All the gather, gather round [Lilitu's Maiden Run]

[rii]

Curled into a tight ball she slept in the black strands. Against their inky shade she reflected her true color – green. A dark beauty without a parallel. The glow to her hide was quite the opposite – a darkness that absorbed any available light around her. None could even hope to compare, no they all paled in comparison. Lilitu stirred, claws pricking into skin..

With that small touch came an entirely different feeling. F'lix felt the very beat of his heart - almost painfully - inside of his chest. A warmth flooded his veins, senses begin to heighten, and all the while a dark silky curtain began to drape itself over his mind. F'lix knuckles went white as he curled his fingers around the table's edge. No, no. Why did it have to be here? Why couldn't he be back at his weyr with Saboth blocking the entrance. She wasn't glowing. Moody, yes, but when was Lilitu not?

Chase. Simper was on the table, eyes whirling lightly with purples as he stared intently at F'lixher's hair. He could feel her upcoming rising through their shared bond, and he was ready. F'lix's made to snatch him but the blue nimbly dodged out of reach. Play later. Promise.

The owner of the bizarre pair made a grab at his hair, but Lilitu had already dropped to the table, bench, then dirt floor to weave through the foot falls to – there, she spied a nearby wooden pole used to keep a stretch of burgundy canvas over the stall of death memorabilia. Simper followed in her wake, strangely silent and intent on her every move. The green paused, not even given the blue the courtesy of warning frill before she snapped her tail in his direction. Her eyes narrowed on Simper, who had scuttled away to give her space; Lilitu had made no promises to that one and he would have to prove himself like any other. As far as she was concerned, Simper already belonged her to, so claiming him would be moot point if there were others more.. entertaining.

Up the pole she darted, her muscled strength making it an easy ascent and she wanted to be high and look upon her chasers. She perched on the end, tail wrapping around the wood and violet eyes casting over the moving crowd below her. Come. Her silken tone, in that single word, brushing as a beckoning caress to all those that would hear her. She didn't need to say anything more.

F'lix was.. not panicking.. really. He was stalking purposely through the crowd in attempt to get out of the main throng of the gather. Away to where Saboth could.. sit on him; if the blue was through being temperamental. Along the way his pace began to change, slowing.. his prickly demeanor melting.. F'lix finally came to a pause, hip angling as his weight shifted over one foot. A sly smirk on his features as he let his golden eyes flick cattishly over the gather.

He spun around on that heel and headed back into the celebration. A definite sway to his movements as he moved leisurely toward... yes. With a sudden burst, F'lix darted forward and jumped up on the upraised stage used for the storyteller's contest. He vaulted over the rail and strolled in between the startled contestants. A decidedly mocking smile was directed at them. Brief, almost friendly, and right before he deftly shoved one down the few steps. The other left on their own free will.

His shirt came off, hitting the wooden boards as F'lix gracefully prowled across the stage, a rather sultry smile to his delicate, pale features as he soaked in the attention. They wanted him, all of them. Well, the smile twisted into more of a smirk, eyes narrowing in amusement. Come one, come all.

[Avu]

If you want the hatchling back I’m sure you can get him from Checkoth’s, Jingth commented patiently. The gold’s tail swished back and forth across the sand, creating a trench and two twin mountains on either side. Chances were that she wasn’t actively aware that there was an unfortunate green firelizard being half-buried by her motions. But then, chances were also that she wouldn’t care even if she knew. Her straps had been taken off, and hung off of a rather scrawny tree a distance away, on the edge of the stretch of beach that had been claimed by the gold. Yes, she knew she’d have to leave Blossom eventually, but she liked it there very much. The dolphins she’d already gotten bored of, but Meira had come to see her after handing off Riaren to his father, Mimic still attached to his wrist with no intentions of leaving.

“Umm.” Her eyes were half-closed and focused unseeingly on the lake’s horizon and the occasional ripple as a dolphin skimmed the surface or came up for air, Meira curled contentedly against Jingth’s side. She’d taken her shoes off, toes half-buried in the sand, one hand doodling lazy circles in the shifting grains while the other one rhythmically stroking Jingth’s hide with the back of her knuckles. It sounded mean to both Mimic and Riaren, but it was very peaceful without them. Not that it was their fault; Meira just tended to fuss over them, much more than she did Jingth. “Mm, no, it’s okay…wouldn’t want to ruin Mimic’s good time or anything…”

Good time. Yes, he was having a good time. Mimic had left Riaren at the Jewelry Stall to see what he could find to give to Doppelganger, his favorite eggbrother ever. Surely Doppelganger would approve of a present! His could buy it later, of course, Mimic wouldn’t steal…but that surely he could pick out the best first. Among bangles and earrings prowled the little brown, eyed by a very suspicious vendor who was offering a reassuring coo as Mimic inspected a golden ring inset with little rubies, tilting his head curiously and licking one of the rubies cautiously. Hmm, maaaaybe…it was set down carefully in its appropriate place and Mimic looked up at the shopkeeper for approval (and received only a continued stare) before he hopped forward another step to nudge at a silver ring with emeralds.

Both paws closed around it, lifting it up, and he inspected it seriously. Perhaps gold and red went better with Doppelganger’s hide than silver and green, hmm…

And then that silken tone, that one word, completely disoriented the brown, distracting him. Mimic squeaked; the ring was clutched as his head turned, staring intently off into the distance to place the green who had spoken. He remembered that voice from…from…oh, he couldn’t place it now but she had said to come and he wanted to make her happy…wanted it so very badly. The ring dropped onto the counter, and Mimic leapt off of the counter so suddenly that the shopkeeper uttered a sharp cursed exclamation. Soooorryy, be back! the brown called apologetically to the man, as he wove between legs and over feet.

