Strangers (Archy)

[Ember]

T'san resented waking up. His sleep had been so peaceful. He could imagine J'ter laying beside him, sleeping in as usual. He resisted the urge to tickle his weyrmate awake too so they could go have some breakfast. The brownrider remained in a blissful semi-awake state for a while until he noticed the something was wrong. The first thing that registered was the heat. It was way too hot to be his weyr in Fort. The second thing he noticed was that there was someone sharing the furs.

It is good that you are awake now, T'sanmine. We have company. Or rather, we are the company of someone else, Dsoleth said, his amusement plain in the mental voice. The man frowned slightly as he took in that statement. As he opened his eyes he barely resisted the urge to groan. That was no J'ter sharing the bed. He twisted around to look at the brown. Memories of arriving yesterday and being caught up in a green flight finally came back. Guess who the lucky rider-dragon pair was... Surprise? Dsoleth was still very amused. The hint of pride wasn't lost on T'san. Well done Dsoleth. Now I don't suppose you know the name of these two lovelies?

This was an odd situation to be thrown into, no doubt about that. T'san was amused with himself that he could keep such an upbeat attitude. Dsoleth's slow negative was enough to bring a grin to the brownrider's face. He slowly sat up in the bed without fear of disrupting the sleeping woman too much. Sometime during the night it seemed the two riders had seperated. T'san wondered if it was from the heat or from the fact that the two were strangers to each other. Didn't much change the choice he had to make now. Leave or wait for her to wake up?

Leaving, he was reminded by his brown, is rude and inconsiderate. You just want to stay curled up with that green of yours, T'san retorted in good humour. Leaving definitely seemed out of the question. He settled for trying to figure out where his clothes had been left. Getting dressed was a good idea, leaving or not. He doubted she'd want to jump him upon waking up. While he careful got out of the furs to drag on his clothes he took a moment to examine both rider and dragon.

Dsoleth's possesive show of putting his neck over the green's warned T'san not to comment on the...bulky appearance of the green. She was beautifully coloured though. T'san dragged his shirt over his head and peered at his bed-mate. She was not unpleasant looking. With a little sigh the brownrider sat on the edge of the bed. Would she wake soon? Or mayhap she was already wake and feigning sleep? Who knew.

[archenstone]

Kalina sighed, twisting in bed and stretching her arms out above her head. She felt loath to wake up. She was too comfortable....warm and comfortable. In a sleepy haze she realized she was only sleeping on half of her bed when she normally would have sprawled out with her limbs flung out. It was then that she noticed something was sitting on her bed, and it wasn't a fire lizard.

Good morning KaliMine, don't be startled our guests are still here.Uminth's mind voice sounded happy and content. It brought back her memories of the day before...so that means... Her eyes popped open and she tensed automatically. Looking at him with uncertainty with wide amber eyes. She resisted the urge to yank her covers and scramble to the other side of the bed. It's too late for modesty I guess... She tried to convince herself. Immediately thoughts pervaded what little mental comfort she had left. Thoughts of whether or not she did things right....or was their a right to it and other thoughts born of her insecurity until Uminth brushed her mind with images of yesterday. The vivid memories made Kalina blush but she self doubts her eased. After all she had enjoyed herself and things had gone much easier than she thought they would. With that realization she heard Uminth hum happily.

I see you're content where you are... Kalina brought her stretched out arms back and sat up a little. She took a few moments, studying his face for the first time with out Uminth's influence. She had no clue who he was. She swallowed...not knowing what to say to this guy and simply blurted the first thought that came to her.

"Who are you?"

[Ember]

T'san grinned slightly as he heard the woman sighing and shifting. That was generally a good sign of waking up. Her being awake became obvious when she opened her eyes and saw him. His expression didn't falter although he wondered if he did seem that intimidating to the girl. Her expression was none too reassuring. Surely she knew if he intended her harm he could have done so already? Mm. Not likely. The Southern Weyr probably wasn't used to being on guard as much as Fort was.

