Girly Man and Scarf Boy! (Tags Nautic)

[Ember]

The lunch hour in the main hall was normally very busy. Something to do with the large population of the weyr all wanting food at the same time. This didn`t hold true for the lunch of wherhandlers. Most others weren`t even awake at the time. It was one thing Eikane liked about living according to his wher`s schedule. The photophobic creatures were easily blinded by sunlight so by necessity wherhandlers became nocturnal too. The Harper had hated it at first but once his bond with Eikask had grown stronger he began to genuinely enjoy life again.

That was one problem with night life. Too much quiet to think in and not enough to do. He planned to fix that soon but until then he had a feeling the past would continue to haunt him. Bugger. He took a bite out of his herdbeast sandwich before propping himself up on his elbow. For food he made himself it wasn`t bad. He missed having food ready for him but he hardly expected the cooks to be up so late. As evidenced by the couple of people in the main hall there wasn`t enough of a demand for night cooks to justify shortening the day staff or hiring more.

Sigh. He continued to eat his sandwich while Eikask laid on the floor next to him. He doubted whers ought to be in the main hall but there was enough room for her and she much preferred being near him anyways. It was still a bit too early for Nocturne to be awake either. The blue had a bit of a weird pattern. He knew Roivao`s salamandyr was up at wherhandler hours but his blue liked to watch people. To observe and learn things. That meant being awake during the daytime. Eikane only saw the blue for a couple of hours before going to bed. Sometimes Nocturne would share some of what he`d seen but most times not. Solitary creature he was.

Eikane might have just stayed lost in his thoughts if he hadn`t seen a somewhat familiar figure in the dimly lit eating area. Ah that was another wherhandler. He remembered that one, he did. More from before the hatching than afterwards. That pink scarf boy...What was his name again? Naulie, Nausi...Nautic! That was it! "Oi Nautic! Why don't you come keep a fellow wherhandler company?" he called out pleasantly. He hadn't gotten to know many of his nighttime companions very well. It was well past time to change that.

[Tashe]

Quietly humming as he offered Tizzy a bit of Wherry, Nautic used his other hand to stir his sizzling vegetables with a wooden spoon. Ever since he had bonded to Nautsk, the Wherhandler had been getting proficient in cooking, finding it didn't take much to make hot simple meals. Tonight was vegetables and wherry breast cooked on a pan, with some Rosemary and oil to taste. It was actually quite simple. Cut strips of precooked meat and chop some vegetables, dump them in a hot skillet that has been oiled and cook for a fourth of a candle mark. Wrapping the handle of the pan with a towel, he removed it from the top of the fire and dumped the contents onto a plate before tossing the pan into the wash station. "Owow." The towel hadn't diffused the heat for long, and it had stung his hands before he had gotten rid of it. Nautic rubbed his palms together before picking up his plate and exiting the kitchen. "Frrood." "Yes you can have more when I get some. Hungry little beasty." The firelizard chirped contentedly.

The main hall was quiet, like it normally was at this time of night. Wherhandlers ate lunch at this hour, though the occasional Dragonrider could be seen getting off of their watch shift and grabbing a small bite to eat to ease the late night munchies. Sliding onto an empty bench, Nautic swung the end of his teal scarf over his shoulder so it didn't get in his food as he ate. As Tizzy climbed down his arm, he placed a strip of wherry onto the table for the firelizard to chew on. Or should he say salamandyr? The little Blue was obviously a Firelizard, but like his other dragonic pet, he had a bit of a twist. Tizzy thought he was a Salamandyr. He wouldn't listen to either Nautic, nor Absinthe who was actually a Mandyr. Not that Nautic minded, the Firelizard was amazing despite the delusion. He could almost speak, like an Avian who could mimic human speech. It was amusing to say the very least. It also helped the Wherhandler because it let him know what his flitter wanted.

