Moral Code vs Klah (Elysia

[dragon]

"That, my friend, is not yours to play with." C'oar commented, reaching over to pluck one of his sheathes out of Storm's grasp ... and teeth. "Look elsewhere for a chew toy." He answered to the protesting chirp he got in reply, taking a moment to try and smooth the teethmarks out of the leather ... though it was a futile endeavor. The sheathe was just going to have tooth marks in it for the rest of existance. "Why did you have to do that, huh?" He flicked the sheath at the flitter, making Storm flutter an additional foot away to avoid getting a stinging fwap on his hide.

Though, it wasn't entirely Storm's fault ... he shouldn't have taken the sheathe off and then left it that way to begin with. Though taking it off had served its purpose; it had needed cleaning. But then so had the knife itself. Instead of directly placing the sheathe back on his belt, he'd gone straight to cleaning the knife ... leaving the leather article in prime placement to be chewed by a bored flitter. As a result ... C'oar wasn't too mad at the little beast. Just somewhat annoyed. Stringing it back onto his belt and refastening the belt, he went back to running the cleaned knife over his whetstone in steady, practiced strokes.

Which also slowed to a halt when he heard every zzzk the knife made being repeated by Storm. Who made the mistake of making one last 'zzzk' sound when the knife hadn't. C'oar looked at the flitter, who just sat there like a mink and looked right back as innocently as he could manage. "You, are bored."

But at least he hadn't started chewing on the table that he was seated at, yet. Now that would be inconvenient to try and explain.

[Rei]

“Amour! You dirty little bastard! Give those back now! Those are my only nice pair.”

Said little brown flitter was currently winging down the hallway at a breakneck pace, a pair of lacy black panties clutched in his grip. “If you lose those I swear not even S’rei will save you. I'll break your little neck.” A teasing trill punctuated that comment as the brown flit glanced behind him at his rather irate bonded. Well she seemed irate at any rate. Elysia was pursuing her little thief like a vengeful storm cloud. The woman’s hair was all a mess and she was wearing little more then a thin red silk bathrobe (See some people actually liked the silk they got in the last tithe raid) and her undergarments. (Hey people should be glad the greenrider decided to be modest at all.)

At any rate the benden woman continued to trot barefoot down the stone hallways in pursuit of her pet, all the while grumbling and threatening the little creature. Hell if he was going to ruin about the only sexy thing Elysia owned in this godforsaken place. She would kill him. Now if she could only get a hold of the little bastard. He was being way too smug about this. Which was something that the greenrider decided to blame on a certain bronzerider, mostly just because it was easier to blame someone else. It wasn’t like she had asked Amour to suddenly become a freaking panty bandit. Oh if he had anything to do with this… A quick grab was made for her pet as he teasingly looped around her and then flitted into the dinning area.

Amour gave a loud squawk as Elysia barely missed and then winged quickly towards the only person currently in the hall. Surely the large mountain brownrider man would save him? Heeeeeeelp~ Winging over to C’oar double-time the brown firelizard dropped the black panties right on his head and then dove down the man’s shirt. Help him! Help him! His gold was oh so angry. Oh don’t let her eaaaaaat him.

Elysia stopped dead in the middle of the room and raised an eyebrow as Amour panty bombed C’oar and then dove down his shirt. Really who had taught that flit that shirt diving was acceptable? Sauntering up to the large man, the boulder from her flight if she wasn’t mistaken, the greenrider leaned forward not even bothering to close her open robe. Only then did she speak, dark eyes flicking shamelessly over the brownrider’s form.

“Hello boy.” A feral smile played across her lips. “Can I have my panties back? I assure you they look far more stunning where they belong.”

[dragon]

C'oar really didn't pay any mind to a firelizard zooming around. He lived with one, and the place certainly had a healthy enough population of them. It was hardly unusual. But having something black and silky suddenly land on his head was of interest. To be sure, that was not a normal occurrence. Neither was having the self same flitter attempting to burrow down the inside of his shirt. Sorry, but it was already crowded in there, and there really wasn't a whole lot of room for random visitors. Having been starting to reach for the item on his head, C'oar instead grabbed the brown and prevented him from clawing him up in an attempt to don a tunic already being occupied. "Whoa there buddy!" He protested, sweeping the panty off with his other hand to look at it. Both his knife and stone had landed on the table rather quickly for the effort ... but at least the whet stone hadn't busted.

He was quite shocked to see what it was, to say the least. A lacy black panty? Where in the world had a flitter found an article like that? The answer was soon forthcoming, however, in the form of a rather irate looking woman who ... uh. Wasn't wearing much. C'oar looked at her with the same momentary surprise he had at discovering the panty. "Well good morning to you, too, girl. I quite agree, actually." He considered hesitating in giving the article back but in the end decided against that. She didn't look too happy after all. The last thing he needed was a pissed off woman railing at him. "Here." He set the article down on the table and slid it toward her.

