Feed me! [Open, browsing all stalls]

[rii]

No marks.

Rulven hungrily eyed the assortments of sweets, bottom lip protruding in a unconscious pout knowing he did not have the marks to purchase any of the candy. He left the stall to browse another, his nose absently leading him into the food tent. How utterly, cruely unfair. His stomach agreed with a grumbling protest toward the lack of free food at the gathering. Even the staff in the kitchen refused to feed his never-ending appetite..

No costume.

A plain sheet wrapped around his waist served the criteria of dressing up for the event. Originally Rulven had tried to wear it around his torso, but his long profile made it impossible. He settled to wear the sheet over a pair of shorts and nothing else, a completely unimpressing costume. Although one of the firelizards had been kind enough to splot his bare shoulder and back with face paint (and a few minor scratches). Apparently the lizard had gotten into the paints at some point, then had come flitting over to Rulven to see if he had any food to share. Many of them did that, seeming to know that he could not turn away a hungry creature--regardless how annoying they could become when he tried to sit down and eat.

Being still new to the Weyr, and the quiet type, Rulven still struggled with people's name, let alone make friends--aside from befriending hungry animals. The image of making a friend by stuffing a piece of bread into their mouth left a goofy grin on Rulven's face. Depending on the freshness of the bread, it would probably work on him. Argh! Why would food not leave his mind?

As if sensing his hungry thoughts, the little green firelizard returned; still wet with face paint and forgetting he did not have any food. She roosted on his head, chirruping expectantly down at him. Hazel eyes raised up to peer at her yellow paint-smugged snout. "You're a friendly one. I'm sur--"

A brown flit appeared in front of Rulven's face, interrupting him with a loud feed me chirp. "Er, I don't have--" Another chirp, this time from a curious blue sitting on the nearby stall. The little things seemed to be telling each other that he was there to feed them. Rulven helplessly spread his empty hands out before him. "I don't have any food. "

They merely peered down at his empty hands then back at his face, the gesture lost on them. Rulven sighed, keeping his empty hands up to try and prove a point. They were not the only ones disappointed with having nothing to eat. "Don't you guys have owners that feed you?"

[Tashe]

"Hey, hey you! Catch that Salamanyr!" Waving his arms wildly at a rather tall man as he ran, the considerably shorter blond zig zagged as he chased after his green fairy. "She wants alcohol!" The whole fiasco started earlier in the morning...

A few minutes ago

"So you're really going to do it?"

That voice came from a woman of eighteen, a friend he had made through the Creche and who was currently leaning against his stall. Boy, he couldn't complain about her looks though. "Yes! I intend to try and keep Absinthe sober through the entire Gather." He was insane. He couldn't keep the Salamandyr sober through a full day, how was he going to do it through an entire week? The answer itself escaped even him.

"Good luck honey. That little pain in the rear will rip you to shreads."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence darling." Huffing, he blew a few strands of stray hair out of his face as he turned to attend some of his flowers. Only to come face to face with a very red eyed Salamandyr laying on his pruning knife. "Abby!" He fell back onto his rear as the Green launched herself at him, although by getting out of the way, he unfortunately let her out of the stall. Scrambling to his feet, Nautic grabbed his Darter's old cage (he hoped to sell it) on an impulse. "RUSA WATCH THE STALL!" Darting through the different stalls after his Absinthe, Nautic watched as she headed directly toward and innocent bystander... Waving his arm Nautic called out to the man, his pink scarf flapping wildly behind as the wind caught it.

___

"Hey, hey you! Catch that Salamanyr! She wants alcohol!"

[rii]

Rulven looked absolutely miserable. Hungry, demanding chirps chorused around him. More fire lizards, wild and tame alike, had come; attracted to the scene. They seemed to be convincing one another that he was hiding food from them. Submissively, Rulven continued to hold his hands up with empty palms facing out. He never knew that feeding hungry critters would cause so much trouble; and being at a gathering only seemed to make matters worse as everyone's flits and salamandyrs came as well..