Oh! Oh! He’d seen her. Mimic reared onto his hind legs with a trill, as loud as he could, but still it was probably close to inaudible for Lilitu, given the distance between them – and then he leapt one step forward and smacked directly into someone’s legs so hard that he tumbled backwards with a distressed squeak before he offered a quick, Sorry! before leaping onto one of the marionettes hanging from the stall on which Lilitu was perched. His tail wound around the human skeleton marionette’s leg as his claws scrabbled for purchase before he threw himself further upwards, leaping and squirming until he was at the top of the rack of marionettes, wobbling slightly.

Contrary to his happily bespeaking any human he may or may not have inconvenienced, though, Lilitu received no words from Mimic; the brown stayed on his rack, tall enough to allow him to see the pretty, pretty greenling, but far away enough to give her space. His mind brushed against hers, reverent, Mimic unable to help himself for that one soft touch. However, the soft croon made his awe clear. So pretty…so so pretty.

The little slave is /quite/ irritating. Jingth’s voice was calm, soothing, the dragon coiling tighter around Meira. The weyrlingrider hadn’t even had to speak – Jingth knew immediately what was going on, and she also knew that Hers wouldn’t be happy if Mimic overtook her mind completely. So the gold planted her muzzle firmly in Meira’s lap, tongue flicking out reassuringly. Don’t worry, MeiraMyLove, we can punish him for thoughtlessness later. I expect you’re happy you haven’t the hatchling with you now? There was no verbal response as Meira’s arms wound around the muzzle, the weyrlingrider burying her face against the soft hide and squeezing her eyes shut. Mimic’s timing certainly needed work…

[Requiem]

Lililove dark. F'ur glanced down at the head poking out of his collar, eyeing the creature incredulously. Terror very rarely spoke, and certainly not to state the obvious. Of course Lilitu was dark. No, no special dark. Darker. So? Maybe she'd eaten something that disagreed with her. What? That was silly. Any more silly than declaring she was dark to all the world? No no dark. Why couldn't he understand? Terror ducked down beneath the collar, squirming agitatedly. F'ur drummed his fingers on the table, shifting in his seat in subconscious mimicry - he might have been a bit concerned if he actually realized how similar his movements were to his mandyr's - of the translucent blue currently curling against his chest.

He glanced at F'lix, barely making out the green mostly hidden in the man's hair. "Hey, Terror's going on about Lilitu. She sick or something?" It no more occurred to him than anyone else that a creature not glowing might be close to Running. Blinking at the white knuckles, he frowned at F'lix, comprehension coming into his face as Simper clarified it for everyone in no uncertain terms. See? Dark, Terror reiterated. "Didn't know that was code for horny." The little mandyr hissed, making F'ur's brow lift. Since when did the coward get so bold? Shouldn't speak of Lililove that way. Horny. Sounded dirty. Well, it was dirty, what of it?

Terror dropped from his collar as the other two salamandyrs scampered off, F'ur swiftly dashing all the water from his glass (he wasn't about to start drinking after last time) and plunked it down over his mindmate. Nuh uh. Don't think so. He was about to comment to F'lix again when he noticed the man was leaving. "Hey, where are you going? F'lix?" (F'ur, having a mindmate that didn't much effect him in Flights for nearly twenty turns now, didn't really understand this whole lack of control thing. To him it seemed perfectly reasonable for F'lix to stay put where F'ur could ward anyone unwanted off until Lilitu's fun ended. Didn't that make sense?)

Tch. He glanced at the glass and the mandyr staring back at him solemnly. He really would like to go now. Anything at all could get to him while trapped. Terror scraped at the glass with a claw, tail flicking slightly as he turned his plaintive gaze on F'ur. And conniving too. Of course you only intend to follow those two to keep an eye on things. Liked you better when you were hiding. That wasn't very nice. Lililove was a good protector, as was Simper. He merely wanted to be safe. Not buying it. Why not let him? Inocenth interjected sibilantly. It's not as if you'd object to Flying Saboth's...although if it's really such a bother- Scare him again and I'm going to ask to be put exclusively on sweeps. Then who will you terrorize?

During that time he'd lost track of F'lix, until a commotion...Faranth. Watching the stalking figure, he couldn't be sure how much of the desire was his own for his lover - and how much was Terror. Tch. Swinging his legs up onto the table with a decision not to move, he flicked the glass lightly. Thank you ever so much. Aren't you scared of her? Terrible beauty, terrible. He rolled his eyes. Now he couldn't trust himself near F'lix until after some other mandyr caught Lilitu. Hopefully the kitten would be inspired to stay put.

Something brushed past his chair, knocking him into the table...and the glass toppled, rolling clear off and shattering loudly. F'ur made a fumble for Terror, but the blue was fast when he had a mind for it, skittering between the legs and chittering nervously, flaring at feet that came too close. Simper! Help, help! Catching sight of the sky blue mandyr jumping from one shoulder to the next, he climbed up on a convenient head and used the mandyr as a springboard, wings sweeping out in a glide. Lililoooooveeee! he cried, nearly smashing into a chest. He barely navigated around, crashing into the fabric and clinging with a tremble. Lililove, he whispered to her, with a touch of fear but no small amount of anticipation. The protector was Running.