It never made it that far. Up to that point, Storm had been sitting still and just watching. But when that panty started across the table he was moving in a flash. Snatching the item up, he flittered away with it up into the rafters with a triumphant cry. Treasure!! Now where to hide it?!

C'oar watched that happen, and frowned. "It seems the flitters have it out for you today. I hope you have a spare pair to wear for the moment." Not that she was leaving much of that to be wondered about. The rate things were going already, he didn't dare let the brown flitter go ... chances were good he'd go join Storm in the rafters and they'd tear the article apart fighting over it before it could be rescued.

[Rei]

Amour gave a small squeal when he was prevented from burrowing into the tunic. How rude! Other people let him do this. How fair was that? Squirming in the rather large man’s grip for a moment the brown finally gave up and just chirped pleasantly at C’oar. If the oh so large man would not let him hide could he at the very least save him from being eaten by his gold? As Elysia entered the room the flit gave a pathetic little whine and licked what of the brownrider’s hand he could reach. Oh please don’t let her have him. A guarded look was given his bonded but it seemed the woman was currently paying him little mind. Maybe she wasn’t so mad after all? Amour’s tail wrapped as far around C’oar’s wrist as it would go as he cocked his head at Storm.

Elysia just fixed C’oar with an almost blank look. Had he honestly just called her girl? Dark eyes briefly glanced around the room and when it became apparent that they were the only two in it she snorted. “I’m hardly a girl.” The greenrider’s eyes narrowed upon the brownrider but she offered no further words. Was he honestly not effected by her appearance? Well why was she really all that surprised? At thirty Elysia seemed to be losing her touch. Either that or he was gay or blind. Tch. Pity. At least he had agreed that they would look better where they belonged. Maybe some hope for him then. Unless he had been castrated. A brief look was given to C’oar’s lap. Poor thing. At the very least he was kind enough to give her panties back. Reaching out for them Elysia gave a light snort. “Thank…” Her voice cut of in an angry growl as suddenly the man’s bronze flitter snatched the lacy article and headed for the ceiling.

Honestly? If this was how the morning was going to go the woman was half tempted to just go back to S’rei’s weyr, crawl into his furs and refuse to move for the rest of the day. Leveling a glare at C’oar as he spoke the greenrider gave another sigh. “That’s not the point. That’s my only nice pair. I would like it back. Can’t you control your pet?” She snapped. Amour gave a small chirp of agreement to that statement and Elysia resisted smacking her palm against her forehead. “Okay never mind. I suppose I’m one to talk.” Giving Amour a look that clearly stated her displeasure with him the woman moved away from the table and came back with a pitcher of klah. Really it was a bit too early in the morning to be a bitch just yet. C’oar should consider himself lucky.

Pouring herself a cup of the warm liquid she passed the pitcher to the brownrider. “So. How long is it going to take you to coax that little fucker down and acquire my stolen goods from his little claws?” She asked her tone actually rather borderline friendly despite the words. If he wasn’t going to drool on her then he could be her company for the morning. Very lucky him.

Amour again wiggled in C’oar’s grip. Could he be released pleeeease?

[dragon]

Wow this was a noisy flit. Again, C'oar considered handing the creature off to his owner. But she hadn't controlled him before, what was to say that she could now? What would stop him from trying to dive down his shirt again? Nothing. So C'oar opted to just hang onto the little creature for a little while yet. "Stop licking me." He commented, flicking his thumb at the brown's snout.

"Indeed you aren't. But by the same token, I am hardly a boy." C'oar pointed out. "I wondered when your sense of reality would return, I am glad to see that it has." He commented with some humor. No, he wasn't trying to be insulting. Only making a point. It was funny how she didn't like the taste of her own mannerisms. Not that he was all that prone to imitating people for the shards of it.

Though it was entirely odd why she hadn't at least closed her robe before traipsing across the Weyr. It was odd enough to go chasing undergarments as it was ... without flashing the ones currently in use. Unless stopping all traffic was the effect she was reaching for. If that was the case, she kind of went over the top with it. One set of panties would have done it well enough.

"You need a new boyfriend if you only have one nice pair." C'oar commented. Truth be told the ones she was wearing were nice enough, he didn't know why she didn't count those. "Indeed. Storm will come back as soon as he thinks he stole something that's not worth anything. Best to ignore him, it'll happen faster." At least she was starting to see the irony behind some of what she was saying. He watched in silence as she fetched a pitcher of klah, and agreed with the action. Maybe with some klah she'd wake up the rest of the way and stop making really strange comments.

"Thank you." He picked it up after she passed it over, and topped off his own mug, which had long since grown low and cold both. "How long? No telling. It depends on how long he thinks it's worth his interest." C'oar answered honestly. "At least he doesn't have any gold lady at the moment, or he'd have taken it straight away to her." Reaching over, he offered her flitter back to her, but he didn't let go of it yet ... not until she had a hold on him. "I think this is yours. I hope he doesn't have a habit of stealing undergarments that are in use."

