You're all wet! (open)

[Kisha-Ra]

Boooored, she was so bored. Extremely bored, totally, completely and utterly bored.

Why should she be bored? Darya didn’t know, if she put her mind to it she could probably think of a dozen or more things she’d been meaning to get on with, that mending for instance, the pile of shirts that would be alright with a few stitches was nearly bigger than the pile of wearable ones, but it would be fair to say Darya hated sewing even more than she hated being bored.

You just want to sit around and complain.[/color] Azrath’s voice broke smoothly into her thoughts, and not without justification. Anytime you have a little spare time you sit around and complain about how bored you are.[/color] The dark blue swept his scarred tail tip across the sand and looked back at his rider over his shoulder. personally I feel I have so much more to complain about than you. My tail’s gone white, it’s only a mercy my muzzle isn’t following, and my rider neglects me shockingly.[/color]

It was technically impossible to produce an indignant splutter in mindspeech but Darya gave it a fairly good attempt, causing her dragon to rumble softly and spread his wings. Just look at how dull my poor hide is.[/color] He added, letting his wings droop for effect.

That would be because you’re covered in sand, fool, and you will recall at this point that I told you not to roll in it, not that I actually expected you to listen, and anyway you’re about to wash it off.

Oh but I can’t possibly go swimming on my own, I may well drown in my foolishness.[/color] The dragon replied.

Take the little fools with you.

They’re not here oh wise one, or had you missed the silence around here?

Yes well Imp’s probably hanging around the infirmary, wooing the love of his life. He really is convinced Ellie’s going to favour him this time.

Not that you’d mind much hrrm?[/color] Azrath inserted wryly, his expression suggesting a raised brow, though Azrath had no brows to form such an expression with. and of course our little bronze pest thinks she will forgive ignore his little indiscretion with that wild gold firelizard.

I wonder what happened to his babies. Darya mused, ignoring the jibe about R’wign, the lad was well enough she supposed, about half her age, and someone told her he had a baby, too. In any case, she was sure her thoughts were only drifting that way because of Imp’s inexplicable lust for Elegance, and any other female firelizard as well.

Their mother was wild so they probably are too.[/color] such thoughts did not bother Azrath, he was just as happy without Imp’s offspring around the Weyr. In any case time to get back to the central issue. Come and swim with me. Azrath just demanded this time, it was clear that his rider was being far too dense for subtle hints.

I don’t want to, it’s all sandy and anyone who innocently comes walking along will be subjected to the sight of a droopy old lady in the altogether. Darya folded her arms stubbornly.

You have nothing to droop.[/color] Azrath helpfully pointed out, projecting an image of Darya’s whipcord body next to that of a more voluptuous woman.

Darya, naturally, burst out laughing at her dragon’s cheerful assurance. Thanks Azrath you’re a real confindence boost, you know that?

I’m glad you think so.[/color] The dragon replied, ignoring the sarcastic tone of his bonded’s comment, he was used to it. Now, are you swimming or sulking?

Sulking. Darya answered instantly.

Then I shall have to persuade you.[/color] Azrath spun around and stalked purposefully toward his rider.

‘What’re you doing?’ Darya ask suspiciously, standing up and speaking out loud. Then as an expanse of blue wing enfolded her and propelled her along she realised she’d played right in Azrath’s hands.

You are swimming.[/color] Azrath replied, pulling Darya along awkwardly, it was clear she wasn’t going to get a choice in the matter now. In you go.[/color] Azrath said pleasantly as he used his wing to push Darya forward into the water, where she landed facedown, spluttered, and swore.

‘Azrath. I really hate you.’

[Avu]

Hating Yours is not nice. Oquith informed Darya helpfully. The green’s shadow was probably the first thing to be seen of her, rippling over the beaches from the direction of the Weyr and then over the waves themselves, the green dragon’s hide gleaming and well-oiled before the young dragon indulged in a lazy barrel roll before closing her wings and dropping into the water like a rock. The splash that resulted was quite fantastic for her size, but given that Oquith was one of, if not the, smallest green in the Weyr, it wasn’t too impressive and she was far away enough from both Azrath and Darya that all that would reach them of it would be a fine mist. Oquith bobbed up like a cork in the next minute, spreading gleaming wings on top of the water’s surface to keep herself afloat; her eyes whirled greens and blues as she crooned quietly and rested her muzzle just below the surface, blowing cheeky bubbles before she rolled over to lay on her back and glanced at blue and Rider upside down, belly towards the sky.

I’m sure, the green went on, still trying to be as helpful as possible, That you don’t really /hate/ him. Do you? TreMine says he hates the Mothfeline sometimes but he never means it. You don’t either, do you? Hi, by the way, she added at last, crooning pleasantly. She’d been addressing both Darya and Azrath; she’d no problem chattering away to a random human, after all. They were nice, all of them had been, to her; Oquith had never run into a mean human except for the ones at the Siege and she didn’t talk to them. They didn’t count as humans. Nope. I’m Oquith and Mine is Tr’esn. I hope you don’t mind if I stay here? TreMine will come soon, too. It’s the best place on the beach to look for shinies and I told Wymeth I’d make her something, I did. But I’ll leave if you don’t like me here… The last was added a little uncertainly; surely company was nice, right?

Chirp. Splat.

Oquith started visibly and flailed both wings in surprise at the sight of the bottle-green firelizard appearing from between and flying straight into Azrath’s wing. Avia’s squeal of surprise was quite high up on the scale, but fortunately wasn’t loud enough to be ear-splitting as she tumbled downwards and hit the water, flailing comically, before she sank, bubbles emerging from her mouth before she popped up again and gave a curious chirp, not at all for the worse for her…misadventure. Immediately questions were tossed at Oquith (and broadcasted to include Azrath and Darya; shy, Avia was not). What was that thing? Oh, it was a dragon? Why was it there? She always came out from between there; it had never been there before? Was it a surprise for Hers? How nice! The green flopped and kicked back into the air, but her damp wings refused to hold her and she clung to Azrath instead, shamelessly.