-- "Hey, hey you! Catch that Salamandyr! She wants alcohol!" --

Casting a side-long glance over his shoulder, Rulven eyed the flailing blonde. Catch what? Eyebrows drew together with mental confusion. Hazel eyes then flicked down to the cause of the stranger's erratic running path. The sliver of green he spied looked to be darting straight at him. Oh no, not another one..

Rulven visibly grimaced and vaguely wondered how he would even go about catching the creature. Being holdbred, and a smith at that, wrangling beasts of any kind was an elusive skill. The idea of grabbing any type of lizard made him nervous. Rulven may have somewhat thick-skin from working in forges, but claws scratched all the same.

Maybe it was hungry too? Maybe attracted by all the other noisy company surrounding him? He hoped. Rulven crouched down on his heels as the Salamandyr rushed him. He held out one large hand, wordlessly inviting the green to come near. Most animals liked him. It was simple friendship. He liked food, they liked food; He liked to eat, they liked to eat. Very basic. Albeit there were the temperamental few that would rather chomp off his fingers. Rulven grinned hopelessly to himself while steeling his nerves in case the Salamandyr decided to be reproachful.

[Tashe]

He saw Absinthe's almost white and black fringed frill flick up as she approached the other boy, and he knew it wasn't a good sign, having had faced the Mandyr many a time. Kicking up his heels, Nautic tossed the old cage ahead of him before launching himself at the Green. His fingers closed around her small body, which brought out a small cheer of triumph. But that noise soon changed into a distressed squawk as he hit the ground and slid on his front, his outstretched hands still holding a screeching Absinthe. YOU GO! STUPIDLOVE! HATELOVE. LET GO! GOGOGO! LETGOLETLET! STUPIDLOVEHEAD! He stopped neatly in front of the crouching boy, painfully, but neatly. "Owwiee..." Groaning lightly as he rolled onto his back, he clutched the Green to his chest and drew a deep breath. Fortunately for his clothes (yes, he was rather concerned about them) he had forgotten to take off his apron in his haste to catch his Mandyr, so it was the article of his attire that took the brunt of the damage. Ew. Grass-stains.

Rolling his eyes upward, Nautic blew the wisps of hair out of his face so he could look at the almost helpful man. Well, man was a general term. The face he was looking up into was youthful, most likely belonging to a boy around his own age. The tall factor had made the Candidate assume that the young man was actually older. What an unexpected, but exciting, surprise. "Thanks. I mean, I would have let you help but she's a demon in disguise." He smiled, aware that he was still on the ground. "Her frill went up. An--ouch! Absinthe! Gah!" Resisting the urge to shake his hand and make the Green release the soft webbing between his thumb and pointer finger, Nautic sat up and rolled onto his knees, crawling over to the cage he had thrown. Sticking his hand into the birdjail, the Candidate pinched the Mandyr behind the jaw with two free fingers, letting Absinthe fall into the cage before quickly retracting his hand and latching the door. LET GO. ME! ME GO LET! STUPIDFACELOVE!

Sticking the injured part of his hand into his mouth, he got up from the ground taking the cage with him. GO LET ME! His Green could be loud! And he was quite sure that she was broadcasting to whoever was in her mental vicinity. "I'm not going to help you." HELP! HELP! MEANSTUPID LOVE! HEEEEELP. Sighing he walked back over to the tall teenager as he tried to get some of the dirt off of his apron. Although, it was now that he wasn't in the heat of the chase did he notice all of the flitters crowding around. Looking to the mystery man in interest, Nautic nearly hopped up to him, tilting his head back slightly to look him in the face. Because five foot six, does not equal six foot five in any circumstance. "You, mister tall dark and handsome, certainly have a lot of flitters taking interest in you." Glancing around, he looked back to the other. "Are you new? Or am I just oblivious? Anyways, I'm Nautic. Or Nausi as people like to call me, sort of a pet name if you will. I'm a Wher Candidate." Offering his free hand to the tall one (which, he was starting to dub the young man), the blond flipped his blond bangs out of his face, revealing one of his famous smiles. "Anyways, I'm sorry for the trouble. Is there something I can compensate you with?" There were many thing Nautic himself would be happy to compensate him physically with, but that kind of thinking never got him friends right off the bat. Well... normally at least. HELP!

