Ice Cream Weyrling Lesson One

[neeuqtar]

((Midnight -- Madhavath is talking to Tarath xD ))

[Rowana]

"Hi Kale! Hi Chandath!" Nabrik tried to wave, but failed. He was finding it hard to move with a green weyrling on top of him. It was amazing how much bigger Chandath was in just a few days. He couldn't wait to see how big she'd be when she could fly! Though, he wondered if she'd still like squashing him then. That might hurt. Yeah, it would probably hurt a lot.

Nabrik frowned stubbornly. So what if he'd come? He was sure these lessons were more fun then Candidate ones, even if he was allowed. He wanted to say as much, but again, rather difficult at the moment. "I'm bored!" he explained shortly. Did he need another reason? It was rather hard to talk with so much dragon on top of him. He didn't bother to explain the costume. It wasn't one of her shirts anyway. At least, he didn't think it was. He'd gotten them out of the laundry in the creche, so who knew?

Nabrik pushed at Chandath a bit, hoping she wouldn't take too much offense. He really did like the attention, even if she was Kale's. If Chandath like him, one of the next hatchlings was bound to pick him. He would learn all there was to know about dragons by then! Path was yipping in panic and running around the pair in a panic. Her master was stuck under the monster! Someone help! She tripped over the costume and fell on her face, still barking. It was just as well she hadn't tried to attack Chandath. She had at least that much sense.

Underneath his green captor, Nabrik couldn't help feeling a little discouraged. Sel'n had found him out so quick and he'd been sure the costume was perfect. Well, Path's barking had probably ruined anyway. Yet, he hadn't even gotten mad like most of the other adults did. Clearly he was going to have to work harder to break this ones nerves. Still, the idea of helping with such a big dragon was fantastic enough to ignore the infraction. Nabrik's eyes lit up and he tried to get free again. On the other hand, he thought, Chandath might not let him.

[Ruby]

And you, Kaaoloth, Rajnith replied to her teacher's greeting with all the self-possession of a queen greeting her most lowly subjects. Her mind-voice was warm, however, and if friendly wasn't exactly the right term, at least it wasn't hostile. Her entourage had to start somewhere, and what a triumph it would be to have even her teacher doting on her! Worshiping the very ground on which she walked! Yes, he would be a good addition. Next in line: the shiny one.

As soon as they were instructed to take a bucket, Rajnith shoved her head into Tenlie's side, pushing her in Rof'l's direction. Don't let him take that shiny bucket! It is the prettiest, so obviously it has the best oil in it. Now, please, Tenlieslavelove. He's going to get the one I want! The panicky whine in the green's voice at the end there had Tenlie scuttling - she hadn't experienced a full-on tantrum yet, but she suspected that Rajnith might be even more difficult if she didn't get her way. Luckily no one else seemed to be going after that bucket, so no problem. Ten turned back to her Green, ready to start oiling, but Rajnith was missing. Where? - Of course. She'd sidled up next to Kamath, ignoring Nandath on the Bronze's other side. She might have the other Brown eventually, but Nandath was too silly looking.

Hello, clutchbrother, she purred, looking the golden-bronze over with a slowly swirling blue eye. You're looking very shiny with that nice new coat of oil. Switching to a private band, she swung her head around towards Ten and snapped Hurry up now, can't you see that I itch and wish to be shiny? And do it right, and fast. I require the best.

"Aye, Of course you do," Tenlie murmured, still not totally comfortable with mental communication. Dipping the rag into the clear oil, she started at the base of Rajnith's wings, where she could tell (by the itch between her own shoulder blades) that the Green itched worst. Once she'd moved up Rajnith's neck to her head, Ten shot a look over in Rof'l's direction. Shards, she was old compared to some of these new riders. "You do be Rof'l, right? Of Kamath?" she asked, working the oil in between Rajnith's eyes and getting a rumble of pleasure in response. "I do be Ten. Rajnith do seem to like you, and your Bronze. She wants me to make new friends, I do suppose," she tacked on, not even aware that that last bit was kind of sad. Oh well.


True to his recent decision, Jagjith simply raised his snout a few inches when Kamath addressed him, turning his head away from the Bronze. I am not stupid, he corrected with finality, but otherwise did not take the bait, turning his attention to the Weyrlingmaster. Learning was much more important than sniping at siblings, especially siblings he would have to compete with eventually. If they were angry with him, all the better. Their judgment would be clouded.

T'mund ignored the whole exchange, keeping his head down. Rof'l's bronze was his own problem, and T'mund didn't have any opinion about the rider. No reason to go out of his way to make an apology that wasn't warranted. Anyway, Sel'n was speaking, and it had always been nearly impossible for T'mund to stop himself from learning things. These things were fairly simple, to be sure (he shuffled through the notes he'd made last night on elementary dragon care), but he didn't want to miss anything important. Jagjith was depending on him. I am also paying attention, and learning on my own, Jagjith put in, a tiny hint of what might be affection in his voice. Maybe.

T'mund's nose was still in his papers, but he was smiling now, touched at the hint of caring in Jagjith's voice. So it took a second for him to realize E'iah was there, and talking to him. T'mund flicked his eyes up, running them over the studs in his roommate's ear. Who in their right mind would inflict that sort of damage to themselves on purpose? But he didn't have anyone else to work with, so with an abbreviated nod in E'iah's direction he tucked his papers away and retrieved a bucket. A moment of hesitation; then, with a resigned sigh, he gave a wordless mental summons to Jagjith and headed for E'iah and Viveth.

The pair stopped several paces away from their roommates, both of them aware of Viveth's paranoia. Greetings, clutchbrother, the brown offered, eyes focused somewhere over Viveth's head. T'mund started working on Jagjith's back, placing himself between the two dragons as much as he could. For his part, Jagjith ignored the blue after the initial greeting, merely moving his various limbs so it was easy for T'mund to reach all of his itchy parts. Looking back over his shoulder, T'mund tried to catch E'iah's eye, feeling like he should say something. "Thanks... uh, thanks for letting Jagjith and I work with you. I am sorry if we're scaring Viveth," he added, noticing the blue's nervousness (then again, when wasn't Viveth nervous?)

[raii]

Kamath rumbled happily at the compliment. He stretched his wings, letting the freshly oiled hide catch the sunlight, reflecting and glowing softly. I do look shiny, do I not? The bronze preened happily, shaking his head. He analyzed her. Although a bit, well, plump, and not appealing in shape, the green had such a lovely color. Nothing wrong with getting a nice cuddle. It would have to wait, though. He didn’t want to ruin his nice shine, though, no matter how promising this cuddle was.

Rof’l shook his head at Kamath’s thoughts before turning to the rider of this dragon. He smiled kindly, until she talked. His head slowly turned to the side, his smile somewhat confused and blank. “Yeah, I’m Rof’l, of Kamath. Rajnith and Ten, huh? Well, we’d be happy to be your friends,” he smiled. Rof’l was a kind heart, always willing to make friends. This girl seemed rather nice, and Kamath seemed to like Rajnith. There was one thing that confused him though…

“Why do you talk funny?”

Of course, this wasn’t the kindest phrasing of the question. It wasn’t callousness on Rof’l’s behalf, as he cared deeply for other’s feelings. Rather, he didn’t quite understand subtleties. He didn’t realize that the way he asked this might offend her. He looked back to Kamath, who was still preening and posing for the green, enhancing his shininess however he could. More oil, Rof’l. I must be even shinier![/i] Obligingly, Rof’l dipped the rag back into the vat.