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 Mar 20, 2010 14:28:50 GMT -5
For a moment the dirk was merely suspended there. M'ta's eyes didn't leave her face, a cold shiver running down his spine. "Jazheera? Jazzy? But -" The memories lay buried again; he couldn't ferret them out. Didn't know why they wouldn't respond to him. M'ta had never had any trouble remembering what he wanted to - until now. Fingers closed around the hilt of the dirk, but he didn't try to take it from her. No, he just stood there, the dirk between them, pale enough that his dark skintone had turned to a patchy, faded olive. The memories weren't there, but the sense that this was someone that he not only knew, but cared deeply for...his first friend? The one Shitaki was supposed to stand in for? Sister. How could he be looking at someone he'd never seen before a couple minutes ago...and feel this?
Bitra. Some of the color was returning to him. "You didn't...Bitra? You're okay?" The accent was gone, but the concern was clearly genuine. "That's no place for...anyone." Especially not his sister. Sister. He had parents, too, didn't he? Yes, yes, he did. And the runners...riding with Jazzy, with a man who laughed as they went fast, a carefree laugh that he would only have let loose there in the privacy of their fields, just the three of them. A woman's soft voice as she sung at night, to drive the evil dreams away from her young ones - or so she said. It wasn't much, but it was something.
"I'm sorry, Al-" He broke off right in the middle of saying her name, a blue firelizard bursting into the air just before his nose. Behruth's welcoming croon sounded, and he had taken the dirk and was already partially turning when R'wign's hand drew him around the rest of the way, dragging the smaller man into him. The blade was held between them, sideways so as not to cut, and M'ta's head dipped slightly as he pressed against the warmth of his weyrmate. An odd stinging sensation sprung up in his eyes, but he ignored it. Wondered at it idly. "R'wign..." His throat stopped up for a moment, the man glancing over his shoulder at the small girl.
"I thought she might be Bitran," he murmured, just loud enough for his intended to hear. "She practically...I was scared." Scared, yes, that Bitra had decided to come after him again, though he'd left them alone for six turns. More frightened that they'd go for his weak spots, if they approached him so openly. R'wign. Teri. The thought made him shudder. "But she's...Jazzy." Jazheera. R'wign wouldn't know who that was. He glanced up at him then. "My baby sister." His eyes were drawn to Aleta, and he winced as she crumpled; apparently the shock had been just too much. Should have gone to help her, but...he didn't want to leave R'wign. The trembling wouldn't stop - thought it hadn't started until he was in the man's arms. Irony, that.
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Ember
Administrator
T'san Iskierka Dy'shi Jazheera Ae'on Nephele Qaena K'dem Eikane
FLAME GURU OF THE UNDERWORLD
Posts: 1,832
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Post by Ember on Mar 20, 2010 16:31:03 GMT -5
Jazheera was aware that she was abandoningly Ruliana but the other girl was far enough away from her brother that she wouldn't make such a convenient target anymore. She was torn between helping both of the people that were so important to her. M'ta effectively made the choice for her by saying her name. The nickname made her bite her bottom lip and want to hug him. She doubted that would be welcome just then so she released the dirk. She stepped back again and glanced over her shoulder to see that Ruliana had gone even farther.
She turned a soft smile on M'ta as she heard the concern in his voice. She wasn't sure if it was concern for his sister or concern for anyone. She preferred to think it was the former. "I survived," Jazheera said. "You couldn't pay me enough marks to go back there." She shuddered slightly at the memory of seeing the blood in the stall of her trusty runner. Of all that had happened in those three turns the most painful had been losing her runner. He'd been her friend when she'd had no other. She always assumed he was killed for food. Bitra was a poor hold and free meat would have been too good to pass up.
The arrival of a blue firelizard startled Jazz. She retreated farther away from her brother. She'd never actually seen one of the little creatures. The blue didn't seem too happy. Perhaps he was her brother's firelizard? Another man arrived and he quickly embraced M'ta, much to Jazheera's surprised displeasure. She wasn't sure why the man annoyed her so much. It was probably envy of his obvious closeness to M'ta when wasn't able to be. He'd been her brother far longer than he'd known that man. Another brown arrived and she watched him warily. Not her brother's dragon and so she didn't immediately trust it.
The other brown shoved his head at Ruliana and she was hardly surprised when her friend fell to the ground a few moments later. The small young woman strode towards her friend despite the slight shaking in her body at the mere thought of getting so close to a dragon's head. The look she gave Checkoth was quite dark as she knelt by her friend. It was fear that made her say, "Hey, big and brown, could you kindly not scare my friend?" Jazheera reached for her friend's shoulder and gave her a slight shake. "Aleta?"