I’m very sorry about the little flutter, Oquith commented apologetically, not bothering to answer Avia’s barrage of questions; she knew from experience it would only lead to more – and more – and more. You may ignore her if you want to…I thought she’d stay with TreMine when I left him… Left him because she’d a delight of diving straight into the water and Tr’esn didn’t want to get wet, because when he got wet when clothed, it accentuated how downright thin he was and he’d indulgently let the green go ahead while he walked. Dolphin, at least, had remained with him, right? Whersports were far less common in the Weyr than firelizards were, after all…both of the green dragon’s wings came up guiltily to cover her head, and she hummed apologetically. Bad timing, hello~

[Kisha-Ra]

Darya frowned, and coughed out some more salt water. Whoever that was clearly was not lying in the shallows fully clothed, including boots, with salt in their eyes and lungs. If they were, they’d know exactly how she felt, which was angry. Darya blinked a few times, searched in vain for a relatively dry part of her clothing to wipe her eyes on, and glared in the direction of the almighty splash that could only have been made3 by a dragon.

After a pause just long enough to make Darya wonder if maybe she was going slightly mad on top of everything else a green dragon bobbed to the surface and floated, still talking. Darya realised that it had to be the dragon; although they didn’t often feel the need to speak to anyone other than their bondeds this green was clearly not party to that general rule.

‘Hi.’ Darya answered flatly in the pause. Someone was certainly feeling more enthusiastic about things than her today, the bluerider thought with a crooked smile, which was a fairly odd expression for anyone in her situation to wear. Tr’sen. Darya noted the rider’s name as well as the dragon’s. Male, probably young, unless Oquith was older than she looked, really just the sort of person Darya probably did not need to meet right at the moment. Still, she didn’t have the heart to send such a cheerful dragon away, so Darya just shrugged, pulled herself up and moved back onto dry land with as much dignity as she could muster, which was not much.

Don’t mind Darya, she’s just being grumpy today. She doesn’t really hate me, I don’t think. She says she hates Imp sometimes too, and even little bit but she likes them really.[/I] Azrath helpfully tried to explain things, which probably only made them more confusing, Darya was hard to understand sometimes, even if she was your mindmate. I think she’s just upset that I pushed her in the-[/color] Azrath broke off as something thumped against his wing and turned his head to eye a firelizard thrashing around in the water. For some reason it reminded him vaguely of Darya.

Can’t she swim?[/color] Azrath asked curiously, taking Oquith’s example in ignoring the firelizard’s question, he was used to Bit who only ever communicated what she had to. Without really thinking Azrath shifted to lift the clinging green higher out of the water. I wanted my Darya to come and swim with me but she said she’d rather sulk.[/color] Azrath gave a mighty sigh and twisted his head to see if that dart had gone home, but Darya was busy emptying water out of her boots. I forgot how clothing goes when it gets wet.[/color] The blue confessed to Oquith in a guilty tone. But she wouldn’t take it off either, she thinks she’s too old. Humans can be so strange at times.[/color]

[Avu]

Oh, that wasn’t very cheerful. Oquith deflated slightly, blowing a bubble at the water, before she floated idly, watching Darya leave the water. She wasn’t being annoying, was she…? She hadn’t meant to be annoying, she really hadn’t…the green offered a weak croon in the woman’s direction before she flared her wings out as widely as she could, drifting idly towards Azrath until she could scramble to her feet and shake vigorously, wings splaying out sideways before she turned back to look at the blue again – and promptly flopped back into the water. Why exactly had she shaken? Even Oquith wasn’t really sure; it was just a silly habit of hers. Mine doesn’t like it either when I dive into the water with him, she agreed, before offering a low, pleasant croon to the blue. I don’t think he likes the wet very much. He says it’s cold, but I don’t know if I agree with him. The flutter and sportwher don’t agree, but the Mothfeline haaaates the water. Still. Two against three. Majority ruled that the water was just perfect, see? And besides, the Mothfeline didn’t really count; felines didn’t when it came to water.

And oh, I don’t know. I think she can. the green added, casting a curious glance at Avia. She usually just kind of clings to my tail…so I guess not. How odd; Oquith had never even thought of that before…she slid through the water gracefully until she could stretch her nose out to poke at the green firelizard, who was not at all perturbed at being lifted out of the water by the bluething to whom she was clinging. Avia offered a cheerful chirp before she pushed off of Azrath to land on Oquith’s nose, ignoring the surprised snort from the green dragon as Oquith pulled back. The firelizard scrambled up her muzzle, balancing precariously, until she turned to sit neatly on the very top of Oquith’s head to peer down at her. Oquith ignored her (and the questions that immediately swept over her) to add seriously to Azrath, Yours is nice. I think she would come if you asked her very nicely. Or I can ask, if you’d like. Would you like me to?

But it was to be a day of interruptions – this time a presence much more silent swept in, though. The mottled-green whersport glided above the lake on faintly gleaming wings before she turned on a wingtip to land on Oquith’s back as well – and gave a loud squawk that was clearly an agitated scolding, aimed at Avia, who literally fell off of Oquith’s head in her surprise, tumbling down the green’s neck to splat right at Dolphin’s feet. Oquith raised one wing to hide her face in embarrassment from Azrath, her eyes actually tinged with pink. She didn’t speak, though, offering Dolphin a soft brush of her mind (the whersport ignored her in favor of pouncing on Avia and nipping the end of the firelizard’s nose in punishment). Oquith sunk still lower in the water as Avia actively writhed – and then her broadcast flared. Not words, only emotions, but emotions adequately summed up in two words: Save me. Oquith vanished behind one wing. So embarrassing.

“ – uh.”