[Rei]

As C’oar flicked his snout Amour gave the most pathetic little cry of sadness he could manage. Why was he being flicked? He didn’t understand. He was only being nice. You shouldn’t flick things what were nice. Giving the large brownrider a brokenhearted look he trilled sadly in his throat. Elysia just rolled her eyes. The brown had gotten much worse from people before. He’d been swatted, flicked, thrown into the air, and had things thrown at him and still every time it happened he acted like he was dying. The look was all Elysia offered her firelizard though. Most of her attention was on C’oar.

Inwardly and a bit outwardly she bristled. Her sense of reality? Really. That comment earned the brownrider a icy glare. Maybe he was trying to be funny but Elysia herself was in no mood for humor. “You are very much a boy compared to me.” She snapped before wrapping her hand around her cup of klah. “In age as well as experience I am willing to bet.” Sinking down onto the bench opposite him she sipped at her drink for a moment and let the warmth of it relax her just a fraction. So maybe the greenrider was being a little harsh not that she cared overly much about how she came off. Not at all. Her dark eyes regarded C’oar one more time before she finally pulled her robe shut and tied it loosely. No more free looks for him.

At his comment of needing a new boyfriend though Elysia couldn’t help a smirk. Now that was an amusing thought. S’rei picking out underwear for her. Scratch that it was a hilarious thought. In fact the more she thought of it the more funny it was and she finally chuckled. “I’ll have to mention this fact to him.” The look on his face alone would be more then worth it she was willing to bet. Her eyes slipped to C’oar again and then from him to Storm as the bronze in question was mentioned. “Well they aren’t worth much to anyone but me so in a sense they are pretty worthless. I’m fine going without if I have to but I’d rather get them back without any holes if possible.” Snorting softly she sipped again at her drink.

At his thanks she shrugged and set her drink back down just in time for C’oar to extend Amour back to her. The brown in question gave a sad and apologetic croon. Oh he was so, so, so sorry. His beautiful should not be upset. He was only playing. Please don’t be mad. Elysia just extended her arms and took the flit from C’oar. “Oh knock it off Amour.” She said simply but not unkindly. Mentally she reassured him even as she briefly held him against her chest. Elysia loved her pets. Pampered them beyond anything. But only in private. Didn’t need everyone thinking she was soft. As the brownrider spoke up again the greenrider gave him an odd look. “In use? I’m not sure what you mean exactly by ‘in use’ but I think that would be a rather hard feat to accomplish. How would he get to them if I was wearing them? I suppose if I was using them in other ways…” Why was she even thinking about this? Dark eyes returning to C’oar’s face the woman shrugged. “He normally doesn’t take my things at all. I’m assuming that someone has been putting him up to it. And when I find out who it is I might be inclined to beat them.”

[dragon]

C'oar was amused, for the moment. She sure was easy to piss off. Or ruffle the feathers of, one. If he were of the type to enjoy doing such a thing, she would be such an easy target. But he wasn't, instead being more of the type to keep to himself. He flicked a finger in her general direction. "You have girl-bits. You are a girl. Beginning and end." C'oar commented. "Unless you prefer being called a hag, I'd just roll with it." He offered her a small smile, clearly just teasing her grumpy self again. Especially since only now that she was holding still did she bother to close her robe. After flashing half the Weyr. Ironic, that.

"Without any holes?" He asked, glancing briefly up at the rafters before looking at her again. "I can't promise that." C'oar answered honestly. "Especially since it had approximately three in it already when it was originally stolen." He added, turning it into another pun. Because, well ... it did. One waist hole and two leg holes. Unless she was an alien girl and had extra bits hidden in her robe. Something other than girl-bits. "But if they're only important to you, then you definitely need a new boyfriend." He added, slightly more seriously.

He saw how she held the flitter, how she cradled him. How she said what she said rather than how she said it. It all told him that her tough-bitch attitude was pretty much a facade. Maybe a pretty solid and secure facade, but a facade nonetheless. He nodded once, before calmly pulling a small pouch off his belt and setting it on the table, deliberately crinkling the fabric of the thing with his fingers. The sound and sight of it got Storm's attention in a flash. Flittering down to the lowest rafter, he perched with the garment still clutched in his front feet with an inquisitive chirp. He wanted what was in that bag, but C'oar acted like he didn't see or hear the Bronze. Even if he was highly aware of the fire lizard and his actions. C'oar only smiled slightly again. "Exactly what I was meaning, right there." He answered only. If Amour stole the ones in use, she'd be left with what ...? Nothing on. Not that that seemed to be something that would terribly alarm her. Not if she was willing to go flashing through the whole Weyr in chase of yet another pair of underwear. "Who do you suspect put him up to it?" This was more curiosity than anything else, really.