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Post by glamourie on Mar 21, 2010 3:24:36 GMT -5
He – he looked so petrified, and that fact alone was enough to make R’wign angry and protective. Everything else aside, he hated to see M’ta so obviously upset, and he reacted by instinct, pulling his weyrmate closer. He was shaking, and R’wign tensed up and swallowed the instinctive temper and the urge to turn and give the two females (both mere blurs to his vision; he couldn’t exactly see them, not through his own eyes, only through Checkoth’s; they were in his direct blind spot) a look that could wither. The healer settled for leaning his head down to press his chin to M’ta’s, nuzzling his nose ever-so-lightly. Affectionate, yes, blatantly, and he didn’t care that others were seeing it. The word Bitran made R’wign almost look up – but he didn’t, primarily because of the words that followed. Sister? M’ta didn’t have any family other than him and Terilyn, he thought? It was such a foreign concept. Not unwelcome, but unusual to say the least. He didn’t comment on that, instead rubbing his hands up and down the tops of M’ta’s arms.
“You’re shaking,” he said loud enough only for M’ta to hear. “She’s obviously not Bitran, and she’s not going to hurt you. I don’t think Bitra’s stupid enough to come after you when you’ve got a dragon and a Weyr supporting you anyway, for what it’s worth. Try to relax…” It was probably not the most reassuring of statements, but it was the best that he could offer. He wanted very badly to drag M’ta down to the ground and just cuddle him there until the shaking subsided – but… probably not appropriate for their situation. They needed to –
… grr.
Lifting his head, R’wign turned for the first time to look… down… at the positively diminutive woman. A hint of dry irritation touched his tone – not true anger, but definite offense. “Hey, short and sassy, mind not making my dragon feel like he’s a monster?” The words were out before he could stop himself, but part of him was very angry with the girl in that moment. Sister or not, she’d upset M’ta so much that he was trembling and her words to Checkoth had a very obviously bad effect. The two-tailed brown actually squeaked and backed up, and by the time R’wign’s words were out of his mouth, his eyes were whirling rapidly guilty, sorrow-filled shades that the healer was furious. He was protective of his mindmate, yes, and no one had a right to upset Checkoth that much. No one.
The slumped figure on the ground was ignored by R’wign, but not by the dragon, who leaned forward to gently nudge her – just one little touch. His mind brushed the four humans as well as Behruth’s, I didn’t mean any harm. She just looks – R’wignmine, Shorty, I didn’t mean it – She’s all fallen – I didn’t kill her, did I?
“Of course you didn’t,” R’wign said dismissively before turning to the girl. M’ta’s… sister. Foreign concept. No time to deal with it. “Your friend is not the only person upset and you’ll have to forgive me if her feelings mean very little to me right now. M’ta and I are going to go sit at one of the tables. You can come or you can stay – I don’t particularly care what you do.” He also wasn’t giving M’ta a say in the matter. He needed to sit down. Did he have his flask, R’wign wondered. The healer gently took his weyrmate by the shoulders and guided him toward one of the nearest tables. He thought his words made it option enough for the two females to come if they wanted – but then, if they were so spineless as to faint at the sight of a dragon, maybe they were better off not associating with dragonriders. He really didn’t appreciate anyone upsetting Checkoth. Yes, he was protective of his dragon.
“Do you have your flask with you, lover? You need to drink something and try to calm down…”
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Rei
Administrator
Rider Cr'oph Rider Er'ani Rider Elysia Rider/Healer Erilena Wherhandler Sydney Holdbrat Emitre Holdbrat Dileina Weyrbrat Elias Weyrbrat Terilyn
Woooo~ I am a fox!
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Post by Rei on Mar 21, 2010 12:10:18 GMT -5
Dark, dark, dark. Slowly the world began to return. First it was Jazheera’s voice sounding worried. “Aleta?” Then slowly other sounds began to filter in and Ruliana’s eyelids twitched in response. Another light brush to her mind. The dragon this time. He sounded upset and part of her wanted to comfort him and tell him that he hadn’t hurt her. However moving made her horribly dizzy. Instead she just groaned softly, her skin tone very pale. Another voice. An irritated, angry voice. The other brownrider probably. Please let there not be a fight because of her. But no they where leaving. They didn’t care. That partially hurt her but she didn’t condemn them their choice. Jazheera and her meant nothing to them. Only names.
