, Jeth... hungry are we? Are you sure you can not spare any for your guests? Because despite being surprise visitors the bronze still expected some kind of effete, upper crust, manners from all the weyrs subjects, because obviously Kierjaarth used his oh so well. It was as the bronze curled his neck into a questioning, but elegant s-curve that Mi'rah finally arrived on the scene, chastising his bonded with a, "Get your own..." he felt it a good segueway to talk to L'am, who as he approached, he had pretended to not notice at all, "D-dragons have the... strangest of eating habits don't you think?"

[Zephyr]

Of course Jeth noticed Kierjaarth's approach, but the blue was just too busy eating to greet the bronze. Though, now that he thought about it, he probably wouldn't have greeted him anyway, maybe. Oh, his empty stomach was just getting to him. He made himself stop thinking about it by stuffing his gut full of more food. There was barely any left by the time Keirjaarth landed next to him and the dark blue dragon lifted his head to gaze at the bronze dragon for a moment, licking the blood off of his mouth for a moment before he spoke. At fist, he thought about telling the big dragon to go get his own. He wasn't frightened of bronzes. It probably said something about him that he wasn't properly demure when it came to dragons of a higher rank, but if they wanted to maul him for it, they could try. Sure he said, stepping back from the carcass enough to stretch out the length of his body languorously. He usually didn't give in so easily, but he wasn't in a terrible mood. In fact, he felt something he rarely every felt before. Finding it difficult to hunt for yourself, Kierjaarth?" It was the closest he'd ever get to a fat joke, but it was all in good fun. He chuckled lightly, flicking the tip of his tail.

L'am, on the other hand, watched the pair of dragon's silently, grinning at their interactions before he was interrupted by the bronze rider's voice. The man turned, lifting an eyebrow in thought before speaking. " Yeah. If only they could keep all those lovely guts off of themselves, so we wouldn't have to clean them." He turned back to the dragons before grinning again and shrugging lightly. " Or learn to clean and oil themselves."

The shaggy haired man was slightly confused. He had never really had a conversation with Mi'rah, and didn't know what he could want by talking to him, but at least he could have a good time talking to him. Even if the bronze rider wasn't some beautiful young woman, they could still chat, no?

[Lotty]

Kierjaarth was so humored. It was not since the pretty green he knew - Rajnith... yes that was her name - that he had a fellow dragon that kept him on the tips of his pretty pearly talons, and for that there was a slight whirl in his eyes as his tail flicked favorably back and forth, Ah well you see Jeth... he closed his lids and titled his head up in a perfectly smug way as he explained his reasoning. His always "perfect" reasoning, I saw that you had two, and surely two whole beasts could not fit in your belly. You are far too streamlined and svelte my blue friend... Why would you waste a perfectly good one? We can just share this one, and not a bit would be lost to the bone pickers... Not that Kierjaarth had any plans of eating anyway. Oh no, he just ate yesterday - delicious wherry - and was really only there to facilitate Mi'rah's visit. Hence his backtracking... first he wanted the whole thing... and now he was claiming to merely want to share...soon he'd relinquish all claim.

"Y-you know..." Mi'rah was grinning at the admission. Bathing dragons were one of his least favorite tasks. Possibly because it involved getting wet... and people seeing him sopping and soaked. Yeah, his ego wanted to collapse upon itself at the thought, "I hear that the candidates make for good victims... every so often. It fulfills some kind of chore for them, and it must be more fun for them than cleaning dishes," although some of the kids he had seen around the place didn't even look like they wanted to be there or want to be anywhere near a dragon much less Impress one. What a shame that was... even in his own youth he had been thrilled at the prospect of standing amongst the eggs... but this was just another stray thought to distract him from what he was really trying to get at.

He shuffled nervously.

"Ummmm," it seemed to be the normal way for the bronzerider to break into conversation. Especially rather scary conversations. There was something about the night and that sorghum field that soothed him when he recalled the wing together, but the clarity of daylight burned away at any sort of cover and left exposed nerves of fear, "You're originally from Benden yes? I always remembered seeing you... in passing," he wasn't totally sure where he was going with this. He only knew that the end destination had to be popping the question... erm well not that question but, "It must be rather odd, to get away from all those old faces, and then they p-pop up again when you thought it was all over. At least that was how I felt..." their holidays were obviously cut short by the appearance of the Wastelanders. Mi'rah was just determined to find out how much this bothered the bluerider.

