A glory night is a story saved (vivano)

[Tashe]

The air was chilly but other than that the evening was clear and pleasant. He'd gotten off watch duty half an hour ago, giving himself enough time to take a quick shower before taking his walk. Viveth was in his shelter hidden away from everyone though E'iah had invited him to come along. Tucking his hands into his pockets, the Bluerider trotted by his brother Zaharan and his two kids, lifting a hand he waved to them with a smile. It was nice being around his family again even though some of the tension over him becoming a Dragonrider still was brought up from time to time. More so by his parents, his Brothers didn't mind much, not since they had all gotten married and had kids. Plus he'd always be the little brother of the three, whatever he did didn't matter as much as Zaharan or Aharza and now that they had children he didn't need to bother about that for a long time. Their family line would continue even if he never contributed. Kicking a stone, E'iah nodded at the kindly old lady who ran a fruit stand as she began to close her last window and got an apple for his efforts.

Ten or so minutes later he had passed out the gates of the hold proper and was headed toward the meadowy area that lined the main road for half a mile to each side. Hyphen proper was rather pretty to look at, if only because it was a vacation hot spot for people from all corners of pern. Twirling the apple as he stepped farther to the side to let a messenger on a runner pass by, E'iah rubbed it on his shirt before taking a bite. Wobbling as he jumped down the raised side of the road the Bluerider waded his way through the long grassed and sleeping flowers. By the time he finished his apple E'iah had made it to the fencing he'd been aiming for. Tossing his core over his shoulder and into the pasture land, where some bovine or goat could get it later, he leaned against one of the poles with a sigh.

Had it really been two turns? It felt like much longer. His routine didn't change much day to day and most of the time it was either so monotonous or familiar that everything fell into place without much hassle. Especially once he'd been reunited with family. Crossing his arms he tilted his head up and brought his gaze to the sky. The sun had nearly finished setting and you could see some of the first stars poking their way out of the darkness that followed the fading light. He'd brought a glowlight in his small messenger bag, but he wouldn't pull it out till much later. He often came out to this spot to destress, and watching the light fade alone was one of his ways to do so. Closing his eyes, he let himself enjoy the small breeze as it swept by.

[Kisha-Ra]

Vivano leaned forward over the neck of his mount, keeping himself low to minimise wind resistance as they pounded along the road in the uncertain light, the only sound in his ears the rushing of the wind and the dull thudding of Vivask’s feet on the packed dirt. Vivano smiled to himself as the bronze wher really stretched out his legs into a slightly clumsy but wholly implacable gallop, Wherback may not have been the conventional way to travel from any viewpoint but Vivano loved the feeling of riding the running wher, no mere runnerbeast could ever best Vivask in sheer power; it felt a bit like he imagined it would if a person could harness an earthquake and ride it.

Vivask slowed a little of his own violation as they gained on a cart evidently headed back to the hold, and passed wide enough to make the stolid runners pulling it do no more than snort in alarm and shake their heads restively while the driver cursed at the passing wher and handler. Vivask expressed his amusement silently as Vivano gave the carter a cheerful wave. That was typical Vivano all over.

Vivano straightened up into an easier posture as his bronze slowed again to avoid frightening animals and children this close to the hold until he was almost moving at the plodding pace of the cart pulling runners they’d passed. That was the trouble with Hyphen, and most other holds, Vivano reflected; everyone plodded through their lives day after day like oxen in the traces, no wonder he’d been back and forth to Selenitas at every chance once he’d been away from his home. He was mortally glad no one had ever done more about apprenticing him to a craft than gently hint in a fashion he could readily ignore Otherwise he might be stuck out here too.

Vivask changed direction subtly while Vivano was woolgathering, changing his gait to a furtive sneak as he approached the figure leaning on the fence, as if there was anything to hide a huge wher out here. Vivano failed to notice the direction they were going in until Vivask was almost within touching distance of E’iah. When he finally did he gave a wave that the dragonrider may or may not have seen. Hello there stranger.’ He called as Vivask sauntered up to the fence.

[Tashe]

It was the uncertain mooing behind him that first brought his attention to the arrival of the Wherpair, though once he actually looked around the taller than he should be man really gave it away. He crossed his arms over his chest with a smile as he saw that Vivano hadn't really notice him until they were really close. With a chuckle he returned the wave the other man gave him. "Well aren't you two the most welcoming sight I've seen today." Pushing off the fence, the Dragonrider stepped over to greet the big Bronze, making sure he kept on the male's good side. "Hello Vivask. Looking Lordlike as ever." He happily rubbed the male's eyeridge for a few moments before gently leaning against his withers so he could look up at the Rider. "And hi there handsome. Have you come to save me from this annoying life?" Stepping away from the harness so Vivano had room to get down if he wanted, E'iah tucked his hands into his pockets. "Perhaps you could just, whisk me away to somewhere less... less, Hyphen." The ground beneath him shifted as the Bluerider rocked back onto a dirt pile.

"Oh, by the way, I have something for you." He toyed with the strap of his bag. "Buuut~ I don't know if I should give it away for free." It had been a while since he'd seen his sort of boyfriend and it had given him time to use his crafter skills to make a little gift. E'iah tried not to act overly lovey even though affection was a big part of his personality, cause he didn't want to scare Vivano off by acting as if there was something more between them when there wasn't. So, he limited his gifts to the occasional thing and always made sure they were actually something rather than frivolous things. The Rider looked down at his bag and patted it. "I dunno. What do you think Vivask, should I even give him a gift? Has he been a good boy lately?" Grinning cheekily, he sidestepped out of reach just in case.

[Kisha-Ra]

Vivask tossed his head with an air of mock arrogance. Of course he was the best thing the bluerider had seen today, he was the best thing to happen to this hold yet. The arrogant pose was quickly dropped in favour of getting his eyeridges rubbed, however the bronze did take a moment to reflect that it was a shame none of his clutchmates, nor indeed any other wher, spent much time in Hyphen, dragons were alright, he supposed, but Viveth and Rajnith were… strange even for dragons, not to put too fine a point on it.

Vivano shifted subconsciously away from E’iah, or rather away from the direction his wher was listing in, as Vivask leaned in to the offered scratch. ‘Do you need saving?’ He inquired, shifting again to lean his elbow on his knee and look down at the bluerider. ’The annoying life suits you so well. The wherhander could certainly sympathise, the hold life was what you signed up for candidacy to get away from, and being packed back off to the holds was undoubtedly an unpleasant experience.

Vivano raised an eyebrow enquiringly at the mention of a gift and he poked his wher in the shoulder. ‘You’d better tell him I deserve it or he’ll be annoying all night.’ He told the bronze. Curiosity was one thing Vivano was not short on and he knew that between then E’tah and Vivask could easily conspire to drive him mad with it.

A sly sort of look came over Vivask’s face and he lifted his head to look back at his bonded, then abruptly danced sideways, leaving Vivano perfectly free to fall on his butt on the ground. Then, to add to the insult the wher snorted derisively at his handler and turned to E’iah. Yes, Vivask supposed he could give Vivano his present, if he really wanted to. It might be more fun not to though…

‘Thank you Vivask.’ The bronzehandler said sourly, rubbing his probably bruised hip and cursing himself silently; he never would have fallen from a runner’s back like that but he was so used to Vivask being both cooperative and fearless that it made it easy for the wher to pull the occasional trick on him, normally when it was most humiliating or annoying. ‘Just remind me why I ever wanted a wher for a partner?’ He appealed to E’iah.