[Rei]

Elysia just offered C’oar a very unamused look as he continued to speak. Girl bits? Did this boy even listen to the words that came out of his mouth? Oh the greenrider very well could have expounded on the comment but she decided for now to let sleeping canines lie. Besides she rather didn’t feel up to bashing her head against a brick wall currently. Got enough of that in normal life as it was. When he mentioned the word hag though the woman’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously upon him. The brownrider was perhaps lucky that he drifted away from the topic of age and onto another topic, even if this one again involved her underwear. Really what was his obsession with it. Did he have a fetish? C’oar’s small smile clued her into the fact that he thought this whole exchange was funny, but Elysia had never been one to take teasing well. Especially not from someone she didn’t know all too well.

Amour rubbed his head gently against her chest with a soft trill as the greenrider tightened her arms around him, her klah for the moment ignored in favor of holding the brown. The woman didn’t react to the nuzzles against the thin material of her robe. Nor really paid the firelizard anymore attention besides that first murmured sentence. Elysia’s attention instead was on her odd companion for at least this part of her morning. “Three holes?” The question was out before she quite caught onto what C’oar was getting at her eyes briefly going up to the bronze flit and narrowing. If he ripped those the greenrider might just ‘flick’ Storm in retribution. Considering the brownrider had already tapped her flit she could claim an eye for an eye. In the end Elysia realized what C’oar was getting at however and merely snorted. “I meant anymore then they had already. Obviously.” But the conversation had already moved along and back to the fact that she needed a new boyfriend. One perfectly manicured eyebrow rose. “Call me crazy my dear but I think I’m more concerned with the fact that he’s more interested in me then my underwear.” An amused smile flitted briefly across her face before she released Amour, the firelizard fluttering to her shoulder and wrapping his tail around her neck. “What in your humble opinion makes up a good boyfriend? I’m curious. It obviously has something to do with underwear.”

Elysia tilted her head then as C’oar started crinkling the fabric of a small pouch he had removed from his belt. Amour on her shoulder also perked up and chirped questioningly at the brownrider. However the flit didn’t move from his spot, instead just keeping his whirling eyes on the man’s hand and uttering a questioning chirp. Treat? The greenrider forced herself still as Storm professed interest in the bag, even if instinct made her want to stare the flit down. The bronze’s bonded seemed to know what he was doing. Instead Elysia slightly narrowed her eyes on C’oar as if she was examining him. “So wait. Are you saying you don’t like women walking around without underwear then?” It was more a curiosity then anything else. To date this had to be one of the oddest conversations she might have ever had. Maybe.

His other question briefly caused her to smirk and she picked up her klah, sipping it before commenting in an almost idle manner. “Who do I suspect? More then likely it was the very man you think I should drop. S'rei often likes to frustrate me in the worst ways possible.” Dark eyes examined C’oar again as she swirled her klah. “He’ll pay for it if he had something to do with it. Believe me.”

[dragon]

She sure was an unhappy sort. Borderline grumpy if not just plain downright veiled grumpy. She needed a hobby that was for sure. That ... or she was not a morning person at all, and hopefully the klah she was drinking would help alleviate most of her problems. Though C'oar was pretty sure the part where she could dish it out like a pro, but couldn't take it as well as a pushover wouldn't be cured any time soon.

You'd think that people who couldn't take insults wouldn't dish them out so willfully.

Definitely not a morning person ... C'oar decided this in lieu of the alternative. Surely she wasn't that dense. It was nicer to just think of her as not a morning person than to come to the ugly realization that most people talked more than they thought because they didn't know how to think, to take up all that time.

"The issue is not the thinking more of you than your underwear." C'oar answered patiently. "The underwear theory flatters the person wearing it, and thus brings them up a few notches, see. I know this probably hasn't occurred to you, but most people look better wearing their clothes than they do without them." He explained. "A girl can be pretty enough all by herself, but you put her in pretty underwear and her allure goes through the roof." If she didn't understand that, then she was busted. "So ... if you actually think about it, making sure you have nice underwear to wear is actually paying a compliment to you and shows an interest in making sure that you are cared for and idyllically placed upon that pedestal that you clearly think you own." Nothing quite like stroking the ego of someone and raising them a few notches to try and get something you want... all in the context of her and her boyfriend of course.

Just because he didn't have a girl didn't mean that he didn't understand what made males tick.

"So far as what makes a good boyfriend, that I cannot tell you. To each their own as it were. Every woman is different, and as the same, every man is different. Not just any two can be thrown together. What may not be an ideal match for one woman, could make all the difference in the world to another one." He shrugged slightly. "So long as you and he are actually happy and there's no abuse going on ... whatever floats your boat. Underwear is just icing on the cake."