Tr’esn blinked. Confusion was prominent across his face, and then a flicker of amusement crossed through his eyes before he raised one hand to pass it over his face, hiding the chuckle before he caught sight of Darya and his eyes widened visibly before he brushed mentally against Dolphin with a command. The whersport offered Avia one last scolding peck before diving off into the water, allowing Oquith to peek over her wing guiltily again as Avia flipped to her feet and fussed with her wings. How upsetting! She turned, expecting sympathy, but Tr’esn was preoccupied with a certain bluerider. He cleared his throat awkwardly to make sure he’d been spotted (which was usually necessary, given how often he was overlooked) before running both hands lightly down his shirt. “Um. I didn’t – Qui didn’t say anyone was here,” he commented, biting his lower lip before he crinkled his nose. “You’re…wet.” When in doubt, state the obvious. The thought passed across his mind and drew a flush to his cheeks. “Um. Yeah…”

[Kisha-Ra]

Azrath gave a slight shake of his muzzle as Oquith crooned softly, he lacked the ability to expound on all the thoughts and feelings of his rider that comprised one simple reaction, so he didn’t bother, either the two females would come to understand each other or they would not. I don’t think it’s too cold.[/color] Azrath observed doubtfully, folding down into the water. No it definitely seems warm enough to me. I’m sure it’s whole clothes thing, it would be a great deal easier if no one wore them.[/color] Vaguely the blue wondered what a sportwher could be but he didn’t really get a chance to ask. Perhaps he’d find out later.

Azrath looked doubtfully at his small passenger, and rumbled softly as she hopped off onto Oquith’s head. She was an amusing firelizard, though possibly not the easiest to get on with if constant questioning was her way. What? Oh Oquith had a good idea, she could ask too, and maybe get hers to pester Darya as well, if everyone asked she’d have to come swimming! The blue hopped to his feet, totally ready to charge out of the water for another go at persuading his rider to swim when another green interruption happened by.

This beast was most strange, sort of like a firelizard and sort of like an avian, and apparently it was annoyed. That would be what Oquith was talking about then, Azrath decided he didn’t much like the creature, but he didn’t feel much like saving the flitter either. Are you going to help me now? I could help you look for things later, if you want. The little ones can help too, and you can get yours to ask.[/color] Azrath decided to return to the subject of swimming, clearly the wherflitavian beast was not a topic Oquith wished to talk about. It’s easier to say yes than no when so many people are asking isn’t it?[/color]

Darya’s head snapped around to glare in the direction of a new, human, voice. That would probably be Tr’esn then. ‘Really? You don’t say.’ The flat sarcasm escaped automatically. ‘That could, in fact, be, because my great idiot of a dragon decided it would be a great idea if I went swimming in my clothes.’ Darya paused for a moment to yank her shirt off over her head, there was nothing under it that couldn’t be seen clearly through the soaked fabric anyway, and squeezed the garment out for emphasis on her statement.

‘Needless to say I was not totally enthralled with the idea. I wasn’t planning on swimming. You’d better not be easily embarrassed by the way. Because there’s no way I’m wearing these clothes until they dry. ‘ And even then it would only be for a quick flight back to the weyr to get something that wasn’t full of salt and sand, the two most annoying aspects of any beach. Well the lad couldn’t say he didn’t have fair warning she thought, spreading her shirt out to dry. However she did cock her head to one side and wait patiently for Tr’esn to decide whether he was running away or not.

[Avu]

Oquith crooned quietly, lowering her wing cautiously and bouncing on the spot. Azrath’s words made the tiny green cock her head to one side curiously before she scooted towards the blue, tempted to point out that humans not wearing clothes made other humans go funny colors (Hers went funny colors, he did; it would have amused her had he not been so awfully uncomfortable while doing it) and that – how she knew this, Oquith wasn’t aware, but she did – Holders would not like it very much, they wouldn’t. She wasn’t quite sure why Holders were important, though. The green said neither; to her mind, what would and would not be fixed by people all going around nude wasn’t really applicable to reality. Hers wouldn’t go without clothes, nope. And neither would K’iel. Vashti might if everyone else did, though. Instead, the green crooned aloud, turning to consider Darya seriously. You’d really help me? she inquired, forgetting her previous embarrassment; looking for shiny pretties was much better, it was. Oh. I would like that very much. Thank you /so/ much! I’ll try. I really will…that is, once Mine stops turning funny colors. Oh…

Turning funny colors.

A very adept way to put it. At first it had just been a slight pink tinge to his cheeks at the sarcastic reply he’d received, Tr’esn recoiling a step backwards before he squirmed uncomfortably, both hands raising to cover his cheeks in embarrassment. The unfamiliar, older bluerider’s explanation made his cheeks fade slightly in color and he took a tentative step forward before he paused again, gaze rising to Oquith uncertainly; the green’s affectionate brush against his mind overruled the questions that Avia was positively drowning him with, and he took another few steps forward until there was only half a dragonlength or so between himself and Darya; he did want to stay with his three greens, but he was decidedly out of his comfort zone with someone he didn’t know so near and –

And she was stripping. Uh. Tr’esn’s eyes widened in confusion and he went a brilliant shade of scarlet. Mortification spread slowly across his face and large pale gray eyes blinked thrice before he averted his head to stare blankly out over the water. No matter that he’d been at the Weyr for over a Turn now – he was Holdborn and bred; it was actually an accomplishment not to outright hate the dragonriders to start with, given he’d lived in Lighttower Hold – but he couldn’t ever, ever look at someone nude without flushing and the absolutely lack of shame with which Darya had stripped intensified his agitation. Both hands twisted nervously before he bit his lip and then glanced back at her, directing his gaze to her feet instead. It would have been better if he’d been male. Tr’esn was okay with K’iel – he’d gotten used to it, given he usually invaded the bluerider’s bathing rooms so that Vashti could have their bathing room to herself. This was…so different. So not something he was comfortable with.

“Uh. Do you – want my shirt?” he offered weakly, plucking slightly at his own dry shirt. He wouldn’t mind giving it up; he wouldn’t have offered had it not been very, very baggy – otherwise, likely it wouldn’t have fit Darya; the greenrider was as tiny as his dragon in terms of stature, after all. “I mean, instead of just – someone – could…see,” he finished lamely, aware that he’d already seen. Oh, well. It was hard to accept that not everyone was as embarrassed by public nudity as he was. Completely discomfiting, as it was. He linked his fingers together behind his back, rocking on his feet awkwardly, and then glanced over as Oquith crawled halfway out of the ocean to flop happily down into the surf, extending her neck to nuzzle Darya’s arm gently, her eyes whirling in rapid shades of blue. What was she doing…? But the words that the green was speaking (though she was addressing Darya, and not him) made it very clear indeed her intentions.