That blue squeaked, barely catching hold of a person's pants. Help? Why was he getting jumped on? PMS suddenly frilled happily. A game! Oh, he liked games, he did. The salamandyr attempted his own version of a glide, which turned into more of a jumping and swinging, as his wings were incapable of bearing his weight. He flicked off some poor person's ear, landing on Terror's tail. Help! he trilled to the male, who went rigid. PMS's attention was caught by the green, though. Oh, pretty green, but she was dark. Wasn't she supposed to glow? Curiosity directed him to dash for her, sniffing at her and brushing a paw against her tail. Hi hi lovely. Why are you dark and not glowing? Help?

Not far away, a dark man had stopped in the crowd, forcing people to move around him, frowning at the man on the stage. Pushing people around and...whatever it was he was doing strutting like a slut up there. He shook his head and made as if to continue, but something drew his eyes back. Odd. Being with R'wign so much must have opened up this attraction for males. He shook his head to clear it.

The thin figure of a man edged carefully up the stairs, certain at any moment they'd crumble on him, and then the crowd would drag him down and...and...something awful he was sure. Pressing his back against the railing, he scooted sideways, one hand gripping it tightly. Safety there, ahead. So beautiful she...he...was, and deadly. Why did he have to always be attracted to the dangerous ones? Dark, icy laughter slid through his mind, and he jumped, yelping as he shrunk back further. Where had that come from?

[Lotty]

Ohhhh shinies Rahrah find eggbrothermine please? Doppelganger had his eye out for everything that even somewhat glittered...and if it didn't glitter well then it was the odd color or a weird shape that would catch his eye and of course the brown would just love it. Not particularly for himself, but because trinkets were good for everybody he had to be on the lookout. Rahrah needed some shinies and so did Jar-Jar Bronze Head. Eggbrother needed gifts and the Babylove as well. Most importantly the stash needed to be added onto for the pile was much much more than just a hodgepodge of random things, it was its own living, breathing entity. If it wasn't how else did it grow up so fast? One day it was nothing more than a smattering of egg shards and darter feathers and now it was huge, so huge that it was taking up Mi'rah's desk to tell the truth, and since the man didn't have the heart to tell the little guy to move it all, the rider solved the problem by digging up a much shakier, rickety, desk from storage to do his work on.

Oh well, it was no great effort for him and sometimes it was just easier to appease people and salamandyrs than even venture to explain, debate, and argue. Doppel find Eggymine! Lovies bye bye Rah! The brown hopped off the man's shoulder to go and hunt down Mimic. There was not much in the way of a fight from the bonded...he was getting all woozy and wobbly legged anyway from the color water he was drinking. No good. No good at all.

He actually thought he saw Mimic a few times...but it was just his reflections in the gleam of metal work and glass, which of course led to a handful of humorous mistakes. Can we say headfirst dives into mirrors? Finally, after some master detective work and hunting, the smaller brown mandyr found his eggbrother and hid there amongst the jewelry as Mimic took a big lick of a ruby inlaid ring. Oh! Those rubies must taste yummy, yummy like the color red. Red is yummy yes? But before he could pop out and surprise his favorite of all of his siblings, he saw Mimic bound away. For why would he do that? Oh! They were going to go play with the green one weren't they? She was soooo fun, he remembered this from their last play date.

He scampered across the counter behind Mimic before leaping to the next stall over and repeating the process. He plucked a stray flower from a vase this time, a little daisy to be exact, and though it was hardly an exciting specimen with it's droopy leaves and half wilted white petals, it was still a gift which none of the others so far had brought along. Clamped by the stem in his mouth, more petals began to drop off as he went after Lilitu, carefully brushing against her mind...and of course his Eggbrother's too. He had to know that he was there to help keep company and wish luck too.

[rii]

Saveyou, saveyou. Simper peered back over his shoulder to look down at the moving heads. He frilled uncertainly, torn between saving Terrorhis or staying with Lililove. Couldn't play now, maybe later. Very busy. He crooned a soft apology to the skittish blue – only to have the sound cut short by Lilitu's tail catching him on the side. Instantly the blue salamandyr obediently honed his attention back on her, a deep violet drowning out any other color in his eyes.

Lilitu watched them come, moving slowly off the post and snaking her way across the burgundy cloth. Simper was there, naturally, she expected no less. Ah, one of her browns. Lilitu's brushed Mimic's mind, beckoning him closer with that simple coaxing touch. He did not need to be so far away. Closer, closer.

The coward? Of course. Why wouldn't he? Lilitu twisted around to view Terror. The fear laced whisper making her eyes narrow in a highly pleased fashion. No savior here. She cooed privately to Terror, the words still a caressing brush – encouraging him to come along all the same; he had much to prove.

The new blue drew her curiosity. One she had not claimed – yet. She pulled her tail out of his reach, arching slightly with a wide frill – the green vibrant and truly glowing against her dark hide. She slipped forward, arching fulling against him, this new stranger, tail curling around his snout before moving along to view her last chaser. Ah, her other brown had shown up. She would have been upset if he didn't come – and she made a habit of making others regret ever disappointing her.

Alas, as much as she wanted to play with her suitors, Lilitu still felt the urge to run. She sent out a mental touch to them all, drawing them near before she finally darted off. Head first down the pole she had used to climb a moment earlier. Her sharp claws and strength making it an easy task. Halfway down she twisted around and jumped on to the nearby table holding an array of skeletal mask. Through a grinning mouth of fangs she jumped and continued running, sharply diving off the table edge and slipping under the canvas at the back of the stall.

