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Post by lilliana on Dec 27, 2007 20:02:16 GMT -5
Covering a yawn with a pale hand, Mariyelle waited for it to pass, practically cracking her jaw. Shaking her head as she massaged her jawline, the green rider stood from the spot on her floor where she had fallen asleep. Shards, it was late. She needed to get to her real bed...a grumbling was emitted from her stomach. Well...maybe a snack would be first. Shard it.
Why aren't you in bed, yet, Mine-own? a very sleepy voice asked the rider, making a drowsy smile emerge on her face. Go back to sleep, Arv. I will, in a few minutes. Right now I'm hungry. With a quiet, half-way asleep comment about how silly humans were for eating so much, the green obliged. Mariyelle, however, began to walk towards the kitchen. Maybe the cook who was on night-duty would give her some klah and a few meatrolls, so her stomach would quiet down and she could get some real sleep.
Yawning again, the young woman couldn't help but smile as she made her way down the halls. A small breeze of chill air swept over her, and Titian appeared. He was quickly perched on her shoulder, erect and amazingly awake. Having seen the bronze just moments earlier, drowsing next to her, this only made Mariyelle giggle, continuing her walk towards the kitchens. "Thank you for accompanying me, Ti, but really. How do you do it?" This was murmured, and the small, regal creature only gave his humanthing a chirp. Everyone knew that those who knew something kept it to themselves -- you never revealed your secrets! "You're probably just hungry, too...although, still, I'm surprised you're not sleeping."
Shrugging, the green rider made the rest of the way to the kitchens silently. The cook knew her from the rider's somewhat-frequent visits down here when it was so much less crowded, and gave Mariyelle her meatrolls and some klah. Watching her with an almost-motherly eye, the cook made sure she was comfortable on a stool, gave her two extra rolls to feed Titian, and then occupied herself with something else.
((Don't mock me. I'm tired and muse-less. D: xDD))
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Dec 30, 2007 18:46:34 GMT -5
"Well, fine then!"
"Laurie..."
"I just wanted to visit my own son. But apparently that's too much to ask."
"Laurie..."
"Good luck with that woman, brother."
The two voices had stopped outside the door to the kitchens. "It's late. Not everyone can function on two hours' sleep. And I still don't understand why you felt the need to take me with you."
"If she's going to throw me out because she's tired, I'm going to make sure she actually sleeps."
The Weyrleader pushed through the door, a hand rubbing at his temple as he looked back over his shoulder at his older sister. "Do you have any idea how demented you sound right now? I thought it was something important you wanted me for."
The petite greenrider followed her towering brother inside. "But it is important."
"Petty vengeance?"
Lauranna didn't respond, as she'd spotted the young greenrider perched on her stool, accompanied by the bronze firelizard whose name escaped her. "Oh, hello Mariyelle!" the older woman trilled cheerily. The Weyrleader didn't look anywhere near as cheery. Actually, he looked like he hadn't slept in awhile, and though he tried to hide his annoyance behind a small, welcoming smile, it wasn't working very well. Not that he minded Mariyelle being in the kitchens. Quite the contrary. It might give him a chance to slip away once Laurie got to talking. But Miguel had been fussy lately, and S'rei was busy enough as it was; capturing a few moments to rest was very important for his mental state. And probably the physical well-being of everyone around him, given his temper.
Of course, Lauranna was pleasantly oblivious to all this, flouncing up to the girl at least a decade younger and tilting her head at the bronze inquiringly. "You're a handsome beast. Maybe handsome enough for Zephyr. What do you think, Rei?"
"If you call her here, Pixie, I won't be held responsible for any flying dishes."
Lauranna pouted, but turned back to Mariyelle. "Don't mind him. He's just an evil, grouchy man who hates firelizards."
"Especially Zephyr." S'rei returned Laurie's glare with a blank stare, though it looked like he was fighting back a laugh.
"Anyway..." Pulling up a stool, Lauranna plopped down next to Mariyelle, accepting the klah offered her with a gracious nod. "What are you doing up here so late?"
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Post by lilliana on Dec 30, 2007 21:03:24 GMT -5
"Ugh, Titian. It's good food. You've eaten it millions of times before. Stop being so picky!" Shaking her finger at the little bronze flitter, who was sniffing daintily at one of the meatrolls offered to him, Mariyelle waited for him to get over his pride and actually eat. "For you to be simply awake, and looking to me to be your escort, I expect you to eat the good food that the nice cook gave to you!"