Why don’t you like to swim with Azrath? It’s so fun to swim. Won’t you join us please? Pretty please? You’re already wet, you won’t get wetter… Impeccable logic, as it were. The green hummed hopefully before she turned towards Azrath and inquired privately of him, What else can I say? Help meeeee… That, however, was covered by Avia, who positively flung herself from Oquith’s back and landed shamelessly squarely on the bluerider’s shoulder. The firelizard curled her talons carefully underneath to avoid pricking and drawing blood, and the green gave a pleasant twitter before she proceeded to hurl questions (all rotating around swimming!) at Darya. Why wasn’t she swimming? The water was so, so nice, didn’t she know that? Wouldn’t it be so refreshing to swim? It was practically summer, wasn’t it? People were supposed to swim in the summer, weren’t they? Yes? So why wasn’t she? See? It made perfect sense to swim, didn’t it?!

[Kisha-Ra]

Azrath wriggled slightly, pleased to have made Oquith stop hiding, and of course he’d help her collect shiny things if she wanted them. Azrath wasn’t a collector of shiny things himself, he had everything he needed already. I find lots of shell down here.[/color] He offered, wondering if they were really the right sort of thing. Some of them are quite shiny, too.[/color] Changing colours? Oh yes, Oquith’s did, didn’t he? How strange.

Ah, sweet. Darya carefully hid a smirk at the green rider’s expression, amused to find someone so easily embarrassed. Honestly it was only a bit of simple irony, no need for that expression, although it was kind of cute in lost puppy sort of way. For a moment She wondered if he was going to bolt, then he seemed to gain a little confidence and stepped forward. Darya decide to blame his dragon for that. Oquith was a confident seeming dragon, although, she seemed to be embarrassed by the other greens she was surrounded by.

Then, for some reason he turned bright, flaming red. As the greenrider’s gaze flicked hurriedly out over the water Darya grinned to herself. So, he was embarrassed by public nudity, then. Shame. Darya, weyrborn and cheerfully decadent, saw no point in being upset over a simple lack of clothing. Ashamed over the state of your body, sure, who wasn’t? But shy? Forget about it. While the boy was gathering up the remains of his courage and dignity Darya wriggled out of her trousers and kicked them off to one side. She really didn’t think his heart could stand the effort of pumping blood to his head if was to see a woman, even a middle aged one, removing her trousers. She’d better keep her underwear on, too.

The offer of his shirt just made Darya laugh, a pleasant amused laugh rather than a sarcastic one for a change. ‘I think it’ll be alright. I don’t have all that much to see, as Azrath will be happy to tell you. He’s a real boost to my ego that blue.’ Darya looked down at herself, as if for confirmation of her statement, yes, she’d seen boys with bigger breasts than her. Nothing to be embarrassed about seeing there. Before she could mortify Tr’esn with a further comment however, Darya was distracted by something nuzzling at her arm, she absent mindedly patted the large muzzle before she quite realised that it wasn’t Azrath.

Azrath moved up beside the green and tried to look cute, which was harder for him, her wasn’t exactly small and pretty like Oquith, his only advantage was that Darya adored him (even when she said she hated him). Your arguments make no sense now.[/color] He helpfully added on top of the comments of the two greens. You’re already nearly nude, and nothing dreadful has happened.[/color] Well apart for Oquith’s changing colour so much but Azrath decided to leave that part out for now.

Darya looked a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of persuasion going on. She wasn’t really used to other people’s dragons nagging her, and as for Avia, Darya looked doubtfully at the firelizard and wondered how anyone could live with so many questions. After a pause Darya looked back at Tr’esn with a slightly bewildered expression. ‘It appears I’m going swimming now anyway, so your shirt would suffer the same fate as mine.’ She sounded slightly bewildered by the while business, and Azrath managed to look positively smug. ‘Don’t worry though, I’ll keep my undies on, so you won’t be any more horrified.’ She offered as a parting shot, stepping into the water. ‘It’s just terrible when old people wander around naked, isn’t it?’

[Avu]

Must she strip so? It agitated Tr’esn very, very much – and very obviously; he hadn’t the slightest idea of how he ought to hide his discomfort and settled for watching Oquith. Unfortunately, given his green’s proximity to Darya, it didn’t work out half as well as he’d been hoping. At least she had some underthings on; Tr’esn knew very well his face would be absolutely flaming had she been completely nude. As if this wasn’t bad enough. He bowed his head slightly in a vague, instinctive attempt to let his hair fall across his face, something he’d picked up over Turns of Drudgery – but unfortunately, he’d forgotten that he’d pulled his hair back into a runnertail that day; only a few curls, too short to be pulled back, fell into his eyes and the flush deepened slightly before he fidgeted visibly at her comment. Not much to see…? The greenrider wasn’t quite sure what to say to that – anything he did say ran the risk of coming off as decidedly sexual or as offensive, and he wasn’t ready for either. At least her laugh didn’t sound offended, though. “Umm,” he replied uncertainly. “…still…?”

He blinked as Darya patted Oquith on the nose, earning a pleased croon from the small green. Oquith liked nothing more than friends, and the bluerider was, wasn’t she? Tr’esn fidgeted before a weight pressed onto one of his shoulders and he turned his head nervously to see Dolphin, who flipped both wings and croaked quietly into his ear. She was still wet from her swimming, rivulets of water dripping onto his shirt. The whersport was the size of a gold firelizard, so at least there wasn’t much water. The green tilted her head to one side and uttered another squawk; her thoughts were obvious: Enjoy the distraction while it lasts. Because see, the bluerider was distracted by the other two greens, yes? He should just enjoy it, since the attention would be back on him in due time, surely, and there was no use fretting now.

Yours is swimming? Yay! Oquith’s enthusiasm interrupted Tr’esn’s chewing at his lip, the green backing further into the water to give Darya room to enter the water before she turned around and pushed herself into the sea, holding her breath as she cut through one of the waves and then turned back to look at blue and Rider, crooning audibly. Her eyes whirled bright blues before she curled upon herself. So nice, the water and nice company. She would have loved it if Wymeth and Qualuth could have come, but Wymeth’s was at the Drumtower and Qualuth was asleep, and she wouldn’t disturb her two favorites. She crooned, pausing as the bluerider spoke to Hers, politely – so politely, just to give Hers a chance to reply, but for the moment, his only response was to blush again before he cleared his throat nervously and reached up to stroke Dolphin on his shoulder. Oquith offered him a wave of affection before she turned to bespeak Darya: Will you help me look for shinies too? I told my sisterlove I’d make her something pretty. I can make you something too!