Stirring lightly Ruliana grabbed for Jazheera’s hand and then another voice broke through the haze. “Aleta! Jazheera is she okay? What the shards happened?” Kelor. The lead harper of their little band. She felt the older man’s arms go around her and lift her into a sitting position. His hand went to her forehead and then he brought a flask to her lips and asked her gently to drink. The cold water was very welcome. Blinking gently the woman struggled to speak. “Not their fault. It’s very hot. I haven’t eaten yet this morning.” Those and a bunch of other excuses bubbled out of her throat. Her hand squeezed the smaller woman’s in a silent bid for her to play along. No need to start a war between the riders and the holders. Kelor shot a glare at the dragonriders but said not a word to them. Instead he nodded sharply and helped Ruliana to her feet.
Allowing her to lean against him Kelor shifted uncomfortably. Ruliana sensing the discomfort waved him off. “I’ll be okay really. I just need some food and rest. I’ll be fine by this evenings performance.” Kelor nodded and moved slightly away. Although he kept his eyes on M’ta and R’wign, the gaze not at all friendly. Not good. Bowing her head the Nerat woman gripped Jazheera’s hand. “He’s your brother. You should go. I’ll be fine. If I stay things might get worse. I’ll let Kelor take me back to the tent.” The words where a whisper. “Just make sure you say goodbye before you leave.” With a sad smile to her friend she turned to Checkoth. “It was nice to meet you Checkoth. I am sorry I fainted on you.” With a small bow she turned to Kelor who gave Checkoth a dirty look before seizing Ruliana’s elbow to lead her away. Really the woman was a bit embarrassed that she had fainted like that. Too much at once to work out, she reasoned. Especially with a threat thrown in. It was the first time she had ever seen a dragon in the flesh, much less have two speak to her. Was that normal?
Dragonriders. This is why Kelor didn’t like them. Making his singers faint like that. Silly woman shouldn’t be wandering anyway. He inclined his head to Jazheera. “Don’t be too long.” With a final distasteful look at the riders he tugged gently at Ruliana’s elbow. As she passed the riders the Nerat woman gave a sorrowful glance to M’ta and mouthed one word. Sorry. That was all she had time for before the harper was leading her away, scolding her for scaring him like that and demanding that next time she get a chaperone. Sigh, even here she couldn’t quite escape the north. Nodding and managing to look properly humbled Ruliana began to try and devise a way out. She couldn’t go back to Nerat. She wouldn’t.
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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 Mar 22, 2010 11:13:54 GMT -5
He'd caught just enough of Jazheera's expression tucked against R'wign to feel himself closing up to her. Was it distaste? Disapproval? Something like that, in her face, and sister or not - no matter how it suddenly actually did matter, only a little, what she thought - if she couldn't accept his weyrmate that was her own sharding problem. She could go back to wherever she came from. Wherever that was. Not Bitra, but she hadn't actually said, and he didn't know. Wasn't sure he cared. A newfound sister would never measure up to R'wign. Though, to be honest...she probably wouldn't have anyway.
He kept his voice low. "I know. But I th-" And a flurry of activity around the fainting girl, Checkoth's voice in his head, interrupted him. M'ta turned, not breaking contact with R'wign, but keeping the man at his back. Partially because the sparked paranoia was still raging strongly in his blood; he didn't trust so much activity behind him. "Don't worry about it, Checkoth," he told the brown aloud, his dark eyes narrowed upon Kelor. "Women have weak systems. You startled her is all...frail nerves. Shouldn't be wandering around like that if she's prone to fainting." Meeting the nasty gaze of the harper, he allowed a small, not entirely pleasant smile to touch his lips. "But see, her handler's here to collect her." Ruth huffed softly, nudging both men. Mine, hush.
Behruth slid over to Checkoth, nudging his head against his neck and crooning. It is all right, Checkbrother. You heard? She is hot and hasn't eaten yet. Mine was rough with her, too. It isn't you at all. Who could be afraid of Checkbrother? Only someone silly, the brown told the male privately. We apologize for the scene. Do take care of yourself, beautiful humanling. Maybe when you are feeling better and Ours aren't so grumpy, we can talk together and visit some of the Gather stalls. Would you like that? Behruth wouldn't want Ruliana to think this was normal for Theirs, not at all. Or that Checkoth was scary. Silly humanling.
M'ta made a small sound of protest in his throat as he felt himself being herded away. (Only R'wign could have gotten away with that. The moment of vulnerability had passed pretty much entire with the approach of this Kelor. Women M'ta might allow to see him like that, but not men - not a man like that.) R'wign was right, though. He needed to calm down. His senses were on hyper alert presently and he was likely to jump at any little thing. Bitra did that to him. Even knowing how unlikely it was for them to be here, that they weren't, the door had been opened, and it was a difficult one to close.