The bronze simply flicked his tail, watching with distaste as his humanthing took a bite-sized piece (for him, at least) out of the roll and sticking it in front of his face. "Ti, if you don't eat this, you are not coming with me anymore on my 'night-time excursions'. And, if a clutch happens to be hatching in the Weyr late at night, that would mean that, yes, I might come back to our weyr with another little flitter on my shoulder! Which means that you'd have to share with that one, too!" A very weak threat to humans, the extremely possesive bronze quickly took the piece of roll and ate it.
"Well, that worked," Mari murmured, feeding the rest of the meatroll to him before hearing voices and looking up. Something about...it being late, and functioning on two hours of sleep. And then throwing me out. Something about someone being demented, and then importance? Alright...Looking around, the green rider saw one of her fellows -- Lauranna -- and the Weyrleader. Shards. Why were they out so late? Mariyelle knew they were siblings, but...what were they arguing about?
Maybe she shouldn't eavesdrop...but hey, it was something needed to survive, in some cases. Not in this...but how could Mariyelle have helped overhearing? "Oh -- hello, Lauranna, Weyrleader." Smiling shakily, the green rider winced and looked up. Social situations were not her forte, and awkward situations such as this one were even worse. However, Laurie quickly moved to a topic of discussion -- and, though it was one that made Mari raise her eyebrows, she couldn't help but smile genuinely. Especially as Titian bristled at being maybe handsome for a green. Immediately the prideful bronze began to chitter at Lauranna, explaining to her how handsome he actually was, making Mariyelle giggle.
And she continued giggling, as Titian continued chittering, and Laurie and the Weyrleader continued arguing, however lightly. "Evil, grouchy man?" This made Mariyelle grin, having seen him and the Weyrwoman together often enough...although, then again, she had heard rumors with something about the new Gold Weyrling, Paryal, after Shmee's miscarriage. Mentally shrugging, the green rider smiled up at S'rei. "Aw, Weyrleader, how can you hate flitters? They're so adorable!" The bronze beside her quickly changed his tone, looked at S'rei, and took a brief flight over, onto his shoulder. Well...wasn't their Weyrleader special? And the best part, to say the least, was that Titian just kept on chattering.
Forcing herself to look away from Ti, Mariyelle grinned up at Lauranna as she was asked a question, making herself cease to giggle. However, this made her fold back into her self once more, and the green rider blushed as she replied. "I fell asleep in my weyr, and missed dinner. Then I woke up and got hungry, so..." She extended her hand and waved gently, acknowledging the Kitchens. "Thank Faranth that Cook, here, was kind enough to give me and Ti some food."
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Dec 31, 2007 11:18:38 GMT -5
Lauranna had stepped back from the very vocal Titian, amused. Neither Gonen nor Zephyr were particularly talkative. Gonen was more or less on loan to her son. He tended to be protective of whoever she was feeling protective of, but S'rei didn't often complain about Gonen. She couldn't hold back the giggle as the little bronze decided that her brother seemed to be a wonderful person to perch on. What was it with Rei? He'd attracted firelizards since he was barely able to walk.
The Weyrleader pulled a face as Titian settled on his shoulder, chirping away like mad. Not. Again. Then, on cue, the little popping sound of displaced air, and he felt a weight settle on his head. S'rei's eyes crossed as he looked at the little head that peered down at him, trilling questioningly. Zephyr straightened, curling her tail daintily around her claws and looking down at Titian with an air of vague disdain. What was he doing with her toy? It didn't matter if he was a bronze. This was hers! She'd claimed it. Her claws flexed in agitation, causing S'rei to wince. He cast a glance at Laurie, but she was absolutely no help, tittering behind her hand.
"Why do I hate firelizards?" S'rei responded wearily. "I don't have a single one of my own, and yet I still can't escape them. This menace here," and he flicked Zephyr lightly with a finger, the little green scolding him roundly as she tried to bite at the offending digit, "is the worst of the lot." Yet, as he lowered himself onto a stool of his own, he was careful to keep his upper body steady. Laurie shot a knowing grin at him, and he returned with his best scowl. Which only made her giggle some more.
Lauranna turned her attention back to Mariyelle at the greenrider's story. She smiled gently, then chuckled. "Happens to everyone, sweetheart. I think. Well, I can't remember missing dinner because I fell asleep, but I have missed dinner, and that's a bother."
"I don't think I've done that either." S'rei took a careful sip of his klah, using his left hand, as it didn't have a flitter adorning the shoulder.
"How would you know? You're not awake enough to distinguish a dragon from a horseradish until a good hour after you wake up."