The brownrider turned to regard the pair of dragons for a moment to allow the woman a moment of time to gather her thoughts. He had to admit that having a strange man in her bed might be kind of disconcerting. T'san got up and stretched before turning back to the greenrider. Her question made him smile even wider and he finally spoke to her. "Good morning, sunshine. I am T'san of Dsoleth," he replied, the spark of amusement in his eyes plain. "May I know your name and your dragon's so I can thank you for the very nice welcome?"

Dsoleth rumbled slightly, torn between amusement and rebuke. Laying it on a bit thick aren't you, T'sanmine? The brown commented before turning his attentions to the green. Greetings pretty green. I regret I don't know your name and I already must apologize for Mine. He is a terrible nuisance to females sometimes. He means no harm to Yours though. Oh, and I am Dsoleth. The last sentence was delivered with a bit of puffing out and a hint of pride in the tone.

T'san rolled his eyes at the brown's antics and pointed a thumb at the pair. "Dragons are always very amusing after Flight," he remarked dryly. "Hmm, so how about a bit of breakfast? I could go grab some. Or would you prefer I just go? I was considering it earlier, truth be told, but Dsoleth convinced me that that would be a bit rude."

[archenstone]

She took a breath, still settling her thoughts. Ain't he cheery in the morning? She thought as she couldn't decide if he annoyed her or if his obviously easygoing manner was a good thing.

Now now Mine...just because you don't know him doesn't mean you automatically dislike him. You're pretty cheery in the morning too remember? Besides...he gave his name. He's not a stranger anymore. Then to Dsoleth Uminth said,

I am Uminth and don't be surprised if Mine acts out. She's not sure what she thinks of yours at the second.

Kalina was silent for a moment longer before saying. "I'm Kalina." She couldn't help but smile slightly as he commented on their dragons. Still uncertain but not quite as unsettled she said, "Breakfast sounds good." She didn't comment as to whether he should have left or not. She wasn't too sure what she'd have preferred anyways.

At that moment two brown firelizards glided from their typical hiding hole and perched on her. Apparently the talk of breakfast had gotten their attention as well. After getting an eye stroke in greeting one of them looked over at T'san and chirped. The other completely ignored him....choosing to fly over and sit on Uminth's head instead.

"These are Raziel and Arcturius." She said, indication the one on Uminth's head as Arcturius.

[Ember]

The young man waited for her answer curiously. Would she even answer him? In the meantime he turned his thoughts to Dsoleth. Think she'll take me up on breakfast? T'san asked, hinting at a chance to bet. Uminth says Hers doesn't know what to think about you. Interesting response and disappointing. He had failed to get a rise out of the brown. Green-besotted beast.

Dsoleth snorted mentally before addressing Uminth again. This may be very interesting then, he commented. The brown had something troubling him though. His couldn't shake the feeling that this greenpair was young. It did not really matter much to a dragon but he was curious. T'sanmine is under the impression that you are rather young. Just throwing that comment out there wouldn't hurt.

T'san felt it was a perfectly reasonable assumption based on how the woman was reacting. Her name was Kalina? "A beautiful name, very fitting." Her smile pleased him no end. Before he could really try and start a conversation he needed to get them breakfast first. But there was a slight problem with that..."Er, where are the kitchens?" He really had no clue where anything was. The trials of a newcomer.

The brownrider blinked at the arrival of two miniature Dsoleth's. "Firelizards?" he asked curiously. "I've heard lots about them. These two are charming little guys." e looked over them with a beastcrafter's eye. He didn't have much to judge them by besides their larger cousins though. Firelizards are uncommon in the North.

[archenstone]

Kalina blinked before saying. "Not to far. I can show you." She edged out of the covers and reached for clothes, pulling on the closest things to her hand. Once dressed in a pair of pants and a russet blouse she felt more comfortable. Raziel had evacuated his moving perch to fly around T'san before perching on his shoulder to investigate.

This was our first rise. Uminth said with a flick of her tail, believing Dsoleth would get her meaning.. She blinked as Arcturius landed on her head. She snorted, making the brown fire lizard take off...her mind filled with amusement at her little cousin.