Storm chirped, glancing between Amour and the pouch that C'oar was working between his fingers. Treat ...? Though he was hesitant to fly down because he knew the price would be his current prize. But if he didn't go down there, then Amour would get the treat for absolutely free ... and that was just ... not fair. So he cooed at Amour instead, trying to convince the smaller flitter to get the treat and bring it up where they could share? Nevermind that C'oar had yet to actually set out any flitter treats.

Not that he wasn't aware of the thoughts going through Storm's head either ... or the interest he was generating from Elysia's brown. Knowing how to work that, he actually opened the small pouch and pulled a small treat out and offered it to Amour ... but he didn't let it go. If the flitter wanted it, he'd have to stay here and eat it, not fly away with it. That, he was certain, would drive Storm up the walls until he came down to get some too.

Hopefully, he wouldn't stash the underwear somewhere inaccessible and unknown before he did come down.

"I have no problems whatsoever with women wandering around without any underwear on." He answered simply, not bothering to elaborate on the topic at all. Though he was quite glad that he refrained from any comments to that direction when she mentioned S'rei.

He knew who S'rei was, certainly. He also remembered that S'rei had sat down on R'ven way back when ... it had been a bit horrifying and hilarious at the same time. But he hadn't known that Elysia and S'rei were involved ... having conversations such as this one about underwear and the principles there of ... and in a rather public setting too ... it generally wasn't a good idea to do that with a Councilman's weyrmate ... or Weyrleader, or Wingleader, or whichever rank you cared to tack to the abnormally tall man at the moment. It was a recipe for getting into some serious trouble even if nothing actually happened. He'd seen it happen before, though not necessarily in a Weyr setting. "Oh, I believe you." He answered with a nod, still not even glancing up at the Bronze flitter, instead watching the Brown one.

[Rei]

Oh now Elysia was amused. Extremely amused. The inner workings of this ones mind were quite…interesting. Sipping at her klah she listened quietly to C’oar as he explained his views on woman’s underwear and lingerie. It was hard not to laugh at some points and when he finished she couldn’t help but comment. “Ah but you see that is also a matter of opinion. Some men for example find their women far more attractive without their clothes. For example even I find myself far more alluring in the skin I was born in rather then dressing it up with frilly lace and silk. A woman’s body is a work of art.” And in Elysia’s not so humble opinion her body was amazing. The greenrider took a lot of pride in the way her body looked, curves in all the right places, just the right weight, and not yet old enough for anything to be showing the signs of age. You could even argue that she was far more appealing now then she ever was in her early twenties. At least to the men who could offer something worth anything. Yes she didn’t need pretty underwear to drive her chosen up the nearest wall. Though it was still nice to have a few nice pairs. Another glance was flicked to Storm. “As far as placing me upon a pedestal? Well he better do that anyway. Pretty underwear or not I’m still a goddess.” (Hey no one had ever said that Elysia was humble.)

Stretching like a lazy feline the greenrider then poured herself some more klah and raised an eyebrow as she added more sweetener to it. “What ever floats my boat huh?” Dark eyes flashed in amusement as Elysia debated whether C’oar would consider collars, leashes, whips, and all manner of dominance games abuse. If she was being honest? He probably would. Best not to bring the topic up. Though it was oh sooooo tempting to ask him if he thought a bit of whipping was abuse. To each their own right? Thankfully the benden woman occasionally showed some tact and besides, she wasn’t all that keen to let all of her bedroom antics become public knowledge. It was more fun to keep those wicked and kinky things to herself. Especially when she could privately tease with just the right look or a subtle caress along the whip she always kept at her side. Thankfully before she could get too into her head Amour upon her shoulder butted his head against her jaw and crooned longingly to C’oar.

Oh the big one had treats. He wanted treats. Could he have some? Oh please pretty golden one he loved with all his heart. He hadn’t mean to upset her. He hadn’t! Elysia resisted chuckling at her pet and gave him a look. “I don’t know you were quite naughty.” The small brown gave her an apologetic trill then and glanced up at Storm as the bronze above cooed at him. This time Elysia did chuckle and tapped her firelizards muzzle gently with a finger to get his attention away from Storm. “Because you apologized you may have a treat. But you can’t share it. Deal?” With an affirmative chirp Amour rubbed his muzzle against her fingers, giving them an affectionate lick before cheeping apologetically at Storm and hopping off his bonded’s shoulder. Bounding across the table to C’oar the brown crooned a heartfelt and very polite thank you to the brownrider smith before starting to nibble it daintily out of his fingers.

Watching her pet rather then the metallic one that had stolen her underwear Elysia’s eyes then flicked to C’oar’s face. What he was thinking she wasn’t sure but then it didn’t really matter much. When he professed to believing her she chuckled thought and tapped her fingernails on the table. “I’m quite good at punishments.” She purred, her mind wandering along quite interesting paths for a moment before redirecting it towards her current company. “You seem rather good at manipulating your little bronze. Does he often steal things from people?” A half glance was given Storm, though the greenrider didn’t let it linger there long before dropping it back to Amour.