"Sisters. Got to love them. Always betraying your secrets."
"Speaking of which..." Lauranna directed her cheery smile back at Mariyelle. "Don't you think it's absolutely abysmal to deprive a mother of seeing her child?"
The Weyrleader rolled his eyes. Every single time they came across someone, Laurie tried to get them on her side of whatever argument they were in the middle of at the time. Before he could say anything, though, Zephyr latched onto his ear, causing the man to yelp. He tried to glare at the green flitter, but found it rather impossible. She was perched squarely at the center of his head again, eyeing the bronze as if to say he was next. Her tail flicked restlessly.
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Post by lilliana on Jan 6, 2008 14:42:32 GMT -5
Mariyelle, the smallest of smiles on her face, slowly attempted to fade into the shadows while attention was focused on Titian. She didn’t know why Lauranna had come here with the Weyrleader, but she was exhausted, and not set on trying to socialize at the moment. Of course, however, her plan did not work, as her bronze drew breath for a moment, turned his little head towards his humanthing, and chirruped scoldingly. A blush rising on her cheeks, the green rider sat back up in her chair, shooting dirty looks at the vocal flitter every now and again.
However, Mariyelle slowly began to make herself relax. The Weyrleader’s explanation did not sound…Weyrleader-ish, in a strange way, he sounded more relaxed. Maybe he was exhausted, as well, and had just let his guard down. Maybe it was because he didn’t have the need, at the moment, to embody his rank. Or maybe, get this, he was a normal guy, whose dragon had caught Aslath (the poor thing) and wasn’t really all obsessed with being Weyrleader. “Aww, Weyrleader, you wouldn’t want to escape them. You know you’d miss them.” The green rider grinned up at the taller man, before flushing nervously and looking down at her hands, suddenly immensely interested in her fingernails. That was S’rei, the Weyrleader, that she was speaking to! Shardit, Mariyelle never spoke that way to anyone spare Arvenith and Titian, and they didn’t even count! And yet, here she was, poking fun at her Weyrleader!
Although he felt his bonded’s rush of emotions, it was obvious that Titian thought that she could handle herself and her own feelings, as he didn’t even bother to twitch. Instead, the bronze looked up at Zephyr -- a pretty green, pretty enough. What a pity she wasn’t happy with him. Trilling politely, the bronze rose gracefully in the air, his tail flicking. His chattering had ceased the moment the other flitter had appeared. A sweet chirrup, and Titian glided back towards Mariyelle. He was only slightly disappointed with losing his perch, and more intent with charming the little green.
Resisting a snort at her firelizard’s antics, Mariyelle forced herself to listen to Lauranna. She giggled quietly at the other green rider’s words, still too intent on her fingernails to say anything. Reaching for another meatroll, the girl tore off some more for herself, watching out of the corner of her eye Ti searching for something…Mariyelle didn’t even want to know what he would come up with to give Zephyr. She rolled her eyes.
Listening to the brother and sister bicker, a slight smile came back to Mariyelle’s lips. Finally, when she was asked a question, the rider looked up into a cheery face, and blushed lightly before answering. Well…Faranth only knew how much the girl wished her own mother had been deprived of seeing her the frigid deadglow. “It depends, I believe. I suppose that it wouldn’t be right…but…” Another blush. Well, she couldn’t very well ask if Lauranna was planning to ruin her babe’s childhood, now could she. Not that Mariyelle could see the other green rider doing anything of the sort. “In your case – absolutely.” An attempted smile followed this statement, before she locked her hands together to resist an uncomfortable fidget.
Meanwhile, however, Titian had found some shiny silver thing. It looked like something that had dropped off of a piece of jewelry or something – not that he really bothered to look at it for that long. It was shiny, it wasn’t dirty, and it was bead-like. Picking it up, the bronze flitted over to Zephyr, and deposited it gently in the middle of S’rei’s head, trilling once more before he made his way back to Mariyelle. Titian curled up on his humanthing’s shoulder, eyes on the green, only flicking his tail as his green rider rolled her eyes.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jan 7, 2008 16:26:54 GMT -5
A brow had risen at Mariyelle's teasing, though it was accompanied by an ironic smile. S'rei decided not to gift that observation with a response. He didn't have to look at Lauranna to know that she was smirking at him. That response sounded remarkably similar to one of hers, after all. The man noticed the way Mariyelle seemed uncertain around him, and dismissed it. Why not? He was several turns older and the Weyrleader, not to mention her Wingleader. But S'rei, while rather firm and motivated as far as the wing was concerned, had never led by fear or any such ridiculous tools. He expected respect because he earned it, and he expected hard work because he worked just as hard. Formality was never one of his things. Lead by example, and put your wingriders first. Then they'll know that if you ask something of them, it's because it's important, not just to make them jump through hoops.