Simper threw himself off the top of the stall, wings going wide to catch the air. He made a sharp glide under the tent, landing with a crash into the masks. Knocking one clean off the shelf as he re-oriented himself and scrambled after Lilitu.

F'lix eyes watched, with no short amount of amusement, as F'ur cautiously edged onto the stage. Afraid, as he should be. The golden eyed rider trailed his fingertips along the rail as he strolled over, gaze intent on the only one of the chaser to near. He touched the man's hair, a gentle brush of fingers through the dark strands.. F'lix paused to look in the direction of thew new comer, then shifting his attention toward the lake. The brown was so far away. The should all be close. Why was only Simper and Terror here?

Simling down at Terror's, F'lix fisted his fingers in that hair while applying pressure to the touch. Not cruel, but demanding the other man onto knees. Because Terror would listen, he didn't want her angry. No, no. He rightfully feared angering her. And she liked that he obeyed and was generally too afraid to do otherwise.

[Requiem]

Terror twisted himself smaller, peering out over his tail at Lilitu as a rabbit will, frozen in the thrall of a tunnelsnake. He couldn't seem to move, trembling with indecision even though he'd really already made it the moment he left the table and the safety of His. Her words caused him to quiver noticeably. No savior. No one at all to save him. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...But then she was moving, and even if he knew that he was in trouble, that Lililove was evil - she was also the only female to even notice him. Terror took off behind her, jumping as the mask almost crushed him and running full into Simper to keep from being squished.

PMS was confused, though her tail touching him gave him a thrill. Yay yay! She didn't stay to cuddle though, the dark one. That was a bit disappointing...oh, a game! Let's play chase! He liked to chase, he did, except when they liked to run from him too long. Behruth's 'sky shiny' leapt, despite his lack of ability to fly, slipping and sliding down the gown of the woman manning the stall with a cheerful Heeeelllllpppp! as punctuation. He ended up going too fast, though, rolling out of control across the ground and barely missing going splat against a pole. The blue reoriented himself swiftly and bounced after Lilitu and her other chasers in hot pursuit.

Within the crowd, the man stopped, apparently not noticing the bodies that crashed against him as he obstructed traffic.

The beautiful Lilitu and her glowing eyes...his breath caught in his chest, head dipping as if it could conceal how he stared at her, panic and longing mingling in his eyes and leaving him frozen. Breath escaped in a gasp at the touch, his head dipping further, eyes falling to his feet. Touched. His heart thundered, daring to hope that she would just...keep...touching him. His eyes flicked up to her face briefly at the pressure, lingered there as he sunk slowly to his knees, palms flat against the ground and fingers curling, apprehension in his gaze. He stared up at her almost pleadingly, though pleading for what even he didn't know. Fear chased over his face as the evil laugh sounded again, quieter this time...and more sinister. He trembled.

Crooning happily, the young man mounted the steps at a skip, coming to a halt as he looked down at the Terror one in confusion. He cocked his head at Lilitu questioningly, flopping onto his knees and crawling a few paces, experimenting. A new game? Tch, it hurt his knees, and anyway, she had her hand on Terror, and not on him. Maybe the knees were for when her hand was there. He hoped so. Rolling back onto his feet, he couldn't help it; he flicked Terror's ear, jumping back with wide eyes as the other yelped and shied away. Whoops. Crooning a soft apology, he faded back, then suddenly darted toward Lilitu, poking her. Tag, you're it! He skipped backward with a giant grin on his face. Her turn to catch him now!

[Avu]

Oh, oh, a PMS. Simper, Mimic was very vaguely familiar with (he was the nice one from the other Run!) but PMS was nice. Mimic trilled quietly towards the blue, the sound likely too soft to be heard, before his head tilted to one side and his frill rose anxiously. He was touching the dark greenling. Were they allowed to do that…? The brown Salamandyr crooned softly to himself, wiggling as his tail coiled around one of the strings that supported one of the marionettes, swaying from side to side and making one of the dragon marionettes flap its right wing over and over again until –

DOPPELGANGER.

Love eggmine! Mimic called, after he’d made sure that it was, indeed, his brother and not his imagination or a reflection; his frill flared wider in an excess of delight and both wings flapped before he crooned audibly. His gaze reflected his absolute joy at the sight of Doppelganger, too, flushed with a bright violet-touched blue. Pretty darkling, is best? he added, inquiring; he didn’t want to Chase any green unless his favorite brother approved, after all. But the brush of a new mind over his – a mind that was distinctly Lilitu’s – made Mimic’s attention snap back to the green; a wriggle of excitement and awe ran through him. She had touched him. Not physically, but mentally, and that was even better.

Closer? Closer…Mimic teetered for a moment on the rack of marionettes, tail moving from side to side even more actively. The dragon marionette beneath him gave a wild thrash, tangling with one of the human skeletons, and they dangled awkwardly, locked at left femur and right wing. Mimic didn’t notice; his attention was wholly on Lilitu for the moment; the green was being watched with clear fascination. He edged forward anxiously on the top of the rack, wings flaring as if to leap to the roof…but Lilitu jumped first and Mimic tensed in undeniable anxiety as she leapt through the mouth of a mask and took off. For a moment Mimic didn’t move, and then he leapt off of the rack of marionettes, too, tail unhooking after he’d already leapt –

The dragon marionette twisted, dragging with it the human skeleton, and the clamor made Mimic hesitate. In mid-air, hesitation is not advisable. He crashed into the edge of the table, claws digging instinctively at the surface until he managed to pull himself up and skitter across the counter, more than a little disoriented. Leaping down at the other edge, Mimic squirmed awkwardly out under the tent’s canvas, eyes whirling pink with embarrassment. He’d crashed. Oh, he’d crashed, how terribly humiliating – and in front of such a pretty darkling like Lilitu! The chaos that was the rest of the Chase escaped Mimic for the moment. Masks falling, gowns turned slides – unimportant, for the moment.