[rii]

Rulven saw the green's frill rise but did not retract his hand. Hazel eyes narrowed slightly in anticipation of pain--and then quite suddenly, with a audible thump, Nautic appeared at his feet with the rebellious beast in hand. Grinning at the comical position, Rulven cocked his head to the side as he gazed down at the prone blonde candidate. He gave a sympathetic wince when the Salamandyr gave the other a good chomp. "I would have let her chew on my fingers until you caught up, but I guess it should be me thanking you for sparing me a bit of pain."

Watching the young blonde wrestle the Salamandyr into the cage brought laughter into the smith's eyes, but he kept his lips pressed together in a smile. He didn't want to appear rude by finding humor in the other's trouble. "Sorry," he apologized when Nautic had completed the capture. He stood, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he did. "I would have grabbed her but I wasn't sure how to go about it."

He gaze slipped over the loud Salamandry before returning to Nautic--who had launched into a flurry of words. Eyebrows rose high as Rulven attempted to catch every one. Most of it went over his head. Rulven was not a slow guy, just unprepared for the enthusiastic greeting. At the end Nautic had stuck out his hand; the smith started there and worked his way backwards. He took the blonde's smaller hand with a firm shake. "Rulven, journeyman smith and recent dragon candidate."

A thoughtfulness rose in his eyes as he scanned the other's face. "Your name sounds familiar." Yes, Rulven could of sworn he had heard it before, but he did not recognize Nautic's face. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, realization lighting in his green eyes. "I think I'm suppose to share a bunk with you." At least that was the name Rulven remember being told by the Candidate Master.

As for the flitters, Rulven gave them a dismissive shake of his head--the shake turning into a refusal of Nautic's offer as well. He kindly reached over to brush a patch of grass and dirt from Nautic's shoulder. "No, I haven't done anything worth repaying. And don't mind them--" He waved in the general direction of the lizards. "They're just hungry."

His stomach chose that inopportune moment to grumble, drawing an apologetic smile out of Rulven. "And I guess I am too."

[Tashe]

"Oh pleaaase~. Don't apologize." Flapping one of his hands up and down in a dismissive fashion, Nautic tossed his bangs again. The stupid things were getting too long for comfort. He took Rulven's hand (grateful to finally know his name) and shook it happily. "So you're the lucky Candidate who's going to sleep under me." He winked, fully appreciating the innuendo. "Well its nice to finally meet you! Being one of the few Veteran Candidates, you're welcome to ask me any questions you might have." Finally letting the Candidate's hand go, Nautic grasped the birdcage with both hands, letting his arms extend in front of him. The action some how reminded him that all of his excess crap was currently occupying the bottom bunk. Or had been. Depending on whether or not Rulven had had the chance to move in already. He'd have to organize later on.

"Well good! Why don't I get you guys some snacks? I have food back at my Stall, I got a friend of mine to get me some earlier this morning." Grinning up at the other Candidate (enjoying the boy's costume, even though the Wher Candidate thought it a little barren), Nautic promptly spun around and began to walk back toward his stall. "I'm not going to take no for an answer." If Rulven didn't want to eat the sweets now, then he'd just find them stuffed into his bedding later.

[rii]

Hazel eyes traveled from the flapping hand, to the long bangs being flipped aside, the pink scarf, the wink--and never thought a thing of it all. The innuendo went right over his head, and Rulven nodded dumbly to Nautic's jest. The smith's only thought of the veteran candidate ran along the lines of finding the other energetic. Completely oblivious. Between constant work at the forge and five over-bearing sisters, Rulven never did learn certain social interactions. He didn't have a clue when he was being flirted with--or even toyed with. So clueless.