The little green flit was busy eyeing Titian. She was, of course, the most beautiful firelizard in the weyr, and it was only natural that he would respond to her scolding as he had. It would take a lot more than that to win his way back into her good graces. Zephyr shifted the wings on her back daintily, puffing out her chest a bit. Oh yes, he'd have to do a lot more than just give up the perch that was rightfully hers.
Laurie smiled gently at Mariyelle. This girl was rather shy, wasn't she? The smile turned into a grin as the younger greenrider backed Lauranna up. Elbowing S'rei, who took the jab as if it were a commonplace thing, she affected a little pout. "See? Mariyelle knows just how cruel you're being. I agreed to let you and Shmee foster my little Miguel, yes, but why won't you let me see him?" Her plaintive tone was almost believable. Almost. Of course, she immediately broke down into giggles when S'rei looked down his nose at her. He was much more fun now that he had all his memories. The awkwardness between them had faded.
"You know full well you've played with him for hours today. And I can't remember the last time you've missed a single day to come visit him. I'm sorry we didn't let you stay until the wee hours of the morning, but you're over-dramatacizing again, and you know it."
Pulling a face, the eldest of the siblings prodded S'rei in the bicep. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to take you seriously when you've got a green firelizard for a hat?" And of course, right on cue, Titian flew up to deposit his 'gift' just as S'rei's mouth was opening in protest. Zephyr made a big show of inspecting the pretty. It had better be worthy of her. After a long moment, she crooned a thank you to the bronze, clutching the round shiny in one claw. So perfectly round...Then a big meaty thing moved, pushing her off her spot, and Zephyr let out an indignant shriek. Forgetting all her annoyance with Titian, she fluttered over to Mariyelle and nestled right up to the bronze, even as she continued to scold her rebellious perch.
S'rei resisted making a face at her, though he did smile nastily. Sharding flits. "I don't know what you two see in those things. But I've got an early morning tomorrow, and a babe that likes to wake up every few hours." Standing, he deposited a kiss on his sister's cheek before disappearing through the kitchen door.
Lauranna turned her brightest smile on Mariyelle. "Guess it's just us girls, now. Those meatrolls any good?"
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Post by lilliana on Jan 8, 2008 22:14:48 GMT -5
Ah, yes, that was Laurie’s little babe’s name. Miguel. And hadn’t there been that little rumor going around about the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader fostering Lauranna’s son. In fact, Mariyelle had seen glimpses of Shmee caring for a little tyke, lately…when she had to leave her weyr, at least. Shrugging, the green rider tried to keep her attention on the siblings’ conversation, and found that she was actually interested. A family feud, hm? A small smile began to play on the girl’s lips, and she found herself shaking her head in disbelief at their words, giggling at some points – until she realized what she was doing. Shardit, why couldn’t she like having company? It was such a bother! Rawign had been alright, and she had vaguely gotten used to some of her wingmembers around her. But the sharding Weyrleader?
Lost in her own thoughts, the girl flinched noticeably when Zephyr landed on her shoulder, as well, cuddling up with Titian. Oh, splendid. That was the absolute last thing Mariyelle needed – a creature that would lift her bronze’s self-esteem. Shaking her head, the green rider sighed. What could you do with the little creatures? And, you had to admit, they were pretty cute…Mari could never whine at Ti or Zephyr as S’rei seemed to enjoy doing. Tearing off a piece of meatroll, the rider offered it to the green who perched on her shoulder – seemingly very comfortable.
S'rei resisted making a face at her, though he did smile nastily. Sharding flits. "I don't know what you two see in those things. But I've got an early morning tomorrow, and a babe that likes to wake up every few hours." Standing, he deposited a kiss on his sister's cheek before disappearing through the kitchen door.
Mariyelle was actually looking back up at S’rei and Lauranna again when he stood. “Goodnight, Weyrleader,” she called faintly, looking back towards her fellow as the bronze rider left them. “I suppose it is,” she said, attempting to be cheerful and – for once – actually succeeding. The f’lizards had seemed to brighter her mood, not to mention the Weyrleader’s absence. He was a wonderful man, and probably easy to be around if you could actually talk to people, but Mari wasn’t quite one to enjoy conversing with people who were so high in ranking.