[Zephyr]

The blue was secretly pleased that Kierjaarth didn't mind his banter. Truth was, Jeth didn't know if he was any match for a full grown bronze. Sure, if he had been attacked by one, he would fight until the end, but he really wasn't in the mood for a fight today, and he was in good humor, especially with the edge taken off of his considerable hunger, and while he would have to eat more meat for him to feel completely satisfied, he was happy enough just to chat with the other dragon. They didn't get to do this often enough with the new regime in charge. You flatter me, Kierjaarth, but isn't it an even worse idea for me to faint from hunger? The blue gave a wry grin to the larger dragon and shuffled his wings, scooting over some so he could eat if he chose to. I'm sure it'll be fine if we share, I'm not going to faint over anytime soon. The lean dragon proceeded to stretch out his neck, then spoke again, tilting his head to the side. How have you and yours been? We haven't chatted in a while.

" I'll have to keep that in mind." L'am said with a mischievous smile. Getting candidates to do one of his least favorite tasks sounded like a good plan to him, and there were always not so willing participants to be had. He was sure he could get the candidatemaster to agree to let him have a candidate or two to wash Jeth for him. He'd call it a "learning" experience. Oh, he could see it now. Of course Jeth wouldn't be pleased, but as long as he was getting cleaned, L'am didn't see an issue with it. Maybe it'd give his grumpy dragon a chance to meet new people and lighten up a bit. Faranth knows he needed it.

Then Mi'rah spoke again, and L'am glanced over to him, an eyebrow lifted quizzically. It seemed the other rider had more that he wanted to say, and it seemed difficult to say. The silence was slightly uncomfortable and L'am shifted somewhat nervously, waiting for the bronzeriders next words. They came soon enough and slowly, L'am started to piece things together. " Yeah, I cam from Benden. But you obviously know that." He wanted to know where this was going, and Mi'rah had already stated that he knew the lanky rider originally came from Benden. To the rest of the other rider's words, L'am only gave an unamused chuckle and turned to watch the dragons for a time. " Odd has to be the understatement of the century." For a passing moment, he wondered what the dragons were talking about before continuing. " I came to Selenitas to be rid of Benden forever. Funny how the past has a way of catching up to you." After a moment, he glanced to Mi'rah. He tilted his head to the side. " You must have a reason for asking, though. Subtlety is not your specialty, my friend." L'am flashed the other a good matured grin, chuckling lightly. Inside through, he wondered if this conversation was going where he thought it was.

[Lotty]

Ahhh good good. This was going oh so swimmingly, and with this added sense of calm, the bronze dragon leaned his weight forward to allow his forelegs to slide into a sphinx like position. He did give the herdbeast another look, as if he was planning on eating it, but pretended then to be distracted by Jeth's speech. We have been better I must admit... Kierjaarth wished that he could say that all things were fine and dandy. Not only because happiness was a reward in and of itself, but because when one said they were good, there was very little need for explanation. It was only when things were amiss that one had to divulge their life stories, Mine lost his little mandyr-pet-thing.... laid around for days until he decided to be a farmer... That was code of course for hanging around in sorghum fields. Not that he expected Jeth or anybody to understand, Silly thing wants to just get some fresh air methinks. It has been hard since Quarth's took charge.

"Oh yes.. its all great fun..." As easy as he thought it was going when Mi'rah was simply talking about candidates and washing dragons, things seemed to have taken a dangerous turn for him as soon as things got even the tiniest bit serious. Whatever other response he had to the idle talk about the general oddities of dragonriding life was lost as he turned out and gazed at the grassy fields and pondered how to proceed. There was the fear, he realized, that his stammer would take the steam out of any great speech he had for the man, and as such he was hesitant to let out even a peep.

Finally he relented, realizing then that L'am had him caught and knew all too well that he had something up his sleeve. No use in playing dumb... it would only insult the man, and for that the bronzerider began to spill his plans, "I have... no intention of living out my days in pseudo-Benden..." his fingers began to drum against the wooden rail on which he leaned, "Wh-when they came back... to invade us... I was a Wingleader then... but my wing never got to carry out their duty," he paused for a moment, suspecting that L'am would quickly enough catch on to what he was saying, "H'nes...he...he can scoot the riders around and make whatever formations he wants... but it won't stop me from having what I want... in secret."

"We have a few gaps to f-fill... if you'd be interested?"