Shoveling a forkful of his dinner into his mouth, Nautic almost choked on it when someone called out his name. Since the dining hall was quiet, the message was loud and it had startled him. Coughing as his body tried to dispel the food that had been partially inhaled, his eyes started to water. Fortunately for him he took smallish bites, and his fit was over in a few seconds. Swinging around to see who had induced his choking, the Greenie frowned slightly as he recognized only one other person as a Wherhandler. At least, the only male Wherhandler he could see. Eikane of Eikask. He was one of Dmitri's friends, wasn't he? Sighing, he looked back at Tizzy. "I guess we should go over..." Offering his arm to the Flitter, Nautic scooped up his plate before leaving the table behind.

Speaking of Eikask, Nautic was surprised he hadn't noticed the large female until this very moment. Bobbing his head happily to her in greeting, he sat down next to his 'fellow wherhandler'. "Hello Eikane. Company is appreciated when there is so little to do at night." He let Tizzy down onto the table, giving him yet another piece of meat to satisfy the Blue's hunger.

[Ember]

Oops. The coughing was audible from where Eikane was sitting and he winced sympathetically. He hadn't meant to make the greenhandler choke. Not his fault he was so surprised though. He took another bite of his sandwich as he watched Nautic gather up his stuff and his firelizard.The other handler was considerably shorter than himself and even more blonde than himself. Hm. Well it wasn't hard for anyone to be shorter than himself but blonde wherhandlers were apparently common enough.

The gold watched as the Little One sat next to Hers. She had nothing to complain about so she rested her head on her paws again. Only ever truly graceful while still or in the air. Her walking had become better with focus though. Her tail curled around her as Hers spoke up. "Mm yeah. Not much to do besides wander around and get bored. I wonder how the older wherhandlers stand it. I've never been much of one for idling," he admitted before taking another bite of his sandwich. It looked pretty measly next to Nautic's food.

"Y'know, despite having to make my own lunches" - breakfast and dinner were covered by the cooks most times - "I don't seem to have been able to improve my cooking." Not even with his years of travelling. He'd always been just fine with simple meals or the odd Holder willing to feed him. "Tell me your secrets?" He implored. Really, Nautic's food smelled really good. Lunch like that everyday would be the heck out of sandwiches.

[Tashe]

"Maybe because they aren't up as long as we are." He chewed on a pepper in thought. "Since the others have domestic whers, they can't be up at Dawn and Dusk like we can. They have to wait until its completely dark to come out and have to go back in when Rukbat rises." Nautic waved his fork a little for emphasis. "Thus we have maybe four candle marks more to sit around all bored like. Although its great if you want to study. I've been compiling a research project on Wherhandlers, Whers and their history. Though our records are lacking in certain generations. I'm pretty sure half of the Archivists are getting tired of seeing my face." The hours of quiet were also a good time to bond with his Wher, but he assumed all the Wherhandlers did that. "For example. Did you know that there was recently a Night Watch assembled? But the records say that they disbanded when a Bluerider named Uu'n fell sick, and it hasn't been reestablished since then."

Taking a few bites of his food, he couldn't help but think that it could use some salt. Nautic itched the side of his nose in embarrassment as Eikane asked for the secrets to cooking. "Would you like to try some?" Without waiting he transfered some of his dinner onto the Goldhandler's plate, he wasn't going to be able to finish the whole plate anyways so he was happy to share. "Its Wherry and vegetables with rosemary. Its not hard to make, in fact I made it with the leftovers from Breakfast." Thrusting his fork at Tizzy, who had been trying to steal off of his plate, Nautic frowned at the Firelizard and 'tsk'ed him. "You say please food when you want food." "ftee... tsee... Leees! Frroo!" He smiled and offered the Blue another strip of meat before turning back to Eikane. "If you come to the dining hall around this time for lunch, I'd be more than happy to make lunch for the both of us. Maybe you could even pick up a few things. I'd like to think myself a good teacher." Nautic picked off a few more forkfuls from his plate. If Dmitri wasn't being all weird because of Dementia, he would extend the invitation to the Bluehandler as well. Anzy too... possibly even Yoalla. Ehh... Maybe... He was on the fence about the other Greenhandler.