Right now, he just wanted to see the pretty greenling and she was going so fast…

“I think – ”
Don’t think, Jingth replied smoothly. I can do that for you. Just until Mimic regained his senses, anyway. She was more than a little alarmed, nonetheless, at the sudden sharp pain that cut through Hers. Not real, physical pain; Mimic’s. The pain, however, was more like a flash of it, there one moment and then gone again, so, unnerving though it was, Jingth didn’t actively protest it; she curled absently around Hers a little more, rumbling in quiet irritation. Of all the places for a green Salamandyr to Run. Really.

Perfectly good day at the beach, ruined.

[Lotty]

Pretty darkling, best is very yes. An instant confirmation for his favorite brow comrade as he stalled for a brief moment on the top of some haphazardly stacked plates. A quick leap off of them sent at least one of them falling into the dirt. Hopefully it didn't leave too much of a mark because there certainly wasn't a human counterpart to follow the salamandyr around and pay for all of his mistakes. He carried on without much worry. Certainly any other time he would have apologized but he really had to keep up with Mimic and Lilitu, they were worlds more important at the moment.

He did not go without noticing the messes his own eggbrother seemed to be getting into, and more than once the salamandyr let loose a quick EEEP! out of fear for his twin's well being. Dashing through that skull was so scary. So very scary. But Doppelganger was proud of his bigger brother, because he knew that would impress the pretty darkling no doubt. Another hop, skip, and jump...the brown carried on with his decaying flower and his frill and wings tucked neatly against his serpentine form.

In the back of Mi'rah's head Doppelganger's intense desire to "play" was throbbing with urgency. To try and resist...that would be futile. He should just succumb, which he did though slowly and not without tripping over his own feet a few times, once even landing flat on his face. Intoxicated and under the influence of his salamandyr made for an interesting mix, add onto that the open wound left gaping from when he got rightfully denied on the dancefloor, well then you had a certified wreck on the loose. Where oh where had pretty darling Lilitu gone to? Search, search, search.

Out of character he shoved a few gather patrons out of his way, because in his mind it was all a part of the game. Hide and seek...tag...whatever. They weren't his target...they were obstacles in the way...pushing them around was fair. In a jaunty sort of gait he poached about the main thoroughfare until he looked up. Oh there! They were all on the stage...the other chasers as well as pretty darkling though...eggmine was missing and that was just distressing. It resulted in a slowed approach to the rest of the chasers. It was so lonely without Mimic there.

[rii]

She reveled in the attention, the fear, the obedience. She wanted all her chasers, how could she be expected to chose. Glowing with her own prowess Lilitu lead them on a dangerous course through the constantly falling steps. Even as a sandaled foot appeared directly in her path Lilitu didn't stop, instead moving with her own momentum to climb up the limb – right under the hem of shorts. As her claws pricked the inner thigh the man began to violently thrash. He let out a startled scream as he unbuckled the belt on his waist – only to be greeted by the black salamandyr darting out and straight up his shirt.

Oh, the other brown had brought a present. Simper went still where he had been knocked over by Terror's collision. He watched Doppel bound by with the wilting flower and decided that he needed to find Lililove a present. He would have plenty to chose from if they had been back at the Weyr. There was a shiney stall somewhere. Yes, yes. He would just rush off to fetch her a gift then return. It would take not a moment! Simper peeled off in the direction opposite of the other chasers..

Silly creature. Lilitu frilled, the bright inner color speaking well that she was dangerous – mother nature labeling her as being poisonous. The man acted instinctively to the lethal display; flinching and trying to knock her away. Lilitu was already on the move again, diving from his shoulder onto the nearest flesh bag. Another leap and a vain spread of her small wings brought her to the fabric of tented stall. She clawed her way up and as she bounded across she came to an abrupt halt. With an angered hiss she curled in on herself, tail wrapping tightly to form herself into a ball. She quivered as a shared pain washed over the bond..

Simper chirped pitifully from the ground. His tail kinked at an odd angle from where he had gotten it pinned under a boot. The developed muscles in his back made it difficult, almost impossible to drop it so he had endured the pain – and it wasn't a good pain. It didn't really hurt, per se, as Simper didn't recognize the surge of pain firing in his nerves as much as his bonded mates did. Instead the blue was confused as to why he could no longer move his tail. Dragging it along was highly inconvienent..

F'lix paused where he had pinned M'ta against the railing. The silly sky blue had been running away, ah but he had caught him in the end. Pressed fully against the shorter male, F'lix had nuzzled the man to get a better feel for this unclaimed newcomer. "Mine?" He purred and despite it being a question, the way F'lix currently held control over the other body left little room for denial. All the others belonged to her, so it would make sense to claim this one as well.