[dragon]

C'oar only nodded in agreement. "It is most certainly a matter of opinion. I also said most. There are ... exceptions to the rule." He took a moment to rub Amour's face as he nibbled the treat before looking up at Elysia. She really did have an ego, it was more than apparent. But he could also clearly see where its roots had started. People would definitely have a hard time contesting the attractive nature of Elysia's form, especially since she apparently had no scruples about running around showing it off while not lost in flightlust. But a goddess? He could only imagine where she'd got that idea from. In any event, he refrained from comment either pro or con on it. That was a pond a bit deeper than he cared to mess with even on a good day. "Yeah, whatever floats your boat. It's better than sinking." He agreed amiably.

It was actually something he was rather good at. Agreeing. It kept people peaceful more often than not, regardless of what he actually thought of the situation. Of course, it also had the unfortunate side effect of making people think that he didn't think. But it was worth it, in the long run. Though quite capable of dealing out copious quantities of damage, C'oar really was a mostly non-violent sort of fellow so long as he wasn't provoked. Conversely, he wasn't a fan of provoking contradictions.

Most things in life were actually quite petty, so in general ... whatever made people happy. Not that all things were petty. He did have a rather firm line between petty and not-petty that people had better not cross while he was around.

Storm wilted when it became apparent that he wasn't going to get any help from Amour. Little traitor! He let out a warbling croon of protest, before watching with disturbed hunger as Amour got to eat the treat all by himself down there on the table. He twitched, and twitched some more, edging sideways down the length of the rafter, wings lifting and falling with regular intervals. He waaaaaanted it!!! Storm clutched at the undergarment for a moment, before considering it and the rafter he was sitting on. Was it worth it? It didn't seem to be worth anything to his, so was it actually worth anything? So far as he could tell it was just a holey bit of funny-smelling fabric. Of course, to him anything lacy was holely, regardless of how many actual holes it had in it.

Somehow, the way she said 'punishment' made C'oar think that her idea of punishment wasn't exactly the classical idea of punishment. Either way, he only nodded vaguely in agreement again, unwilling to explore that particular niche of her personality. There was no telling where Elysia would take anything, and there was a great probability that it likely wouldn't be anywhere pleasant. Especially not in the long run.

"Storm? No, he's not a thief. He's only stolen one item only once before in his whole life." C'oar answered. "And it was a real difficult patch to convince him to go get it from where he hid it, too. But there was a whole lot of argument going on over that item, too, and he really really didn't like the person he took it from. Who, incidentally, had stolen it to begin with from a friend of mine. So, it was rather ... complex. And no, I certainly didn't put him up to that one either." He added the last before she could ask. "He has a slightly skewed yet fairly stable idea of what is valuable and what is not. The more other people want it, the more valuable it is. Whether he actually wants it himself or not. So the more stink is raised about anything, the less liable he is to return it." He shrugged. "Manipulation is actually a very easy concept, once you figure out what will move a given individual to do certain things. The tricky part is in figuring that part out. Any flitter training that is done is manipulation. Actually, any training of any creature is manipulation. The catches just swing different directions." He commented. It certainly wasn't a skill learned for his flitter due to frequent thieving episodes. Just merely making the creature more useful than a glittery shoulder ornament. Though he was pretty good at that too, so long as there was no forge around. Storm had learned the hard way that hanging around while C'oar was working steel was not a good idea.

Storm, incidentally, had seen that half-glance. Just when he'd been about prepared to jump off the rafter and drop to the table. But that look gave him pause. Was he being played?

[Rei]

Quietly Elysia watched C’oar rub Amour’s face her brown flit starting up a happy little purr in his throat in response. The woman was aware as she always was of C’oar’s eyes on her. But she didn’t say anything to him right away. Instead she watched Amour for a moment before her gaze went back to her klah and she sipped it in contemplative silence as she listened to him speak. Finally the greenrider set the cup down and traced her finger along the edge of it. “Oh it’s much better then sinking if it’s your own boat.” She said in a bright tone. When you were sinking other people’s boats watching them sink could be oh so gratifying. Especially if they deserved it. Dark eyes flicked over C’oar again. Really she was surprised that she wasn’t hating him during this little meeting. Who would have thought that the mountain could be slightly amusing? His mental process sure was intriguing at any rate.

Amour finished the treat and licked C’oar’s finger sin thanks before carefully cleaning his paws the purr still rumbling in his throat. The warbling croon from the bronze above cause the little brown to look up at Storm with a chirp of question. He had done nothing good to get a treat. You had to behave to get one. He should try behaving. With a little nod of his head Amour rubbed up against the brownrider’s fingers his back arching like a pleased cat. He had decided that he liked this nice man. Maybe if he was very good he could get another treat? A soft warble was offered to the man as Amour thanked the man again and then sat down in front of the smith his tail curling around his haunches as he half turned his head to chirp back to his bonded. See he could be good.