He nodded mutely, digging out the flask and sipping at the water. "Sorry to interrupt your breakfast. Did you eat enough?" he questioned, not wanting to inadvertently make his weyrmate sick later. "I'm fine, really. Just, you know, haven't thought about them in a long time, then I could have - and she's my sister -" A touch of disbelief wormed into his voice there. "Just too much at once." He offered R'wign a small smile, watching the dragons curiously. "She looks like you a bit, you know. The fainter."
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Ember
Administrator
T'san Iskierka Dy'shi Jazheera Ae'on Nephele Qaena K'dem Eikane
FLAME GURU OF THE UNDERWORLD
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Post by Ember on Mar 22, 2010 15:21:06 GMT -5
Jazheera had been taken aback by the dragon's reaction to her words but she didn't feel overwhelming guilt over it. He was a dragon, not a 'brat. She wasn't entirely sure how intelligent dragons were but she assumed they knew about good and bad. Behruth proved there were good dragons just as there were bad dragons. So excuse her for fearing for her and Ruliana's safety. R'wign's voice drew her gaze to him and she sighed quietly in annoyance. He was spared from her opinion by his brown's words. What was it with these two and talking to her, seriously? Having a voice in her head was a little more intimate than she wanted of a stranger's dragon. Behruth was...okay. He was her brother's dragon. The other one was just unwelcome.
The small woman flinched slightly as a big brown head came close to Ruliana (and her too) but the dragon did nothing but nudge her friend. His words seemed genuine. She eyed him for a moment. He had faulted in scaring Ruliana but there was no malice behind it. With a visible effort said, "I apologize for overreacting. Holders are generally afraid of dragons and I had no idea what you intended to do to my friend." She thought perhaps the situation would be repaired after a little more time...but then the brown's rider spoke again. Follow them to a table...? Was he brain-addled? She wondered if he thought she could carry Ruliana over to the tables.
She was again distracted by her friend grabbing her hand. Another voice broke in and she saw Ruliana's harper. Jazheera opened her mouth to reply when Ruliana cut in and explained the situation. The squeeze of her hand made Jazz want to scream and shout. It was no fault of Ruliana's! She bit on her tongue to keep from telling the true story but she noticed Kelor's look at the dragonriders and realized he probably didn't trust them al lthe same. Jazz's eyes found Ruliana's as she told her to go after her brother. Goodbye...before leaving? Oh right, her friend wasn't too keen on joining her at the weyr. "I'll join you soon, Aleta. Don't...don't push yourself," she finished lamely.
The next words she heard had her growl faintly. From her own brother no less! She narrowed her eyes dangerously and looked at the brownriders. That kind of talk about women she simply did not tolerate. Wrong. It was all wrong! She started moving away from Ruliana even before her friend turned away. She strode angrily towards her brother and his weyrmate. She had to half-run to get passed them as they walked but once she did she rounded on them, planting her feet shoulder width apart and crossing her arms. "Women are weak, huh?" She asked acidly. "They're just good for Joining off and caring for the home and keeping the man happy, I suppose."
Bitter much? Yes, yes she was. She'd spent four turns or so searching for her brother...only to discover that he held much the same opinion about women as her father did. Or so it sounded to her. Tears of frustration gathered at her eyes but she didn't make a move to wipe them. "Pardon me but I cannot join you two for a chat. Perhaps I'll see you around again, brother, R'wign." She stalked in the direction her friend had gone. She was nearly quaking with the pent up anger (yes, for Jazz, that was pent up). She'd forgive her brother soon enough but for the time being she was pissed off at him.
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Post by glamourie on Mar 26, 2010 4:10:22 GMT -5
Most unfortunate – he didn’t realize – none of the others seemed that bothered – Checkoth chirped. The brown did not respond verbally, and the rapid whirl of his eyes only diminished because of the mental reassurance coming from His. R’wign was the most important thing in his life, after all. If His wasn’t ad at him, he wasn’t too terribly bothered about what other people thought… but it did make him sad that he’d so obviously upset the one who looked so like His. He crooned quietly in the general direction of Behruth, accepting the other brown’s words but not responding; he’d most assuredly been scolded. As a result, Checkoth backed off, two tails swirling anxiously behind him, before he told R’wign privately where he was going – to the beach to lounge away from the Holders, so that he didn’t make anyone else faint. He didn’t want His to have to spend the whole Gather time fixing people, after all. That would ruin his fun. Not even Behruth’s presence could comfort him enough to keep him in spot and Checkoth squeaked again before taking to wing and gliding off to lounge somewhere out of sight. He’d cuddle up to His later to feel better.