Food?

The smith followed after Nautic, unable to turn down the offer of free food. "Don't feed them. They're not mine, they just tend to follow me." He glanced warily over his shoulder at the flits, thankful to see they had remained behind--for the time being. The smith idly rubbed his bare chest as he walked, "I don't really know how to make them stop following me. One by one they'll keep showing up."

His gaze once again drifted over the curious blonde on to end on green salamandyr in the bird cage. "What were you yelling about her wanting Alcohol.. ?"

[Tashe]

"Maybe they just know you're a good guy." Shrugging slightly as he weeded his way through the crowd, Nautic lifted the bird cage up so he could have a good look at the Mandyr inside. "Fortunately, neither I nor my associate have Firelizards. Although I do agree that there seems to be a flitter infestation. All of the Flitters that don't impress someone in a hatching all skedaddle and go flourish in the wild." He turned so he was walking backward for a moment. "What with the rate you seem to be attracting little ones, I bet one will swoop right up and merely hand you an egg." Chuckling as he lowered his cage, he had been peering through it at the other boy, Nautic spun right back around in time to avoid hitting someone. "Oh right, the alcohol thing. You see... my little Absinthe is an alcoholic. And if she doesn't get it she gets as mean as a Tunnelsnake on a hot summer's day. Normally, she's plastered, and therefore the sweetest thing in the world. Spreading love and praise to everyone. But I've decided to keep her sober for the entire week."

He stopped walking. "Which means Abby's all strung out and horribly pissy. She's a right smart little devil and I swear she's an escape artist. She's been doing everything and anything just trying to get her fix. Ah! Here we are, my stall." Looking around, he noticed that his 'Darling' had fled the scene, no longer having his company to entertain her. He snapped his fingers in protest. She could have waited just a little longer... oh well. Rulven would have to do to replace her for the time being. Hooking the cage on its hook, Nautic dusted his hands off in front of it, purposely taunting his Green. Only to receive a new chorus of threats and name calling.

"So. I have rock candy, some fruit and a cold herdbeast sandwich we can split. Lunch is better when shared with a friend, my mother always says." YOU LET OUT. I NO STAY. LETOUTLETOUT! Scratching at his ear as if he had an itch, Nautic shot his Mandyr a glance before returning his attentions onto the other boy. "So, Rulven, Journeyman Smith and new Candidate. Which Hold did you call home before coming here?" Splitting the sweets and food evenly, the Candidate pushed one half toward the half dressed boy before disappearing for a moment into the back of the tent. Only to return with two chairs for them to sit on. Nautic placed them around the end of one of the vase covered tables where the food was, in the end having to move a big vase so it was out of the way. "Alright. There. Better... So anyways. Back to that question."

[rii]

"How does one impress a fire lizard?"

A reasonable question, if only because Rulven saw them everywhere. In a way it reminded him of mice, but clearly the fire lizards were not vermin--were they? The hand rubbing his chest moved to the back of his neck in an obvious gesture of inner thought. The flits all seemed pleasant and clean enough to be considered beasts of burden, but at times they just flocked together they became quite the annoyance. Rulven had never dealt with anything like them before. His sister had a cat once--but Rulven did not really want to dwell on that unfortunate pet at the moment.

A slight frown was directed at the green salamandyr. Rulven felt bad for her, if he was her owner he'd probably give in to her vocal demands of alcohol. It seems cruel and miserable to torment her into soberness. Especially since she was screaming in their heads--not like they could put a blanket over her cage and hope she'll quite down. "Are you hoping she'll kick the habit?"

Rulven gave the other a broad smile of gratitude once seated and presented food, free food. He immediately attacked the sandwich, still being distracted by the yelling green. How anyone learned to tune it out was beyond him. He gave the little salamandyr a sympathetic frown, then broke off a piece of meat from his sandwich and set it next to the cage--within her reach. He had to try something. She was so distraught.