Elysia was almost disappointed that C’oar didn’t comment on her punishment comment anyway. Almost. It would have been interesting to gauge his reactions if she choose to pursue the topic. But again it wasn’t worth it and he had already continued on. And onto a topic the woman was clearly good at. Manipulation. The greenrider really couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Oh darling you don’t have to define manipulation to me. I understand it.” Oh so much better then the brownrider could imagine. Elysia’s entire early life and beyond was twisted quite intimately around the action. Yes the act of manipulation and her were as close as lovers at times. Dark eyes half lidded as the regarded C’oar again. “Oh yes training of any creature is most certainly an act of manipulation. No matter what creature it is.” The last sentence was almost purred as her eyes shamelessly caressed C’oar’s form.

Then Elysia laughed again, reaching forward to let her fingers trail down Amour’s spine her in a way that almost made the flitter shudder in pleasure under her touch. “I well understand how to train things. Like Amour here. It’s also not hard to figure out what works for them with a bit of careful observation and light prodding.” And once you understood it they were nothing but toys for your amusement. To puppet in whatever direction you chose. Perhaps the key difference was the greenrider got clear pleasure out of manipulation. It had become as much a part of her as the air around her. Evil? Perhaps. But like with everything else there were good and bad ways to manipulate. Like any weapon it mattered in which way you chose to wield it. Maybe her choices weren’t always the best but then it wasn’t her fault that her moral compass was a bit off. Not completely.

Removing her hand from Amour and leaning back she took another long sip from her klah. “At any rate I’m glad to know he’s not a constant thief. I can understand his views on worth though. Oftentimes the more people desire something the more valuable it really is.” Not really a difficult concept at all. She resisted looking up at the bronze firelizard again even though it was hard. “If you want you can give Amour another treat. I’d prefer you make him do something for it though. He’s well trained at any rate.” A pleased smile was offered her flit as he chirped at C’oar in question.

[dragon]

It was much better than sinking if it was her own boat. Her own boat. C'oar would have had to be completely daft to not notice that emphasis. Which gave him some rather concerns about what she was willing to do to other people's boats. It ... wasn't something that sounded even remotely pleasant at all. Maybe her waking up from the theory of not being a morning person wasn't such a good idea after all. What had just been inflicted upon the world with something so innocuous as a cup of klah?

He also was rather aware of the way she was looking at him. It was ... weird. And for more reasons than simply no one ever did that at him. To others, sure. But it was seriously discomfiting to know that it was probably going to make S'rei a bit irate. The last thing C'oar wanted was S'rei's attention. He turned his hand over as Amour ate the last scrap of treat. He had fully expected the flitter to retreat once there was nothing more to be had. But instead he stuck around to lick his fingers and then rub on him. Interesting. This little guy was social. He scritched on the brown's back a little bit amiably.

And now she was using words the same way she had been using her eyes. Somehow he got the impression he was going to be major lucky to make it to the end of the week without any problems. C'oar did the only thing he could really do; think fast. And be very very careful what he said next. "Not quite any creature. Dragons don't require manipulation to be trained to do what they do. They simply ... do." He amended, though he quite clearly got the drift that the creatures she was talking about tended to go about on only two feet.

Sitting back a bit, he regarded her for a moment before looking down at Amour again. He actually hadn't planned on giving the flitter any more treat. He'd actually hoped Storm would be down here by now. Clearly ... neither was happening. "I don't know what kinds of tricks he normally does." he commented, figuring that it would probably be a bad idea to send the flitter to retrieve the desired garment from Storm ... not only cause Storm wasn't afraid to bite, but this was the original guilty party to start with. Storm he knew he could eventually coax down. But Amour? No telling what would happen then.

From the rafter Storm watched the exchanges closely, almost suspiciously. Mostly because it was different from the normal routine. He didn't know why it was different, or why the lady-person was making his own pet so careful. So far as he could tell there was nothing different about this one than any other that had been encountered. She had all the same accoutrements. Didn't she? He chirped again, mostly because his name had stopped being uttered. Were they forgetting him? They weren't even looking his way, much less using his name anymore. Was he forgotten?? Amour was getting treats and pettings and scratchings ... surely they hadn't forgotten Storm?!

[Rei]

Amour positively trembled in pleasure as C’oar scratched along his back, the friendly brown arching into the touch and half lidding his eyes in contentment. Oh this was much better then being chased. Much, much better. As the two humans continued to shower him with attention he soaked it all up like a sponge, his eyes whirling in bright and soft shades of happy blues. It really was a shame the that bronze above was missing out. As her firelizard purred Elysia’s attention was mostly on C’oar and his body language and expressions. It seemed she was making him a tad uncomfortable now. Shame. A small smile flitted across her face as she settled herself into a more comfortable position and drank in the sight. One hand lifted from her cup of klah and she rested one finger on her lips as C’oar spoke, her expression contemplative.