[Ember]

That could explain some of it. He'd certainly noticed that his class of wherhandlers had somewhat more flexible hours than the others. Such was the ability of wild whers. While Eikask and her siblings had handlers their mother had been a wild wher and presumabley their father too. Remembering the hatching a faint smile crossed his face. He refocused on his company at the mention of the Night Watch. "So I'm not the only one who discovered that. I think we can pull it off without the bluerider. I plan to talk to S'rei about setting it up again soon enough. I don't know how the other wherhandlers will take it but I'm sure at least some of the others are as bored as we are."

As some of the food made its way onto Eikane's plate he looked down at it hungrily. He eagerly tried a bite and practically glowed with approval. "Its as good as it looks. Sounds simple enough...but my talents run to music rather than cooking." Was that a bit of a boast? Wouldn't be Eikane if there wasn't at least one. Luckily for Nautic it was rather shubtle and mostly overshadowed by the compliment. The interaction with the firelizard made Eikane lean forward on his elbows slightly. It was a firelizard, right? "I didn't think firelizards could talk, and yet he comes awfully close."

At the offer of lessons he smirked briefly, his eyes searching Nautic's. Interesting. The greenhandler wasn't a bad sort and he wasn't bad looking. He leaned back again and ate more of the food his companion had made. Testing the waters, he said, "Its a date then." He threw in a wink before eating more food while watching Nautic's reaction. He was undescriminate in gender preferences but he wasn't sure about Nautic. Shyness he could work with. Digust not so much. Eikask snorted from her position. What was Hers doing now?

[Tashe]

"Tch. I bet the oldies will be okay with it. Seeing as how we youngin's have just added to their ranks. They were the ones to start the original Night watch anyways. Plus, I think S'rei will welcome all the help we can give him. Whers rule the night!" He nodded enthusiastically. "If you can snag Roivao into helping pitch the idea, it will most likely carry more weight. Not saying you couldn't achieve it with out him, but it wouldn't hurt to have a man who is both a Bronzehandler and Wherlingmaster backing you up." Tapping his fork against his chin, Nautic eyed his firelizard for a moment "Don't want the Riders thinking we don't do anything other than take up space and supplies..." If Eikane was serious about talking to the leadbronzer, then it would help their standing and sense of purpose greatly. Did he want to grow old and die sitting in his room? No, he wanted to actually feel like he was doing something, anything.

"Thank you!" Nautic smiled, his teeth flashing happily. "Thats right, aren't you a Harper like Demi? I think I remember you bringing an instrument to lessons a few times. I bet you're really good at it too." His attention was redirected from Eikane's face to his Firelizard. "Oh Tizzy? Either his Mother or his Father was a Salamandyr. He can mimic words with sounds, he learns rather quickly. Tizzy came from the same clutch as Dementia. There is a downside though he refuses to fly and he thinks he's a s-a-l-a-m-a-n-d-y-r." Nautic spelled the last word out, the flitter knew what the phrase 'thinks he's a salamandyr' meant and often got angry when the Wherhandler said it. Fortunately, the skinny Blue didn't know how to spell.

He was reaching out to pet Tizzy when Eikane's words made him hesitate. A date? Normally a guy said that to a woman... so if the Goldhandler is saying it to him that means... oh gosh he was being flirted with! It was a good thing then he wasn't looking directly at Eikane, for his cheeks had colored a little. Nautic normally the sauve debonair (or he wished to think he was), usually was the one who hit on other men and women. So the whole reverse situation, when he was hit on by a man, brought out a different response. Finishing his original task, Nautic pet Tizzy maybe a little to frantically. "Y-yeah, sure." Crap, did he stammer? Did his hair look okay? What the shards was he thinking! He didn't even know Eikane that well, why was he fussing? Oh I don't know, said his head voice, probably because one of the very few attractive Wherhandlers is flirting with you. He wanted to tell his head voice to shove it, but then he realized he'd only be talking to himself.

Leaving his poor abused Flitter alone for the moment, he picked at the end of his scarf. "And... and I know one of the cooks so, I could probably convince them to... uh... leave out... pie... or something." Oh, that was very smooth. Shut up. Crap, he was talking to himself again. He sighed to himself.