Oh right, he was being questioned, Rulven swallowed and shifted his hazel eyes to the lively Nautic. "I'm from Hyphen. What about you?" He carefully brushed his lips with the back of his hands, hoping no crumbs stuck to his face. "I really appreciate your generosity. Either you are a really nice guy or--" His expression turned grave, "--Or you are trying to poison me."

He set down the sandwich and settled a very accusing stare on shorter male.

[Tashe]

Plopping down into the empty seat, Nautic grabbed some of his rock candy and stuck it in his mouth. He loved sweets and candies. "Mh! Well, its said that you just feed them as soon as they're hatched. But I have friends who, at a flitter hatching, had the little ones leap or crawl onto them and demand food. I haven't yet heard of a person at Selenitas impressing a wild flitter... but its possible I suppose." He polished of the rock candy with a couple of loud crunches, savoring the powder before swallowing it. "Yeah. I've tried slowly weaning her off of it, and pretty much every other method. So I'm hoping that a more stern hand will free her of it. If not... I guess I'll just have to live with her being plastered." Picking up his half of the sandwich, he began to nibble on it as he listened to the answer to his own question.

Flicking up her frill, Absinthe turned her back on the stupidhead and Her own stupidheadlovely. The stupidheads were being mean, therefore they did not warrant anymore of her attention until she got what she wanted. Even if the strange stupidhead offered her food! She wanted the red liquid that made her feel fuzzy. She liked that feeling! Hissing as she curled up in a tight ball on the felt bottom of the cage, the Green narrowed her eyelids as she tried to ignore the chatter behind her.

"Hyphen? We don't get many Hyphen candidates here." Taking another bite of his sandwich, Nautic bobbed his head slightly before continuing. "Mph..." Right, swallow. "I was weyrborn and bred. But my father is a Blond hair and Blue eyed Blossom Baby." Lacing his fingers together, the Whercandidate propped his chin onto the bridge he created, his smile twisting into a more devious one. "I'm afraid you've caught on. I'm really a cutthroat Benden spy who's slowly killing off people by offering them poisoned, cold wherry sandwiches." Nodding slowly, Nautic crossed his legs under the table, bouncing his foot up and down slowly.

[rii]

"Oh really." Rulven leaned in close, managing to still loom over the veteran candidate while coming face to face. Hazel eyes were narrowed and regarded the cheery blonde with clear suspicion. "You're a Bendenite spy, eh?" Quick, and without giving away his motive, Rulven reached up and flicked the end of Nautic's nose. "I'll have you know I have an iron stomach, so go ahead and throw as many cold sandwiches you can at me."

The smith turned back to his meal, polishing off the sandwich in too few of bites. He eyed the candy but decided not to eat it. Not a big fan of sweets. They would give him a rush and then he'd feel sluggish afterward. And he tended to get sick from eating too many of the sugarary morsels (glutton he was when food was placed in front of him). Politely he nudged the candy back toward Nautic before responding to his comments. "I wasn't uhm.. what do you call it. Searched? My uncle made arrangements for me to come here as just a smith.. It seems I am going to be here a while, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to try new things." Again a hand nervously scratched at the back of his neck. "I wasn't told I couldn't, so I assumed it happens a lot.. ?"

Rulven shifted in his seat, wanting to change or ignore the current subject of his coming to the Wyre. He turned to check on the Salamandyr, a good distraction. He frowned at the little green, a bit hurt that she had not accepted the offered food. "I'm sorry little one." Yes, the smith felt it necessary to apologize even to the smallest of creatures, especially females.. and when he felt they hated him. He was trying to be nice, no reason to fault him for that. "I would let you out if I could. I don't like to see you so unhappy.." Unaware of the consequences, Rulven idly poked his finger through the bar--not touching Absinthe, but he felt tempted to pet her or.. do something to comfort her.