Snapping his head to the side, F'lix pushed away from M'ta and stalked back over to Terror's corner. Using F'ur's cowering form as a step, F'lix moved up on the railing. There he crouched with one hand curling around the rail as he peered into the crowd at the approaching brown. There he was. A terse hiss escaped from between flashing teeth. Doppel's shouldn't have kept him waiting. How dare–

His expression shifted, the sly smile melting into a clueless fawning. F'lix teetered and feel off the stage. He came up on knees while nervously wringing his hands. Oh no. Oh no. He had made her mad. She was so furious with him for spoiling her mood. Beautiful, dark Lilitu. "Sorry, sorry. Lililove not be mad. Simper good. Simper get many pretties, am sorry, am sorry." True to his word, F'lix rose up and darted off into the crowd.

Lilitu snapped around, turning to leap and pin the first salamandyr to arrive. Oh she was not ending her run just yet, but oh–those violets bled into red for a quick second, her claws tightening on her catch. She was not happy. Lilitu best. Agree? The question went to them all, demanding their immediate attention. She wanted them there with her now because she hurt.

"Leggo.. please, please.. mine now.. give to Lililove." F'lix tugged at the ringed hand of a woman as she tried to shove him off. The ring was stuck on her finger. "Ours. Not yours. Leggo!"

[Avu]

Prettiest darkling ever, Mimic ‘whispered’ to Doppelganger, the awe in his tone undeniable. She was so lovely, was the greenling…and Mimic was so happy that Doppelganger agreed. He couldn’t Chase if Doppelganger didn’t agree! The brown squirted out from under the canvas and found himself absolutely bewildered as he faced the sea of feet. So many feet. Which feet were the nice feet and which were the bad feet? What if the bad feet stepped on him? Agitation touched the brown’s gaze and he bounced, anxious, not only for himself and Doppelganger but also for the pretty darkling. What if she was stepped on?! It was, ultimately, the worry of exactly that that prompted Mimic forward.

The touch to Lilitu’s mind was soft, apologetic – worried. He didn’t want to disturb her from having so much fun in her game but – but what if she got hurt? Hurting was bad, hurting was so bad…his claws dug into the ground, propelling Mimic forward. The larger of the two browns slid between ankles, leaping over feet, with the occasional blurted Sorry please! when people stumbled to avoid stepping on him, or alternately, saw him and leapt backwards in shock. So kind of them, but the darkling – the darkling, would they see her and be able to avoid stepping on her too? So sad, too sad, if they accidentally hurt her, so sad. His was a fixer but not a darkling-fixer…

Boot! Boot in his way!

The boot in question belonged to a rather large gentleman in the company of a lady with skirts, completely obscuring Mimic’s view for a moment as he slammed on the brakes to keep from colliding headfirst with the large black wherhide boot; his eyes flashed in vivid alarm, Mimic actually ending up on his rump with frill and wings both splayed wide in terror, an inch from the boot, which lifted and planted in a different location. Away. The brown exhaled shakily, and spun to look anxiously for Doppelganger, brushing against his brother’s mind. Only good feet? No bad feet? Not broke? he inquired, the worry leaking into his tone as he scampered forward, glancing around for Lilitu. Where had – oh! He saw her. Up, he commented wonderingly to Doppelganger.

And up he went; a gliding leap, and then an undignified, but effective, scrambling climb up the tent’s side until he was on the same level as Lilitu, crooning adoringly at her. She wasn’t hurt – was she? The way she curled up on herself made Mimic skid to a halt; worry flashed across his gaze again and the brown crooned again, this time tentative, inquiring – just as she turned and leapt. Instinctively Mimic recoiled, in time to be pinned flat. This was getting to be the usual. Chase for a while, and then get pinned by Lilitu. And he wasn’t exactly arguing, either. He lay still, crooning quietly at the green pinning him down, eyes whirling in shades of blue tinted with worried yellows.

Her question made him tilt his head before Mimic craned his neck to lick her right forepaw tentatively, daring to touch her. Best. Prettiest darkling ever, the brown assured her, and there was no denying that he believed what he was saying; the touch of his mind conveyed his absolute awe of her, his fascination – and his anxiety for her. Why had the Chase stopped? Why was she not happy? Because red was not a happy color…

[Lotty]

Doppel was so worried...so scary was this adventure! He dropped down from the pseudo safety of the stalls and down to the ground to try his own hand...claw...whatever...at the maze of feet. Doppeganger survived by diving, dodging, dipping, dodging, and ducking his way in aversion of danger. If he had a moment to think in between he would have only become worried. Worried for pretty darkling, for Mimic, for himself, and of course for his flower gift, but luckily the little salamandyr had something of a one track mind, and all focus was on his one and only someone (for now).

Doppel appreciated Mimic's whisper and crooned quite loudly to his eggmine before leaping out of the way of another gather goer and staying behind the bigger brown. It was good that he was tagging along instead of taking a position out in front, because he would have never of dodged that big black boot! Taking cues from Mimic allowed his to dart off in another direction and allowing him to pass by with more leeway than just the hide on his back. Good feet yes. No broke, no broke, eggmines love. And if he was hurt would he really admit it? And ruin Mimic's fun playtime with the darkling? Never. He wouldn't ever do something so selfish as to ruin his favorite eggmine's time.

Thankfully, due to another Mimic intervention, he was able to see Lilitu the pretty dark one scramble up to a tent top and was able to follow, finally announcing to her with o hints of doubt that she was indeed the best, Lilitu green is best yes. Prettiest shiny in Doppel pile...best pretty. Of course she probably didn't know what he was talking about...how she was a greater treasure than all of his trinkets in his private collection combined...but she would know soon enough he was sure. He frilled playfully and cocked his head. Why was she hissing though? Why does the pretty green thing hurt? He didn't want the chase to end! Now was the time to offer his pathetic looking flower...sometimes the fixers used them to make people feel better so they must make mandyrs feel better too. He slid up to a spot next to Mimic and spat out the daisy for her, Pretty flower thing for pretty darkling Lilitu? Make better?