[Ember]

Nautic's enthusiasm helped restore Eikane's confidence in the idea. He didn't want to force people into a duty if they weren't willing to do it. He hadn't considered asking for their teacher's help though. The man hadn't been a encouraging sight during lessons but he may hold more respect than he would. An effeminate man with a gold wher? Yeah...Roivao might just be a good idea. "We get a salary for having our beasts not to mention food and shelter. Its not really fair for us not to do our part too," he added in agreement. Eikask snorted at being called a beast making the man grin.

The goldhandler chuckled as Nautic grouped him with Dmitri. "Oh, exactly like Dmitri...minus half a head of hair and some of his more endearing traits." His tone was full of dry amusement. He ought to take a knife to Dmitri's hair but he'd likely be attacked by a little golden protector. "I'll play for you someday and you could be a judge of my skill." The explanation of Tizzy's talent of the tongue interested him. Salamandyr parent. They talked with their minds though. A non-human being actually molding sounds to sound like words was a different matter. "He's a very unique blue," Eikane finally said.

A smile slowly spread across the man's face as Nautic stammered. Not so fortunate for the firelizard but Eikane was pleased. He remained quiet while he continued to eat, letting his fellow wherhandler make the next move. The idea of pie reminded him of the secret gift exchange. "Ah pie. Pie is always good, though someone may get to it before we do. Pie is one of the few things I can actually make semi-decently. If you handle the cooking I can whip up a tasty dessert," he offered. Was only fair.

[Tashe]

"I agree." Tapping the heel of his boot on the ground, Nautic flipped his bangs away from his face. He took this moment to polish off the rest of his food, despite loving food he could only eat a small amount without feeling sick afterward. Tizzy, seeing that his human had no more food to give him, bounced to the edge of the table before jumping onto Nautic fully expecting the boy to catch him. Startled as he was the Wherhandler caught the Firelizard as he landed, wincing slightly as claws bit into his skin. The Blue still didn't understand that he was bigger and stronger than a Salamandyr, and that did not exclude his claws. Helping Tizzy to his shoulder, Nautic glanced up at the Harper with a smile. "I'd like to hear you play." If Eikane did play for him, the Greenie was determined to keep Absinthe away. She, in all her drunken glory, liked to 'sing' along with any music. But her singing was an affront to all singers, it was simply terrible and it often meant absolutely nothing.

"That sounds good." And it would probably be tasty too. Nautic loved pie, rather, be loved every and anything sweet. Pasties with fruit filling, hard candies, even dried fruits rolled in sugar. Plus, pie fixes everything in the end. Feeling down and blue? Have a piece of pie with a good friend! Feeling the need to celebrate? Pie! Well... he could hope pie was the answer to everything, even though he knew it wasn't. Nautic liked grasping at the silver linings, because he disliked feeling depressed. "Can I ask, how long have you been a harper? I've never traveled outside this Weyr, other than the Hold Propers for gathers and stuff. Whats it like to travel on your own?"

[Ember]

Eikane watched the firelizard jump at Nautic with amusement. Poor guy. The firelizard certainly wasn't as small as his own blue salamandyr. The little creatures' weight was negligible compared to a firelizard. He'd finished the food Nautic had given him and he was considering eating more of his sandwhich but it was no longer very appetizing and he was already satisfied. Maybe he could give the meat in it to the feline in his room. He was still surprised by the fact that he had been given a wild feline cub. As a cub it wasn't too dangerous but he had to make sure to train it well before it became a serious threat.

The goldhandler smiled back and would have let the conversation of music drop if not for his sudden idea. The atmosphere was already less awkward than it had been so it was time to stir things up again. Nautic may or may not get the meaning underneath what he was saying though...Hmm. Eikane replied, "You're welcome by my apartment any time." That's where his instruments were most of the time, after all. At the very least his preferred instrument rarely left his room. Floor harps weren't cheap and he rather liked his.