Only then did Tr’esn find his tongue (with Dolphin’s help and encouraging twitters and nudges). The greenrider carefully picked his way up to the shore to step slightly into the incoming tide – he was barefoot due to the fact that shoes of any kind made him trip over himself at every other step – before he commented quietly (though he wasn’t really looking at Darya, still), “Um…thanks. But I don’t – are you – I don’t think you’re old…?” He actually didn’t, either; Tr’esn didn’t have a tendency to look at people and judge them by age or appearance, namely because he didn’t want people to him. He knew he could be passed for a girl had he the curves for it, and it…kind of embarrassed him, his size and lack of muscle, a malady that had clung tenaciously even through Weyrling Training. “Uh…” He’d been meaning to actually swim with Oquith, but he didn’t like his clothes getting wet any more than Darya did, and he wasn’t going to strip in front of someone he barely knew. Instead, the greenrider half-climbed and half-pulled himself onto one of the large rocks nearby and sat neatly, cross-legged, allowing Dolphin to flop into his lap. “Yeah. You don’t mind if I…do you? I don’t want to leave Qui and Avia …”

Mostly the latter; Avia was still clinging happily to Darya’s shoulder, burbling contentedly to the bluerider. So oblivious to everything.

[Kisha-Ra]

Azrath’s eyes paused for a moment in their slow whirling as the blue noted the slightly malicious pleasure Darya was getting from seeing Oquith’s change colours. He really couldn’t take her anywhere at all. Wicked woman. That isn’t good thing.[/color] Azrath scolded but received only the idea of Darya’s amusement, plus several confused images of unlikely things happening to Tr’esn’s face as a result of turning too red. There was quite possibly no reply to that.

Darya splashed deeper into the water, mildly surprised that Azrath hadn’t swept her legs out from under her or just knocked her down. That was the kind of thing he usually did when he was in this kind of mood. Maybe he didn’t want to look bad in front of Oquith, not that she could really blame Azrath if that was the case, she was a pretty green, in spite of her small stature, and, well Oquith was really sweet. That kind of attitude would probably get wearing after a while though, so the blue had better not get his hopes up too far. It would be terrible of Darya had to disappoint him by showing a prospective mate the sole of her boot, not that the sole of her boot would do much to a dragon, maybe she needed to revise that thought a little. She knew what she meant anyway.

The next thing to be considered was the green firelizard that was still perched on her shoulder. I don’t think she can swim.[/color] Azrath supplied helpfully, noting the interest on his rider’s part. It wasn’t always good to have Darya interested in things. Thankfully Darya ignored the flit, in favour of snickering at Tr’esn’s awkward throat clearing.

‘You, make things?’ Darya asked Oquith weakly, somehow the concept just didn’t fit, she couldn’t see the green doing fine work with her paws, and well, she’d just never know dragons to make things. Collect things, yes, but not make things out of them. Mind you Darya had to admit that Oquith wasn’t exactly usual. ‘Well if you want, but try and make sure any shells you want are empty.’ Darya had memories of picking up occupied shell as a child, and the spiderclawy things that lived in some of them pinched.

Darya just laughed again and turned to face Tr’esn. ‘Oh I am old, ancient probably.’ She cheerfully admitted, there was no hiding it anyway. ‘Once people stop looking at your toes they notice these things.’ She added, unable to keep from teasing further. With a slight smirk Darya realised that her toes were now underwater, as were most of the safe areas of her body to look at, a bit deeper and she might be able to get eye contact out of him.

‘Why would I mind?’ Darya inquired taking a few steps back. ‘If the whole beach isn’t big enough for a few extra people I need to see the mindhealer. And I’m sure they don’t want to be left.’ Darya didn’t want to be left with Avia, the creature’s constant mental chatter was…strange, at least the third green was quiet, on the mental scale at least. ‘Aren’t you coming swimming though?’ Darya’s question sounded perfectly innocent, but it was calculated to produce maximum embarrassment, she’d guess from his reaction her state of dress that taking his clothes off in front of her was about the last thing Tr’esn would want to do. Hopefully his dragon would nag him too, Darya thought and received a wave of disapproval from Azrath for it. Oquith wasn’t nagging, she was nice.

[Avu]

If Darya’s very-clear amusement at Tr’esn’s behalf bothered Oquith, the green didn’t show it. And likely, she actually didn’t mind it so much; she was used to Hers being so skittish. She’d been quite self-conscious and shy too, before, but in the end she’d balanced Tr’esn out more and became gradually more confident – after all, she had the almost-constant companionship of her lovely, lovely clutchsiblings to boost her self-esteem with, did she not? The weakness, the disbelief, in the bluerider’s tone at the question as to her making things was ignored, because of course she did! Oquith crooned quietly and arched her neck around to nudge Darya gently, her tongue flicking out to lick the woman’s face lightly. Oh, yes. I make a /lot/ of things. TreMine helps me with the knots though because I can’t do it very well, she added honestly, eyes whirling. I would show you but I like to give them away. It makes people happy, I think. Most of the shinies went to Wymeth and Qualuth; some were delivered to Behruth and Checkoth. She’d offered one once to Uminth on the account of the green being a clutchsibling, too, and otherwise they were generally delivered to passing Weyrbrats.

LoveTreMine, don’t be so shy, the green added appealingly, sending a low croon in his direction along with her private comment. /I/ will always love you and Azrath and His are very nice, they are. Won’t you come join us?

The only response was a shake of the greenrider’s head; he itched to undo the runnertail so that he could actively hide behind his hair. His head was tilted up and he was staring fiercely at the sky, determined not to look. Because – well, he instinctively felt the need to glance at her at least once in a while, out of politeness if nothing else. Still, the Holdbred mortification of public nudity overruled that. Dolphin verbalized for him in a low squawk before the whersport reached up from her perch in his lap to nudge the bottom of his chin lightly, her tongue coming out to rasp along his jaw. As a result of her proximity to him, it was likely she could actually feel the heat of his face. The bluerider had to be trying to make him blush. She really had to be, because Tr’esn was practically one continuous shade of red by that point; he inhaled before glancing at her, gaze focusing intently on her face. No lower. That was not a good idea.