"Ready to go?" Listening to Uminth converse with Dsoleth unsettled her...wishing for once she didn't have to hear Uminth talking. She tried to cover it up with her typical energy though she didn't quite succeed. Instead she was still more reserved than normal. She settle her hair into a semblance of decency as she waited for him.

Mine won't tell yours but the little cousin on him sneezes flame on occasion. Uminth said with mental chuckle. The look hers sent her made it obvious that Kalina really didn't want him know. It didn't matter though because something on T'san made Raziel sneeze....shooting out a lick of flame next to his face. Kalina couldn't help it...she grinned.

"Watch out. If he does it once he'll be sure to do it again!"

[Ember]

T'san's turn to blink. He rubbed the back of his head ruefully and turned to give her a bit of privacy. "So much for me bringing food back," he said with amusement. One of the flitters - she called him Raziel, right? - landed on his shoulder and he tried to look at him with curiousity. Flitters were rather uncommon in the North and it was interesting to see one up close. He offered it a little pet before dropping his hand and turning back to look at last night's bedmate.

Dsoleth seemed to swell, the brownrider noticed before he had completely finished turning back to the greenrider. The reason being Uminth's comment. I am honoured to have your first Flight, he told her before considering telling his rider. His would be rather surprised and perhaps embarrassed too. Entertainment? Dsoleth liked the idea. He watched the miniature brown land and fly off again and rumbled a bit.

I must say, I do know how to pick them. Uminth says it was their first rise, the brown told T'san. He momentarily froze as he digested the meaning behind those words. Their? The green's...and the rider's? He groaned slightly before he remembered he was still in Kalina's company. He smiled and nodded. "After you," he offered but was still contemplating what Uminth had told Dsoleth. If it was her first time then he was somewhat impressed. She reacted better than he figured, considering first times in a flightroom were generally not the most gentle...

Dsoelth rumbled again in amusement at Uminth's early warning but he didn't warn His. When T'san noticed the brown's smug feeling of knowing more than him the brownrider turned to scowl at Dsoleth. He found out the reason for the feeling soon enough. Raziel sneezed on his shoulder and startled the man into jumping a bit. Seeing the grin on Kalina's face made him chuckle. "So its predictable, is it?"

[archenstone]

"Not always, but he's allergic to dust I think." Kalina said as she walked past. She led him to the dining hall. On the way there she kept trying to make sense out of flight. Was that really her? Spinning around and teasing the men...even her Weyrling Master! She didn't feel like it was quite her...but not quite Uminth either. She could only suppose that it was a combination of them. The walk let known a couple sore spots. Is that normal? She hadn't bothered to look in a mirror...but if she had bothered she would have noticed a small dark spot on her neck....not to mention that had she looked herself over there were a couple scratch marks. She refused to change her pace for discomforts sake though. She lead the way walking normally....though the wide grin that typically stayed on her face all morning was not present. Instead she had just a small smile...an attempt to hide her discomfort and nervousness. Under normal circumstances she'd have probably chatted T'san to death.

"See? Not to far at all." She said as she lead him to where food was laid out. She made herself a plate and found a place to sit with an open seat. Raziel fluttered down onto the table next to her and she gave him a bite of sausage.

When T'san made it over she said, "So...where are you from?"

[Ember]

T'san shook his head ruefully after she passed him so she wouldn't see. Seemed she missed his insinuation. Oh well. "They can have allergies?" It was true animals could have them but for some reason he considered firelizards different. He stretched upwards for just a moment before he winked at Dsoleth cuddled with Uminth and followed Kalina out of the room. He was finding it a little awkward again now that he wasn't really weyrmated anymore. At least, not to someone he could actually share a weyr with anymore. J'ter was in a place he could no longer go back to.