Thankfully Eikane was already fed or he'd have been craving pie after that conversation. He blinked at the next question though. How long had it been now? "I suppose it would be eleven turns now that I've been a Harper. I've only been a Journeyman for two turns though." His tone was a bit bitter. Nine turns as an apprentice. Tch, with his skill he ought to have walked the tables sooner. Dmitri had more experience as an actual Journeyman. Their roles were telling of who the Masterharper considered more mature though. Eikane had been sent to watch over the boy and the thought often mollified him. "As for travelling...its nice enough if you don't care much for company. I found it got a bit lonely when I was on my own."

[Tashe]

Touching noses with Tizzy, who was often just simply affectionate, Nautic adjusted his scarf. The longer the scarf the more often he found he had to fix them around his neck, they liked to tighten and lose the nice loop he tried to maintain. Rubbing the Firelizard's head with a finger, the Wherhandler glanced over at Eikane. He was, was he? Normally, Nautic would take the offer at face value, but something nagged at the back of his mind about the situation made him wonder if it really was as simple a gesture as it seemed. Not that he'd mind terribly if it wasn't. "Well thats good to know. Wouldn't want to stop by randomly and have the situation be... awkward?" He would too, now that he had been invited. Nautic had a rule. He generally didn't do house calls, preferring to catch a person outside their personal weyr or apartment instead. Unless its a friend, or he was asked to. Then the rule was chucked out the window and he invaded their homes with his presence.

"Wow. Eleven turns." That was a lot to him, but maybe not to a Crafter. He didn't know having none of his immediate family involved in a Craft, his mother was a cook and his father a Bluerider. Cavelieran was a Dolphineer, but they didn't talk much about the other boy's background when they were together. It usually spurred a long and sometimes boring tangent which Nautic hated to suffer through, despite holding love for his cousin. Maybe he'd ask him the next time he visited Blossom... ask him with a carefully worded question that left no room for more elaboration than was necessary. "But there were nice times too, right? Being alone must have been peaceful at times." A pause. "Probably sometimes a bit scary too."

[Ember]

The nose touch was pretty cute the Harper had to admit. None of his mindmates or pets were all that affectionate. or so he thought. Just to prove him wrong and because she really did love Hers, Eikask got up and reared so she could put her front feet on bench. She then proceeded to touch his cheek with her nose. There, see? She was affectionate! If he wanted her attention so bad he should have just asked. The goldhandler chuckled and rubbed Eikask's head before she hopped down again and he responded to Nautic. "Awkward? Yes, I suppose dropping by uninvited could be a bit awkward."

Eikane looked down at his hands at the questioning. His travelling days..."I suppose the quiet was nice sometimes. It gave me lots of time to think and draw. Once you get used to travelling you get used to being alert and wary but start to lose the fear you started with. I was always glad to see a hold though. Only when you're truly alone for a while do you learn to appreciate company," he told Nautic. At least now if he ever decided to travel he'd have Eikask, Nocturne, and probably even that feline.

Now that the other man had gotten him talking, Eikane was finding it hard to stop at just that. He was used to being confided in and not the other way around. Nautic was easy to talk to and for some reason that just intrigued the Harper more. It wasn't often he found someone he was comfortable enough to just talk with.

[Tashe]

Flipping his bangs back with a flick of his head, Nautic smiled broadly when Eikask rose to show her partner some love. "Cute~." Whers were adorable, even huge ones like the young Queen. The size comparison between the Gold and his own Nautsk was easy to see. His Green was much, much smaller. Although his bias stood that Nautsk was the best Wher ever, his love for all things Wher didn't stop with her. "It was the only word I could think of right then." He shrugged. "I dunno. Like, if you start the Nightwatch again, a lot of us might be dropping by to hand in reports or lodge complaints." Running a finger along his chin, Nautic momentarily withdrew in thought. A few seconds passed before he resumed talking. "Unless you set up one of those silly little complaint boxes we have in the Creche." He laughed, startling Tizzy from his purring rumble. "The kids use them to suggest things or tell us what they don't like. Some of their responses are adorable. But I digress!"