“The meatrolls? Very excellent.” Offering one to Lauranna to try herself, Mariyelle felt the smile coming back onto her face.
Titian really did seem to be surprised when Zephyr joined him on his humanthing, but he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Trilling, the bronze graciously allowed his companion her own space on Mari’s shoulder, although he nudged her long neck gently with his head, again inviting her to continue nestling into him.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jan 11, 2008 17:45:54 GMT -5
The little green flit was really just upset that her perch had been so rude as to move on her, and while the bronze firelizard no longer was on her blacklist, he wasn't exactly in her good graces just yet, either. Zephyr was just about to abandon both Titian and His after the startlement faded when she was presented with a bit of the meatroll. Food! Unlike most of her brothers and sisters, however, she did not bolt it down. Taking the piece daintily from the greenrider's fingers, she held it in her foreclaws and nibbled, though she was careful to hold on to her pretty.
Lauranna watched her little one with something like amusement. Mariyelle seemed to open up as soon as her brother left, which wasn't so bad. It wasn't a matter of her being friendlier, or talking more, per se. Just a shift in her mood. It was taking awhile, but Laurie was finally getting used to the nervousness people seemed to have around her brother. Goodness, she'd known him when he was still in diapers, when he was pulling pranks and making a general nuisance of himself, when he - Her mind shied away from her late teens. Those had not been the happiest of memories.
Needless to say, the greenrider would never quite understand what made people so leery around S'rei, and she was gifted with a brother who didn't care how she made him look by arguing with him constantly. Not that Lauranna was likely to do such a thing during the line of duty. Even Laurie knew her place.
"Thank you," the older woman replied gratefully, even as Zephyr put up a fuss on Mariyelle's shoulder when Titian dared to nuzzle her. The green flit winged over to Hers, scolding the bronze much as she had the Weyrleader just moments ago. She'd even dropped the last bit of her meatroll. Lauranna shot Mariyelle a sheepish smile. "She's a bit of a priss. Sorry about that." Zephyr perched on Lauranna's wrist, demanding food since that evil bronze had made her drop hers. The greenrider obliged without even really thinking.
"They are rather good," she mused thoughtfully, after taking a bite. "I should probably know this, I'm sure, but how old is Arvenith now?" Not too old. Mariyelle was still young, and she hadn't been nearly as young as S'rei when she Impressed. Lauranna always got a little excited when Thread was about to fall. She'd flamed Thread all four turns that it had fallen, now, and the excitement still hadn't worn off. It was all she and Reysalth had been born to do. Without waiting for an answer - though it was out of her natural bubbliness rather than deliberate rudeness - Laurie continued, "We have another Threadfall soon. I can hardly wait. Reysalth has been anxious for the last few days."
The greenrider beamed.
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Post by lilliana on Jan 13, 2008 19:11:31 GMT -5
While the flitter nibbled delicately on the offering, Mariyelle let a small smile come to her lips. It was interesting, really, how diverse the little creatures could be. Just like humans, really – there could be those as timid as herself, then those like Lauranna, who words couldn’t describe. Vibrant and talkative just couldn’t cut it. Nope. And then there were those considered ‘in between’…maybe Mal, one of the other green riders could be considered around that area. A close call…shrugging inwardly, Mari let her smile grow as she relaxed the slightest bit into her chair. There were so many people, on Pern – there were probably many, many people who were in the ‘in between’ group.
Placing another piece of meatroll into her mouth, Mariyelle contemplated a bit more on the ‘categories’ of people for a bit longer. That was a comfortable place to be. As long as everyone was in their place, she could relax, and know who to stay away from. At the top of that particular list, one labeled in her head as ‘People to Stay Away From’ was surprisingly another one who didn’t like company – I’ir. That man scared her!
Broken out of her thoughts by Laurie’s thanks, Mariyelle’s smile shrank once more, becoming a shadow, hidden by other features on her face. Even as she registered what the green rider had said, however, she felt a bit of commotion on her shoulder, and some weight was gone – Zephyr had departed. Rolling her eyes in wonder at what Titian had done, she caught the other woman’s smile. “No, no,” she replied, biting her lower lip before continuing. “I have no doubt that Ti was simply being himself.” A small smile was turned towards Lauranna. “Only Faranth knows what ‘being himself’ is for my bronze, but he can certainly be a bit too…full of himself, at times.” At times. Psh. Try all the time. Spoiled little thing.