He blinked in surprise as they came upon the kitchens and looked the place over. Well, they all seemed the same to him. He grabbed himself some breakfast and sat across the table from Kalina. First flight...she probably wasn't hugely comfortable right now. His first time had been a nightmare sure enough. He tried the eggs and found them quite to his liking. As expected of a weyr though. Some Northern aspects had invaded his thinking. Dragonriders were naturally on a level higher than Holders and Crafters and ought to have good cooks. For all they cause chaos Pern would be completely destroyed without them. He still held respect for non-riders, diminished as it was, and had never intentionally harmed the though.

T'san paused in his eating and looked at her when she asked where he was from. He winced slightly and let his Fort accent come through briefly. If she recognized it good for her. If not then it didn't matter which weyr he'd come from, did it? "I came frm the North. More specifically I was born in Ruatha." That was truth but not all of it. His voice slipped into a more neutral accent and he asked, "And you?"

[archenstone]

Kalina had heard the accent before but didn't know enough to determine which Weyr he came from by voice alone. "Ruatha? That would place you at Fort wouldn't it?" She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. "It talking about it bothers you we don't have to. It's just I've always been the roaming type...and I can't help wanting to explore and go places....or at know about them." Good thing she studied her maps....yes....Kalina loved maps and exploring. She wondered why he decided to come to Selenitas but hesitated to ask and took another bite instead. As she shifted she winced, realizing her thighs ached. Geez....had she been /that/ active last night? Still trying not to think too hard about her flight she decided to ask him, "What was terrible about Fort? I mean, I know the northern Weyrs have been a pain in the arse here....doing things I think no one should do to another....but are they really that bad to themselves?" Naive? Yeah probably....but oh well.

[Ember]

Mm. He supposed either way of recognizing where he'd come from worked. A slight nod indicated that she'd gotten right but that wasn't necessarily always the case. Benden could and occasionally did force-Search from the Holds that traditionally looked to Fort. Hah, tradition was well and truly screwed up now. He smiled slightly to reassure the girl. "If all you want to know is about the actual places I don't mind so much." That was the truth. It was when people got into personal stuff that he tended to avoid talking about the past at all.

T'san frowned slightly as she winced. Wincing accompanied with movement meant..pain, generally. He opened his mouth to ask about that but she was quicker. Mmph. "Fort itself isn't absolutely horrible to those it considers its own. Benden, though, is a dreadful place from what I've heard." Or rather, what Fort spies had informed them. "Its more the fact of what they do to other weyrs and Holds that bothers some people. I personally was mostly a Thread fighter to avoid the actual killling." He shrugged and bit off a piece of bread, chewing thoughtfully. How to bring up such a delicate topic...?

Diving head first seemed to be the only option. "I don't know if you've been avoiding the topic or I have, but neither of us can escape last night. I have to admit, your green surprised me picking Dsoleth..." Okay so it was kind of a slow dive....

[archenstone]

She listened to him, nodding occasionally until he mentioned last night. She stopped eating and blinked, kinda surprised. She swallowed her mouthful carefully, her eyes dropping down before she forced them back up. "Well, I had no clue who Uminth would pick when she rose. I never held a particular interest for anyone." Well, maybe she had thoughts....but they didn't matter now did they? "Uminth likes meeting new dragons..." Well that was an understatement. "Actually she found Dsoleth exciting. Being a stranger and all." Did she really want to go into detail that she'd have found it strange to sleep with her Weyrling master? Or perhaps sleep with the Wher boy? Or even worse....another woman? A faint blush went unbidding upon her cheeks and she shrugged. "I guess I might have had some influence on that after all. I wasn't too comfortable with the thought....of being with some one I knew." She felt it would seem silly to admit that she would have been mortified to find herself in bed with a woman....knowing that homosexuality could be common place in the Weyr.

"So...how was it you chose to come here yesterday? Of all days?"

[Ember]

((Do you mind if I end this, Archy? Its been a while since this and I'm running out of things that happened before this for hi mto talk about. XP Can we agree to end it saying it was a bit awkward but ended well?))

[archenstone]

[[indeed, thread closed and T'san and Kalina get an awkward...but friendly...begenning.