Doppel's human on the other hand didn't quite display as much confidence in the chase...probably because he was so confused. Did she just use the other chaser as a ladder? She did and that just couldn't be good. He shrank back a little bit, like Lilitu's glare was a special disintegration ray. Oh and that hissing. He didn't like that, he didn't mean to make her so upset...they could still play couldn't they? Please play? He curled his face into something endearing until he felt the pressure release and watched F'lix jump into the crowd and grab at some shinies. He didn't know how much he liked that game either...but shinies were good!

[Requiem]

Up flush against the railing, the male pressed against him, and something dangerous flashed in the dark eyes that wasn't PMS at all. A blade had sprung to hand, long and slightly curved, poised to drive into the thigh. His expression wavered between playful adoration and a viciousness that only desperation could produce, the nuzzle appeasing him for a moment, drawing out the happy PMS long enough for the dirk to clatter to the ground from limp fingers. And he leaned forward to lick Lilitu's nose. Whether it was to get her to back off or a sign of affection, impossible to tell. She was already moving off.

The sky blue mandyr was a master of jumps, and even if he wasn't the most intelligent of creatures, an adventurous nature - or perhaps some form of intuition - drove him to surf the crowd from heads and shoulders rather than follow below. His single word squeal cut through the air in his excitement as he hopped and skipped along, never letting Lilitu out of his sight for more than a moment.

A stepping stool. He grunted at the weight of the man on him, for Terror was not so large a man that being used in such a manner was anything less than painful.

Terror was possessed of a peculiar determination. Lililove, he knew, found him amusing, but she also thought him a coward. (Which he was, but that was beside the point.) Normally he would have quite given up here, amongst all these feet, no matter that the green in question had actually taken notice of him as Lililove had. Normally, but not today. There was an intelligent way to do this, there was. He just had to find it...Feet. Why stay under them when you could ride them? A small spear of glee went through him at this idea, and he leapt aboard one going in his direction, skittering nimbly along the tops of the shoes with Lilitu's direction in mind.

Until his ever moving transportation brought him within sight of Simper. Lililove's slave could not be left. It wasn't bravado; he was quite certain she would kill him dead if he'd seen the blue and the male was to be squished flat. (Much as he cared about Simper, mounting some sort of rescue was dangerous.) Lilislave, come, he called to the other male, attempting to snag Simper with his tail, missing and instead biting into the frill of the blue. Squished much bad. His tail wrapped around his clutchbrother, and with some effort he skittered forward, clawing into the fabric and dragging Simper behind him, his frill released for the climb.

Oh, oh, a new game! Vaulting over the rail, the brownrider-turned-salamandyr bounced happily after Simper. They were collecting shinies, were they? He knew all about shinies! He pounced a man nearly twice his size, riding him down into the dust, and began tugging at the necklace around his neck. The chain gave way with a snap.

PMS uttered a help, in pure agreeable fashion, though he hardly knew what he was agreeing to. Still, he found that not moving wasn't terribly fun. Weren't they playing a game? The game must be tackle. He flopped on Lilitu, but his gaze had already been drawn to something shiny and colorful in the stall across the street. His body quivered. Oooooh pretty.

Terror finally pulled himself up, tail uncoiling from Simper as he trembled. Bestest, Lililove. Bring Lilislave. Bite...ichor...nhhhh That he'd managed to stave it off as long as he had was something of a miracle, but Terror's body went predictably limp, the male beginning to slide down the slope of the tent toward the crowd of milling people and far too many stomping shoes.

He'd followed the Simper/Lilitu at a remove, after carefully picking his way back down those treacherous stairs, ringing his hands anxiously and shying away from anyone who got too close. But there was ichor, he was certain of it, and it was his fault and...down went the bluerider, passing out cold in the middle of the street.

[rii]

Good brown. Lilitu gifted him with returning lick, but not quite releasing him from her grasp. She might have, if not for a sky blue jumping on her back. She shook PMS off, foreclaw rising to slash at his muzzle for his gall – but, fortunately, the wilted flower dropping in the path of harm distracted her ire. The dark green was an easy creature to placate. PMS forgotten, Lilitu brushed her tail against Doppelganger. So nice, so eager to please were her pair of browns.

"Get off me!"
"Leggo."
"Somebody–!"
"Fuss crybaby much."

The woman's free hand beat almost harmlessly at his shoulder. Silly flaily one, F'lix snorted before leaning forward and biting the hand that stubbornly held onto the ring. It's not like she needed the shiny, but he did. It was of dire importance to bring the gifts to Lilitu. Life and death even! That's when something hard connected with the side of F'lix jaw..

Lilitu's tail flicked. It was all tumbling down hill so quickly; quite the disappointment. A hesitant touch from Simper's mind drew Lilitu's attention – at first a cold fury that she sent back to him for getting hurt. She slid off of Mimic, and with a silent command from her, Simper coiled around the purple-blue salamandyr to prevent him from sliding off the tent.

She licked the unconscious salamandyr, clearing away a spot of ichor. A second time before giving her Simpering Fool a similar treatment. The injured blue crooned apologetically before curling more tightly around his brother. Saveterror, saveterror. She wasn't happy that she had lost two – a backward glance – three of her chasers. Not to mention that Lixhers seemed to be hurt. The fun had to come to an end. So, with a playful upturn of her tail, Lilitu scampered back over to the browns. Flirtatiously she rubbed between them, her mind touching both of theirs.