Titian didn’t seem to really mind that Zephyr had left him, simply chirruping occasionally in response to the green’s scolding. His pride was injured slightly, but the last thing the bronze would do would be to let it show. After all, if the green did not appreciate his attention, he would not bother. Of course she would come to him later – he was just so wonderful, and so bronze! The little green would not cause him any distress. And, anyways, he had given her a shiny. All females liked shiny things, so he could always woo her again, if need be. Such a prideful little bugger.
Slightly surprised by Ti’s rather aloof response to the green’s departure, Mariyelle tilted her head up at the little flitter. “Well, now, you prideful little thing. You really are getting quite full of herself. Hopefully some little queen will come around and lower your self esteem down a few notches.” The murmurs went unnoticed by Titian, however, and Mari simply sighed and turned her attention back to Laurie. She would find ways of getting her Titian’s pride cut down a bit…in the morning. “How old is Arvenith?” Mariyelle thought back for a few moments, trying to remember. She, of all people, should know this off the top of her head. But her time in the blissful partnership with Arv seemed like it had lasted forever… “3 turns, I would think. Yes…three.” She had been fifteen when the Impression occurred. Now she was eighteen. So yes, three turns. Smiling a bit, Mariyelle looked back up at the other rider.
“Ooh, yes, thread fall. I don’t know why we riders are so excited…” she smiled shyly. “It’s a terror…but I can’t really be so frightened when I’m on Arvenith. I mean, I am frightened…but it’s also like I’m…on some sort of ecstasy high. I don’t know…” she shrugged, getting excited along with Lauranna. Blushing vividly, she curled up in her chair, the smile not wanting to leave her face as she thought about the upcoming Fall. Such an awful thing. So why was she so excited?
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Jan 14, 2008 0:45:26 GMT -5
Three turns? A mere pup, just over a fifth of Reysalth's age. Then again, Lauranna was one of the older greenriders at the weyr. She paused for a moment. That was odd, wasn't it? Everyone was so young at Selenitas. Hmm. She also found it odd that Mariyelle had to pause to think about it. Laurie was very much aware of just how old Reysalth was. She'd been sixteen when S'rei was old enough to Stand, and had offered to join the candidates' ranks to lend him some of her support. No one had really expected D'vo's youngest children to both Impress at their first hatching. Nevertheless, Laurie was unlikely to ever forget that day. That first turn.
Lauranna frowned pensively at Mariyelle's next words. "Oh, hun. You're looking at it from the wrong perspective. Of course Thread is a terrible thing, and I'd do almost anything to see that it stops completely, even if that makes Reysalth and myself completely obsolete...But no amount of wishing is going to make it go away. A man or dragon knows no greater joy than the fulfilling of his or her purpose. And flaming thread is our purpose. If you weren't excited, I'd be quite disappointed, young lady." She smiled, then, taking another sip of her klah.
All right. So the woman was a bit of a romantic, when it came right down to it. Heroism and bravery and unconditional love - all were things she embraced wholeheartedly. Despite the great amount of tragedy that had visited her life, and the turns she had on most of her fellow dragonriders, Lauranna had always known the protection of at least one male in her life. Always. Her brothers and father had all coddled her throughout her early years, that role transferring to M'el when they were all but joined. Now S'rei was back, and just as protective as he'd always been. Nor was she marked by the north as many were. She was still an essentially hopeful and somewhat naive woman against all odds.
A sharp pain started up in her wrist. "Ow!" Looking down, she saw that Zephyr was beyond agitated. The dainty green would not brook Titian's talking back. He was in the wrong, and should acknowledge it! What, did he think that he was better than her, that because she wasn't as big and shiny as her monstrous, annoying sisters she could be written off? The green hissed, arching her back as her wings half-spread in warning. She would not tolerate this nonsense. Zephyr may be small - smaller even than most green flitters - but she had a temper to match Hers, and far less restraint. She'd put these great bonebags in their place before, she had. Compared to them, the bronze was nothing.
Titian's manner finally became too much. Her hiss turned into an enraged shriek, the flit launching herself at Titian, flying at him full force with no intention of stopping her claws raking forward to show him the meaning of respect. "Zephyr!" A popping sound, and the stolid brown who rarely left Miguel's side came out of Between, his eyes whirling with alarm. He hovered uncertainly, before hissing at Titian as well, certain that the bronze must have done something horrible to upset his little sister. In reality, though, Gonen's appearance was something of a blessing. It calmed Zephyr enough that she turned away after her initial attack, the two settling on Laurie's shoulder - the one furthest from the offending male.
"Is he all right?" Lauranna inquired, worried.
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