The human half of the brownpair was significantly better than his dragon at hiding his emotions. As a result, it would be difficult to detect the distinct scorn in his eye as he wrapped his arms around M’ta’s waist; it would be even harder to tell the motivations for his anger. Just the same, he bowed his head and nuzzled his weyrmate’s hair in obvious affection before letting himself snicker softly. He was normally very good about excusing people’s behaviors as needed, but Checkoth’s upset brushed away most of R’wign’s friendliness; what remained was annoyance. He was extremely protective of his dragon, after all, and always had been. M’ta’s sister or not, she couldn’t get away with being so –
… bratty.
Blinking in response to the girl’s words, R’wign tilted his head to the side and crinkled his nose slightly. “No, women are just good for overly emotional responses that have absolutely no bearing on the current conversation, particularly responses that are wildly inappropriate, presumptuous, and very arrogant. By the way, your brother has a name, you’d do well to learn it if you’re going to be talking to him.” The words were out before he could stop himself. Picking a fight wasn’t the wisest course of action, particularly not with one of the only relatives M’ta had left, but this girl was annoying him. First she upset M’ta, then she was blatantly unkind to Checkoth – yes, she’d apologized, but probably only because M’ta was involved which was unacceptable to him; what kind of person picked on Checkoth of all creatures? – and then had the nerved to just assume ridiculous motives… honestly. Honestly. He liked Fainty better. She at least didn’t talk as much.
If he was less annoyed, R’wign probably would have asked her to stay, and explained that M’ta didn’t mean the words the way that she took them. Indeed, he likely would’ve tried to convince her to talk. But M’ta was upset, even still. R’wign hadn’t missed the fact that he was keeping his back only to him and if anything came from his being constantly beaten down by Ka’rys, it was a firm understanding of defensive techniques, even if he couldn’t coordinate himself well enough to pull them off yet. He knew what he was seeing and it made him even more irritable. M’ta’s explanation to him had him tightening his grip reassuringly – he didn’t respond to his weyrmate’s question though, instead forcing himself to try and be more polite. Try.
“You’re reading too much into things and getting too worked up too quickly,” he said as the girl turned away and his eye narrowed. “But by all means, take off.” Under his breath, he muttered, “I don’t need you stressing out my bloody flitter too and that would be three for three…”
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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 Mar 28, 2010 14:40:27 GMT -5
It was very tempting to simply allow R'wign to fight his battles for him, when it came to Jazz, especially since he really was at something of a loss as to her reaction anyway. No, the words weren't particularly nice, and the sentiment wasn't completely aimed at Kelor, either...oh, whatever. If she couldn't acknowledge the very simple truth that men were physically stronger than women - a state that extended to nerves as well - that really wasn't his problem. Nor was it his problem that she took a statement of fact and twisted it all out of proportion, making of it some sort of...social statement. M'ta was northern, and yes, he did tend to view men as the real threats and feel the need to protect women (in general) as a result. Things weren't much different in the south, either, when it came to that. Physically, most women weren't a threat (or men either for the majority of Southerners, but that was neither here nor there). Despite the sexism in that mentality - a sexism Jazheera would be hard-pressed not to encounter anywhere she went - M'ta was Bitran first then part of a weyr. For six turns now. His idea of female had nothing to do with joining, and bringing up children.
For that matter, what was he doing? Joining and bringing up a child. Hm. Silly girl and her generalizations. If he was really that stuck on gender roles, he wouldn't have a man for a weyrmate.
But he felt no need to explain himself to an emotional Jazz. Especially since all he could think, really, was that her reaction was so typically female. All emotion, no logic, here come the tears and storming off before even trying to work anything out. Well, he didn't mind women, but he found their emotions just as taxing as the next man, especially completely out of the blue like that. Was he going to be calling her back to deal with it some more? Highly unlikely. He gave her one small bone, if she decided to grasp it. A quiet - weary, even, 'That's not what I meant." If she wanted to follow up on that it was her own prerogative. He wasn't chasing her down.
The younger man leaned against his weyrmate companionably, nosing his jaw. "Sorry," he murmured to his weyrmate. Dragging him in on this probably was more distressing than it needed to be. Especially since he'd really been okay...without him. Really. Behruth worried, perhaps, that his intervention wasn't going to be enough, but really he would have been fine.
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