Doing his best to ignore the comment about toes and age both, Tr’esn just shrugged wordlessly, not trusting his tongue not to stutter hideously by that point. His gaze flickered to Avia as the green, deciding to actually copy Dolphin, leaned forward to lick Darya’s jaw happily, before he crinkled his nose slightly. Sure they wouldn’t want him to leave. Oquith would be happy as long as she had shinies nearby – even if she’d be happier still with him there; he knew the level of absolute adoration she held for him very well – and Avia was so obsessed with questioning everything that happened, moved, or was there at all, that she probably wouldn’t miss him for awhile. But…the chances she’d get horribly lost were also very high. His legs curled tighter, closer to his body, and the whersport in his lap gave a little prrrt sound as she licked his jaw again, small wings flaring and closing so she could shoot a hideous look in Darya’s direction. Bad humanthing, making her humanpet turn funny colors. Just because he didn’t dislike her for it didn’t mean she couldn’t, yes?

Her question on his swimming, however, demanded an answer and Tr’esn’s immediate response was to go a funny mixture of white and red, paling and blushing simultaneously. “Umm…actually, I don’t think…um, no. I’m probably – I’m okay just watching…don’t like getting wet too…too much…” The stammering was likely absolutely comical, and that knowledge made his blush even deeper red before he turned sideways to squint at the distant Weyr, half-wishing he could still be curled up in his safe, warm furs. Or that he’d gone to the drumheights with Vashti or something; she always made him happy (if slightly embarrassed given his longtime crush on her). But too late. He took a breath before managing to say, keeping his voice even, “I don’t like swimming. I’m not good at it.” Yeaaah, suuure. It didn’t help his trying to keep his voice level that his voice was still changing from that soft treble to a tenor and prone to grating awkwardly from one octave to the next. How awkward.

[Kisha-Ra]

The image of Oquith making things still totally failed to form in Darya’s mind, even though she knew how dexterous dragon paws could be, it just seemed to be a concept that the bluerider couldn’t quite get her head around. Without really thinking about it Darya raised a hand to wipe the dragon lick off her face, a pointless gesture if there ever was one since her hand was below the waterline now and thus far wetter than Oquith’s tongue. ‘It probably does. I don’t imagine many people get given things made by a dragon.’ Darya had to agree, there were enough weyrbrats who would just adore a dragon made thing just because it was dragon made, and Oquith probably had a great deal of friends to bestow such things on.

The low squawking sound of the green whersport pulled Darya’s attention back to Tr’esn, her mouth twitched as she took in what an interesting shade of red the boy had managed to go. As his eyes dropped to her face Darya carefully schooled her expression to one of total innocence as to the reactions she was quite deliberately provoking from the poor holdbred lad, mercifully for Tr’esn being licked by the firelizard distracted Darya from his lack of reply for a moment.

Azrath, is there something on my face that they’re trying to wash off? She asked her dragon, wondering what was attracting the greens to lick her, she was fairly sure her last meal had gone mostly in her mouth, or at any rate that it hadn’t ended up that far off, come to think of it she’d been face down in the water only a minute or two ago. No, they appear to like you, for some reason. Even though you’re being mean to their bonded.[/color] Azrath’s reply came with more than a hint of reproach, his couldn’t just be pleasant to anyone, she had to tease, make sarcastic comments, and generally do her best to annoy, and bewilderingly she considered some of the people she treated thus to be her friends. The rest looked to Azrath to make her behave, no chance of that. The blue sank up to his eyes in the water and sighed.

Darya really couldn’t keep her expression neutral through the stammered response combined with the new blotchy sort of red and white look, anyone would think she just asked him some very explicit sex related question rather than simply asking if he was coming swimming, although now that the thought had occurred to her the temptation to proposition him out of the blue was there. Really the only thing stopping her on that score was that if she did Tr’esn would probably have some kind of breakdown, and as funny as that would be Darya did find herself liking his company, if only because his blushing was so very amusing.

‘Alright then, we’ll swim and you can laugh at me being drowned by my own dragon.’ Darya replied generously, deciding to give Tr’esn a temporary reprieve from her teasing. ‘You might want to look into getting better sometime though, I’d hate to hear that you’d drowned.’ Darya added, quite seriously, she’d taken Tr’esn’s coherent excuse at face value. For a moment she considered offering to teach him, but decided against it, Selenitas born and bred Darya was a strong swimmer but she suspected the greenrider would have trouble learning from her given how easily embarrassed he was.

‘So, Oquith, what kind of shinies do you like?’ Darya turned to the green dragon, offering Tr’esn a totally neutral view of her back for a moment. Since she was having so much trouble imagining what the dragon could make, what she might make it out of was mystery too.

Azrath’s head lifted hopefully from the water, maybe Darya had decided to behave, then again she was possibly just thinking up something horribly mean to do later. You shouldn’t take her so seriously Oquith’s.[/color] the blue felt almost compelled to explain his rider’s behaviour, most privately, to her chosen victim. She likes you really, she just has no shame, and a very odd sense of humour. Try to ignore it.[/color] Azrath advised, trying for a tone that was sympathetic without being over the top, it was so hard to talk to other humans, he couldn’t understand how others could talk to people who weren’t theirs with such ease.

[Avu]

Oh, so Azrath’s liked dragon-made shinies too? Oquith actively bounced in the water, crooning pleasantly at the bluerider, before she lowered her head into the water, claws making neat trails through the sand at the sea’s bottom; dust billowed upwards as Oquith leaned down to actually nose through the dirt. Water swirled around her eyes, and the green shook her head, not at all off-put by the severely limited vision. Something glimmered at the bottom, half-buried by the Sand, and the green’s right forepaw flicked out to snatch it with the quick accuracy that came with much practice; two claws gingerly pinched it out of the water. It was impossible to use her left forepaw, for Oquith lacked the claws there; a mutation much less obvious than some of her clutchsiblings’, but there nonetheless – as well as the lack of a fork in her tail and the missing claws on her right hind. Her hind legs came down to propel herself back out of the water just in time to hear Darya speak again, regarding Hers and swimming and being drowned by Azrath, and her eyes whirled in quick surprised alarm.