"I bet Holds were exciting. Meeting new people, being able to preform for them..." Ever since the last gather, Nautic had decided that if his Wherhandling ever fell through - which he hoped to Faranath that it wouldn't, because it would probably devastate him- that he'd become a Storyteller. Travel around with gaudy costumes and collect stories so he could put on plays. It was something that was very him. "Did you have a favorite Hold to play at, one that really appreciated the music you brought them? Or were they all... meh." He wiggled his hand side to emphasize his last word. Even he new that not all Holds are alike, but it was possible that they could share a same disinterest in music all the same.

[Ember]

Eikane managed a blush at Nautic's comment. He was used to the queen's possesive displays in public...not so much her affectionate ones. While he knew Nautic understood what having a wher was like it was still a rather intimate thing he'd seen in the Harper's opinion. The gold again laying next to him nosed his leg smugly. The conversation led him away from his embarassment and he was grateful until he heard about reports and complaints. Oh dear. Is that what was in store for him? He groaned slightly but grinned nonetheless. "Children are rather good at being adorable. However they manage to lose that between childhooh and adulthood I'll never understand."

"Oh, I certainly met some interesting people. All sorts of folk in this world." He paused for a moment as he thought back to some of the people he'd met. Dangerous people, entertaining people, just plain weird people. "Most holds were the same, really. Hard to have fun in the North with what goes on up there. The more southern the Hold, the better it was I guess. I'll always be pretty fond of South Boll, but that's 'cause I got to see my family while I was there." He loved his family, regardless of the fact that they had sent him away.

[Tashe]

"Aha! You didn't think about the paperwork did you?" Wagging his finger at Eikane, Nautic clucked his tongue playfully. "Oooh, yes. You sir, are going to have to read those reports and then compile your own report off of ours. You know, to send to who ever is directly above you." He lifted Tizzy off of his shoulder and placed the Flitter in his lap. "The bane of being in charge." Shrugging with a grin, the Wherhandler motioned slightly with his right hand. "Then again, being in charge also means you can shlup some of that work onto someone else. So that you're not bogged down all the time. Like the Weyrwomen. They have the Headwoman to help them on day to day tasks. So..." He tilted his head to the side slightly and thought for a moment. "... it would be like if you were the Whermaster and your assistant... the Head er... man/woman." A pause. "Oh, well you know what I mean."

"So your family is in the North?" Not surprising seeing as how the Harper Hall was located there. "I think it would be hard for me to be away from my family for too long. Having grown up here, and having lived closely with them..." Once more he shrugged. "Then again thats me and I'm older than an average apprentice." His parents had been happy for him when he impressed Nautsk, especially his father, but his mother didn't like the odd hours he held. Either way she got to see him at Breakfast... er, Dinner for her. "Got any sibs? I'm an only child. But thats probably why I like children so much, since I've never had a brother or a sister."

[Ember]

Eikane groaned again as Nautic went over exactly what he'd have to do. Reports! He could handle writing his own reports but writing one based on others was just crazy. As the other wherhandler continued he brightened slightly at the idea of helpers. He chuckled at the title and said, "Whermaster? Wouldn't that be just grand. Can you imagine trying to get people to call me that?" He shook his head as he imagined Dmitri's response to that. The sarcasm would choke him to death, no doubt. "At least you'd be safe from becoming my assistant. I'd probably snag one of those who were around for the original Night Watch." Eikane grinned to take any sting from his words. He meant it half-jokingly but he was unlikely to ask wherhandler's from his class to help him in that aspect.

Eikane merely nodded in response. In truth it had been hard to be away from his family at first but he eventually grew accustomed to it. Away from his aunt and uncle's judgmental eyes he was admittedly happier than he'd have been at his home Hold. he still didn't like the Lord or Lady Holder much and he knew they didn't think much of him either. At the question of siblings he smiled ruefully. "I have siblings all right. Four sisters." His older sisters still fussed over him whenever he came to visit. The oldest had gotten joined a while ago and the other older one had gotten joined just before he came to Selenitas, pretty much. His parents were still on him to settle. Easier said than done.