“Ah but you see in a way even dragons have been manipulated by humans now. Especially the Northern ones. Dragons were never meant to fight dragons. They were born to fight thread. Protect the innocent. Now we have hatchlings up north that are born straight into bloodbaths. Onyth took to battle like a fish takes to water. The first time she drew ichor on another it bothered her. But now? Now it excites her. Her purpose was twisted by Benden and she’s not the only one.” The other side to that coin was that Elysia had done nothing to stop Onyth from embracing and excepting killing another. She had pushed the green to accept and adore what her role demanded of her. Why? It was a simple answer. So that they could both continue to live. “So in a way you’re wrong. Even dragons can be manipulated.” In fact the greenrider was of the mind that nothing was immune to manipulation. Not if you held the right incentive and tools. But she didn’t really feel like delving too deep into that topic. It touched on things that she was A) Uncomfortable with C’oar knowing about her. B) Reminded her of things in her past that she would much rather continue to forget. And there were myriad other reasons too. Yeaaah. Good time to change topic.

Quietly Elysia listened as C’oar spoke. When her dark eyes returned to her pet the woman smiled. “Oh he knows how to do all kinds of things. He’s a touch less reliable then Baron but he knows how to deliver and wait for return messages, fetch things for me, pick up after himself, even some silly pet tricks like stay and roll over and sing. He does all kinds of things.” Also things she didn’t mention like play silent watch when she was on one of her little spy missions. “So just pick something simple and give him a command. As you can tell her adores attention. I didn’t even have to use treats to train him. Just positive reinforcement.” Leaning back Elysia waited for C’oar to direct Amour. Oh she had heard Storm’s chirp from above but she continued to completely ignore him. Obviously the complete lack of attention was getting to the bronze. Good.

[dragon]

C'oar listened to what Elysia said about dragons, and regrettably had to nod and assent of agreement with her. She did have a point - an inarguable one at that. He had come through weyrlinghood himself in a bloodbath. Rather unhappily. He still remembered how his class had been taken hostage and he'd rather failed to stop it from happening. Not that one half-grown lad could have done much to stop it either. But at the time he had tried. It was all anyone could do. "I suppose you're right."

"A genuinely useful fellow, then." C'oar observed after listening to Elysia rattle off Amour's talents. Roll over was something of a demeaning trick, and he didn't want to do that to the little thing ... especially not when he was trying to get Storm to come down. "Let's try sing. Sing for us." C'oar prompted, holding up another treat between his fingers where the flitter could clearly see it but couldn't reach it easily. It could vanish into the heart of his fist in a flash if it needed to.

Elysia was behaving herself better now, so far as behaving herself went. But she was still watching/staring at him in a way that screamed of trouble. C'oar was more than just aware of it, and hoped she'd eventually quit with it. At least she wasn't doing it verbally anymore, expecting responses from him. It got him a little more in the clear, it did.

Storm had finally had enough, and leaped off of the rafter to flutter down to the table with the stolen garment clutched in his front talons still. Coming to a landing next to where Amour was seated, he didn't let go of the lacey garment as he shuffled closer to where C'oar was. A few inquisitive peeps left him as he begged. For what? For anything. Pets, scratches, attention, treats ... anything! Surely C'oarpet remembered he was still there. Surely!

C'oar looked over at Storm, and smiled ever so slightly. "Trade?" He inquired, holding up the same treat. Storm eyed the treat and then the bit of cloth in his paws. Then the treat again. Finally, he tentatively offered the underwear up, as if he wasn't entirely sure this was a fair trade. Mostly because he wasn't at all sure what the underwear was worth. But the sad-puppy expression on the flitter's face made up for a lot.

C'oar reached over and took the garment, replacing it with the whole treat. Chirping happily, Storm went straight away to chewing on it as it was too big to just cram into his mouth. Leaning forward, he offered the underwear to Elysia, carefully not letting go of it until she had a hold of it just in case one of the two decided to try and make off with it again. "Here you go, ma'am." Maybe now she'd stop looking at him like she wanted to steal his underthings.

But a deal was a deal - C'oar fished out another treat for Amour and gave it to him, song or no song. Because the mission had been accomplished and Storm wouldn't have come down nearly as readily without the distraction that was the Brown. He took a moment to rub and scratch on both of them equally, earning a half-strangled sounding purr from Storm who still was busily cramming his mouth full of meaty treat rather greedily.

For the most part it was rather apparent that C'oar had gone back to his usual not-saying-much habit. For he didn't offer any true thoughts on anything that Elysia had said. Not because he was trying to be inhospitable, but because it was normal for him to be quiet. Most people didn't want to hear what he thought anyway.