You wouldn’t /really/ drown Yours, would you? the green inquired nervously of Azrath, momentarily ignoring the shiny that she had grasped in her paws. It /does/ seem quite mean…I would not let TreMine drown, she added to Darya cheerfully, flicking a croon at Tr’esn.

Said greenrider had both arms wrapped around his legs uncomfortably by now, Dolphin flapping both wings in quiet upset at Darya before she chirped at the sight of the shiny clasped within Oquith’s paws and then stared avidly. So pretty, the shiny, so very pretty…she bent her legs, preparing to take off and snatch the shiny, but Tr’esn quelled her with a quick stroke of his palm before he shrugged weakly at Darya. “I’ll…I’ll remember that, yes…thanks…?” He wasn’t horrible at swimming, really; he could tread water and he could swim for a good distance, but he wasn’t comfortable in the water. It wasn’t his element. Neither was land, because most people associated shoes with land and Tr’esn had problems with shoes; they always tripped him up and sent him sprawling. He was very, very happy when he was flying or somewhere up high. Like the Drumtowers. Much rather stay up there than down in the water. Half of him actually wanted to explain that to Darya – he felt like he ought to, given that his statement that he wasn’t ‘good at swimming’ wasn’t entirely true – but she’d already turned from him to Oquith and he bit his tongue.

Shinies like this one! The green scooted deftly closer to Darya so she could expose the shell. It was quite small in proportion to the dragon herself, but for a random shell, it was quite sizeable. Curved, smooth, opalescent, it glittered wetly in the light before Oquith carefully waded over to offer the shell to Tr’esn, who took it automatically and put it into the bowl made of his lap. Crooning and washing a wave of adoration and gratitude over the greenrider, Oquith slid back into the water. Like that, she added again, But I like small ones too. Just as long as they’re pretty, I can make something out of it. Even if it’s not I can /make/ it pretty, usually. Usually. The green fanned both wings and then dove into the water again, nosing through the Sand and using her claws to create trenches in the bottom of the sea. I don’t really have a favorite or anything because I give them to other people and their favorites aren’t /mine/, so anything works, I think, the green explained pleasantly. Do you have a favorite? I’ll try to look for that so I can make you a pretty one…

It was testament to just how much other dragons bespoke him that Tr’esn didn’t so much as start when Azrath’s voice entered his mind, though his eyes did widen slightly before he tilted his head curiously at the blue. Qualuth and Wymeth bespoke him almost as much as their Riders did, and called him by his name; Checkoth had bespoken him before, too. “I…” He blinked, before he glanced awkwardly at Darya (whom Avia was contentedly snuggling against and crooning at). Did she know Azrath had bespoken him…? He didn’t want to tell her if she didn’t; if Azrath wanted her to know, he’d tell her, surely, and if he didn’t, then Tr’esn didn’t want to give it away. He just nodded, slowly. Okay. Try not to blush so much; apparently it was obvious even to dragons. Tell Azrath ‘thanks’, from me, please? he requested of Oquith silently, brushing affectionately against the green’s mind as he bowed his head to examine the shell that Oquith had deposited in his care. Just in case Darya spontaneously turned around again.

TreMine says ‘thank you’. the green reported obediently, before she crooned at Azrath; she didn’t ask why. Hers would tell her later, she was sure, if she was meant to know!

[Kisha-Ra]

Azrath’s eye colours flickered for a moment as if the blue wasn’t quite sure what to make of Oquith’s question before settling back to their usual array of blue and green shades. A small rumble escaped as Azrath worked out how Oquith had managed to get the idea he’d try and drown Darya. That was Darya’s idea of a joke. I like to splash around and knock her over, but she can swim.[/color] Azrath explained cheerfully If I was really trying to drown her I would have just done it while she was still dressed, although that would be kind of silly.[/color] Azrath drifted towards Oquith and gave the green a gentle poke with his muzzle, silly Oquith, thinking he’d really try and drown Darya.

Darya nodded to show she was still paying attention to Tr’esn, at least slightly. It was fir to say that Oquith was stealing the show with her odd behaviour and her strange worry that Azrath would actually try and drown his rider.

That explained the odd behaviour at least, Darya leaned closer and moved her head from side to side to get a better look at the shifting opalescence of the proffered shell. ‘That certainly is shiny.’ Darya admitted. ‘Although I don’t see why you need help if that’s what you can find on the first go.’ She added, feeling seriously outclassed by the green, although it had to be said Darya did not have a background in looking for shiny things.

Azrath watched Oquith carefully, there were obviously lots of good shinies under the water, and he could help get them… Okay, first poke around. Azrath did that rather incompetently, sending water and sand spraying out behind him, okay, poke around more carefully. Now what? Well Oquith had her head underwater when she found that shell so that must be the next thing. The blue lowered his head into the water and peered around, his vision limited by the sand he’d stirred up. Anything down there?

‘I don’t really have a particular favourite.’ Darya admitted, moving a little further out into the water and lying on her belly, a good distance from Azrath and his attempts to mimic Oquith’s shiny finding techniques. ‘I just like interesting things.’ It was true that Darya had an interest in oddly shaped and coloured things, it was also true that she felt no special urge to collect them but Oquith’s enthusiasm was contagious, so even Darya was peering through the water to examine the sand beneath. ‘I think I’ve got something.’ Darya dove after the sparkle in the sand and felt around on the floor. ‘What do you think?’ she asked Oquith, displaying her prize, a dark grey rock with veins of white quartz running through it, and blinking rapidly to clear her watering eyes of salt. Do not open eyes in sea, she really should remember that.

Azrath huffed; even Darya could find things better than him. Still the blue dragon did look mildly pleased with himself when Oquith conveyed her rider’s thanks, apparently he had got it right there after all. He was glad but on the whole he thought he’d avoid talking to others too much.