They came in a pair, did they not? That would be fitting enough, because her and Simper also came as one. Of course she would include her fool, but he could not participate any further. Lilitu could not wait for him. But since Simper was already connected to her through the bond for all time (she had already chosen him at hatching, yes? He would always be her best minion.) Lilitu saw nothing wrong with her current actions; a little pleasure and fun never hurt anyone. She came to a pause, eyes once again a lovely violet as she turned her head and crooned to the matching browns. Share both, yes?

F'lix fell back, his jaw aching from the fist that had impacted it. He let out a feral hiss at the broad man glaring down at him. Stupid man. F'lix flipped back over onto his feet. If he wasn't busy with other things he would make that fool regret ever striking him. Alas, he had to find.. find.. F'lix slipped through the crowd, drawn to one of her browns (where was the other one? Bother.) Pressing up against Mi'rah, F'lix crooned while running a hand up the larger man's chest.

Then, never one to give another a choice in the matter, F'lix fisted the man's shirt and began to walk backwards, leading the man off so they could be alone; perhaps with his dear eggbrother. But, first, away from these silly beings and that awful large thing that had hit her. (oh he would die, that man, but later.)

[Avu]

Love darkling, Mimic ‘whispered’ to Doppelganger privately, thrilled by the touch of her tongue against his hide. The Salamandyr didn’t squirm at all, lying flat, submissive – it made him absolutely ecstatic that the prettiest darkling of all would touch him at all, let alone lick him. Doppelganger being near made him even happier, and if he could have he would have bounced all over his brother babbling in excitement – an excitement contained now in a slight quiver, a tentative croon to the darkling. It would absolutely break his heart if he accidentally offended her, after all. A – a PMS. The blue flopping on Lilitu put even more weight on Mimic and he resisted the urge to squirm awkwardly, uncomfortable with being squashed by more than one Salamandyr at a time.

The green shaking PMS off earned her another quiet, grateful coo from Mimic, soft enough to be inaudible, even at such a close distance. Part of him knew the blue hadn’t been shaken off because of his discomfort (at least, it was unlikely) but he still was grateful. Going squish wasn’t much fun unless it was under his favorite eggbrother – because Doppelganger made everything fun.

Lilitu sliding off of him made Mimic roll onto his belly before standing, slinking behind her anxiously as he crooned towards Terror and Simper. He hadn’t noticed them hurt, oh no – oh no – how had he not noticed! Anxiety flashed through his eyes and he crooned softly again, but he didn’t move forward because that would mean crowding Lilitu. The darkling was taking care of them. So nice of the darkling, so very nice of her. Of course she wouldn’t let them hurt. How could he ever have even though that; he felt so silly now. Mimic turned to brush back against Doppelganger, cooing at his eggbrother softly. Lilitu would take care of them – she was one of the best fixers ever!

Were they fixed then? Was that why she was leaving them?

And – and touching both of them. Mimic quivered, hopeful (for what he wasn’t sure), before her words made his eyes burst into brilliant violets and blues. Share! Share? Yes yes yes. Lovely, lovely darkling. She would understand how happy it made him to have his eggbrother win too. The only thing better than winning was having his eggbrother win as well and Mimic wriggled in a display of pure ecstasy, rubbing his head against Lilitu’s shoulder. His tongue flicked out against the green’s hide, adoring. Love best darkling, he whispered. Love share darkling ‘n eggbrother. Best /ever/. Best, the both of them.

How did he get so lucky? The best darkling ever. The best eggbrother ever. And – had he been less distracted – the best fixer ever, but much as he loved His, the darkling and his eggbrother had his attention wholly now. Best love darkling eggbrother share~

[Lotty]

A brush of the tail had him beside himself. So she really did like his flower! And she tasted Mimic! Yes! Maybe they could win together and there would be nothing better than that...but for now he'd have to wait. Much like his eggbrother, Doppelganger was completely oblivious to the hurt of the other two salamandyrs. How inconsiderate of him! It was for shame really, and the littler brown followed his brother's example and stayed quiet and off to the side for Lilitu to work her magic. Good fixer darkling love yes? He said as an aside to Mimic as he watched on carefully.

And then it was done, and the green picked. It was the most wonderful outcome he could ever think of too! And this whole time he had been so concerned about Mimic's feelings. It was so fortunate that Lilitu was the best; so considerate and wonderful as to pick not onle him but his eggbrother too. Really it was the only right choice. They both came from the same egg, and thusly must do everything together. Yes. Share. Sharing was soooo wonderful, Share share love, he was very quick to agree with the green. His eyes whirled vibrantly with his excitement before he too flicked out his tongue to begin licking the darkling with much of the same adoration, Share with love darkling, share with eggmine, share best ever.

Mi'rah was about to reluctantly join in on the game and wrangle a bejeweled comb out of the hair of a passerby when he caught F'lix/Lilitu out of the corner of his eye and there was a wave - of all things - of relief. Oh good. Now he didn't have to hurt anyone for a shiny thing, it was quiet relieving to the point where he crooned himself and eagerly waited to be hunted down. This was fun! But when his shirt was grabbed so roughly, he wondered for a moment exactly what kind of game they were going to play now. Oh well, he would follow along willfully, though wondering in the back of his mind where Mimic's ran off too.