[Avu]

Ooh, I see. Oquith crooned at Azrath’s poke, returning the poke playfully by nosing his muzzle with her own; she didn’t mean to be so oblivious to jokes but the green was just – naïve. Hers rarely joked, but he made up for it in other ways, better ways; if he joked he wouldn’t be him and Oquith loved Hers so the way he was. I /am/ sorry, I don’t mean to be such a bother, she added contritely, curling her tail around herself underwater – I suppose I should have known it was just a joke; I don’t see how any dragon /could/ kill Theirs… The comment faded into another apologetic hum before Oquith leaned out to lick the blue’s shoulder lightly – again in apology. Oh, she was so silly, wasn’t she? Both wings fluttered slightly before the green dragon uncoiled herself entirely, stretching out in the sea to scan the bottom with one gleaming eye, the other closing idly against the sunlight.

Help is always nice, she added to Darya seriously, crooning at the woman, before she clarified, a decidedly affectionate note entering her voice, /Friends/ are always nice. I like having company; it’s much nicer than searching alone. TreMine always keeps me company but new people are lots of fun. I like you very much, Azrath’s. The words were uttered with a certain childish shyness; the green crawled over to poke Darya with her muzzle, though she didn’t lick her again – she’d wipe it off again, after all, and Oquith had already decided that was a sign that one didn’t like being licked. Now, she just had to remember not to…The Aviaflit likes you very much too, the dragon added, adding a slight croon in Avia’s direction; the green positively flipped in response, flapping both wings and uttering a loud, shameless squawk before she turned and swiped her tongue across the bluerider’s face – just because Oquith wouldn’t didn’t mean she wouldn’t!

Interesting things…okay. Oquith hummed agreeably at Darya before she dove back down, too, passing Azrath and rubbing her head against his shoulder gratefully – she could tell he was trying and how nice of him it was – her claws raked through the sand as soon as she’d snaked a good distance away from the blue so she wouldn’t stir up dust near him. Her head came back up at Darya’s question, though, and the green turned around on herself to swim back to the bluerider on her back; both wings extended so she would float. The stone was carefully inspected before she hummed in delight; so pretty! So shiny! So lovely! Oh, it’s lovely. It’s so very pretty. You’re /so/ good at this! Would you like me to make your shiny out of it? Ooh, it can be so pretty…can I? Please? Her eagerness rendered the green positively breathless with delight; she could just see it already and it would be so pretty and just right for the bluerider~

Why had the bluerider ditched her? So wet, so wet, and she couldn’t look for shinies so upsetting. Avia’s chittering as the green, who had deserted Darya’s shoulder when she’d dove down, swept into Tr’esn’s lap and curled up, made Tr’esn blink twice in amusement before his head tilted slightly and he ran both hands down the slightly damp hide, reassuring; surely Darya hadn’t meant to dislocate her. Of course not. Oquith’s enthusiasm swept over him and the greenrider, much more pleased now that Darya wasn’t paying attention to him. Dolphin dropped to the rock beside him, ruffling her wings irritably, before shooting another glare in Darya and Oquith’s direction. Stupid green dragon; why was she so nice to someone who made Theirs turn such funny colors? Huff. Avia retorted with a chirp – she liked the bluewingy’s person even if she had deserted her, it was to get a shiny and wasn’t a shiny such an honorable cause? It was. Ignoring the pair’s bickering, Tr’esn pressed one elbow against each knee, propping his chin against his fists; the bluerider searching for shinies with her dragon and Oquith was – well, it was almost a cute scene. Almost.

[Kisha-Ra]

Azrath looked toward Oquith, although he sent disapproval toward his rider, just look how she’d upset the green with that. I shouldn’t worry about it too much. Darya has a very strange idea of what’s amusing.[/color] Azrath neglected to mention that his rider found the colour changes humans could make very amusing indeed, Oquith probably didn’t need to know that, although it seemed the whersport had already worked it out. You just get used to her not meaning everything she says literally.[/color] The blue added trying to reassure Oquith and possibly take the edge off her embarrassment.

Darya just gave Oquith an incredulous look, and surprisingly a faint blush touched her face, hardly noticeable even against her pale skin tone, it appeared the dragon had managed to fluster Darya with the suggestion that she was a likeable person. ‘Um, thank you.’ Darya didn’t sound totally convinced, but her hand did come up out of the water to run across the green’s muzzle. Ordinarily Darya would have brushed off such a comment with a suggestion that the commenter had bad taste but Oquith didn’t seem to have a grip on such things and Darya didn’t really want to upset the green. Fortunately she was saved from having to come up with a graceful answer by Avia. The firelizard’s enthusiastic noise and licking made Darya jump sideways, causing Azrath to snort and laugh at her. Darya just glared in her dragon’s direction.

Less funny when people are laughing at you is it?[/color] Azrath inquired blandly, not bothering to look up from his searching.

Shut up, dragon. You try having a firelizard screaming right in your ear, I appreciate Bit’s silence so much more now

There was something even more daunting about Oquith’s enthusiasm when the green was floating upside down, and the sheer delight that she responded to the rock with made Darya wonder about the green’s sanity. Alright, it was a pretty thing but it wasn’t really worth getting excited over. Was it? Darya looked at the rock in her plam again, nope still the same rock she’d snatched up from the sand. ‘You can do whatever you want with it Oquith.’ She finally answered, pointedly ignoring Azrath’s continuing amusement at her expense. Hypocritical blue, it was wrong from Darya to embarrass Tr’esn but totally alright for Oquith to act like this was it?

Azrath ignored being pointedly ignored with the ease of long practice, Darya was just so funny when someone managed to fluster her, of course it was made even funnier because Oquith didn’t know she was making Darya uncomfortable, and probably wouldn’t work it out. For some reason random declarations of friendship never failed to embarrass his prickly rider. Now, where were those shinies hiding? The blue ducked his head back underwater and peered around.

At a loss for things to say to Oquith Darya gave up for a moment. ‘I’ll give this to Tr’esn for now.’ She flipped the rock into the air and caught it again by way of explanation and lazily started off in that direction, swimming until her toes hit sand. Then she stood and wandered up until she could toss the stone with reasonable accuracy at Tr’esn’s feet, well at the base of his rock anyway. ‘Keep hold of that. Apparently Oquith has a wonderful idea for it.’ She called, Oquith hadn’t actually said as much but it was very much implied by the green’s excitement over the stone.