No pause, all paws... (Samael)

[Ivy]

Claws clicked against the stone floor as the pup made his way down the hallway, tail lifted and wagging to and fro as he explored. Behind him a leash dragged with no human attached to the other end - instead there was a dusky dark blue firelizard zipping this way and that in the air above the canine pup. Poe was not keen on being noisy, but he did trill at Azrain as he continued down the hall in an attempt to get the canine to stop. The attempt failed and Azrain kept on going until he reached a door and finally stopped. Sniffing at the bottom of the door he let out a high-pitched puppy bark and then scratched at the door - whatever was behind it he wanted, if the speed of his tail wagging was any indication.

Poe landed on the edge of a glow basket, his shadow stretched down the hall in an eery form that looked nothing like its source. Another soft trill, this one a bit harsher in its tone, then he was quiet once more as he watched over the husky mix.

Two hallways over the human half of the blue firelizard and young pup was storming her way in their direction. Thankfully Poe had been sending her flitting images so she could find where Azrain had run off to. As Ruliana rounded the corner to the hallway that the canine was in she took a moment to compose herself a bit better. Luckily she hadn't passed any one along the way - normally she was always very composed and put together, but in her mission to catch the runaway pup she had been stomping around. Very un-lady like.

Dark bags had formed under her eyes in the few weeks since she had adopted Azrain - her hair wasn't as well kept as usual. She'd pulled it back into a tight braid a day ago, and now small strands were free of the braid and gave her an overall frazzled look. At least her clothes were nice and neat, a long black skirt billowed out with each step she took before falling back nicely against her legs. Feet peeked from just under the skirt's hem, clad in shined up black boots with a bit of a heel to them - not much of one as she was already on the tall side for a woman. A simple long sleeved sapphire blue top hugged the few curves she had, the sleeves of which were rolled up to her elbows. She had skipped out on jewelry and accessories, both of which she was usually seen in.

A bit calmer now that she was within sight of her canine companion she took slow but deliberate steps towards him. Azrain's ears perked up and back towards his owner, but he was intent on sniffing and whining at the door in front of him. The closer she came to the pup the more visibly tense she became, until finally she practically pounced to pin his leash beneath her boot. Bending quickly she grabbed the end of it and looped it around her hand tightly, getting a good grip.

"Ha! Not getting away from me again you little trouble-maker!" Her voice was soft despite how frustrated and tired she was. She loved the little fuzzball, even if he had just wasted half of her day playing chase-the-pup-around-the-weyr. She had almost had him earlier when he stopped to try and herd together some children, but just as went to grab the leash he took off again. Thank goodness for Poe, he had been a great help throughout the day.

Lovely little blue brother. So sweet and helpful to Rulilove.

Yes, he was a lifesaver. Unlike another of my bondeds who will go unnamed.

The green was quiet for a moment, You have no others Rulilove.

I meant you darling. There was a teasing tone to her thoughts and she smiled.

Fuzz needed exercise! Besides Rulilove it isn't as if I can fit in the hallways anymore.

Dark blue eyes lifted towards the ceiling before falling once more as she rolled them. The smile still lingered on her lips as she looked down at Azrain, "So after all of the running around today you came here... What's behind the door that you're after?"

She eyed the door her pup was still scratching and whining at - she wasn't familiar with this area of the weyr really. She had no need to be, she spent most of her time in the weyrbowl, the skies, or in her own weyr.

[Aftershock]

Samael mumbled awake as Heimdall's insistent prodding stirred him from the mid-day nap he had been taking, his misty blue eyes opening to take in the washed-out blur that his clouded orbs presented the world as to him. As his mind worked it's way towards full consciousness, he also began to feel the mental excitement from Freyr, who was flitting about the room, moving from circling Samael's head to flying towards the door, and back again. "What's this all about, you two?" he asked of his two closest companions... nearly his only two companions at all for the past few months.

Ever since the hatching where his heart was crushed by Vellani's Impression... and subsequent ignoring of him in favor of the bluerider he eventually found was named Er'ani... Samael had fallen into a depressive funk. With few friends to begin with, he had retreated from the Weyr as a whole, leaving his room to eat and do what chores he was capable of, and immediately retreating back to it as soon as his tasks were completed. Freyr and Heimdall were nearly his only companions at all as of late, and his depression was also starting to show in his physical appearance, as a lack of motivation for personal grooming and an increase in sleeping showed in his skin going from pale to pasty, his hair arranged only as much as it would from him simply running a hand through it occasionally, and deep bags under his pale blue eyes.

Finally regaining consciousness enough to hear the whining and scratching at his doorway, he slowly heaved himself to his feet, and shuffled carefully over to his door, Heimdall immediately falling in beside him. Opening the door, he felt something likely push the door ajar the moment the latch came loose, and he asked in confusion, "Hello? Is anyone out there? Can I help you?"

[Ivy]

A flush spread slowly over her cheeks as the door cracked open, helped by the inquisitive paws of the husky mix still whining. Whimpering and yipping, Azrain crouched down in a playful stance before charging into the room past Samael's legs to yip at Heimdall. Ruliana hissed to the pup under her breath and then looked to Samael, "I am sorry about that, its my new canine - still a pup and full of spunk. Won't listen to a word I say, I..."
Her voice trailed off as she took in the sight of the man ahead of her, tossled unkempt hair. Her eyes caught on his - they were the same height and thus the same eye level after all - and she took in the milkiness of his eyes. The boy was blind. Words caught in her throat - she hadn't met many disabled persons who were not drudges and it took her quite off guard.

While Ruliana fumbled over what to say next, Poe swooped into the doorway and landed lightly on a chair to look up at the young bronze. The blue stayed quiet but seemed amused by the other firelizard's antics. Tail flicked back and forth slowly behind him as he watched the bronze, his wings tucked in against his back as he set there leisurely.

"I'm Ruliana..." Don't forget me Rulilove! "... of Green Amalath." she finished rather slowly. "There is a blue firelizard in your room... that's my Poe... and if you heard him, the canine is Azrain."

[Aftershock]

Heimdall's reaction to Azrain's room invasion was immediate... his ears perked as the tiny Husky mix bounded into the room and yipped at him, and Heimdall's thick tail wagged to and fro as he bent down to sniff at the young canine. Heimdall's huge muzzle nearly seemed as if he would inhale the pup, the size difference was so severe, and after he had finished a standard canine sniff-greeting, his upper body slammed to the ground, leaving his rump in the air as his tail continued to wag happily. It had been so long since he'd had another canine to play with, Heimdall went into it full-bore, his deep, stentorian bark filling the room a couple times as he responded to Azrain's tiny yips, and he bounced his large body around and batted playfully at the pup at it nipped at his floppy ears and tackled his muzzle.

Samael, for his part, couldn't help but smile as he heard Heimdall enjoying himself, recognizing a puppy's bark quite easily even without Ruliana's prompting. As for Ruliana herself, Samael stumbled over himself a bit as he responded, not being used to social interaction that much to begin with, not even mentioning his self-imposed exile the months following the dragon hatching. "Er, hello," he started, "I... that is... it's all right," he finished lamely, then fell into a silence matching her own, though for different reasons.

Freyr, for his part, trilled a greeting to Poe as he entered and landed, landing on the chair back opposite the blue and folding his wings carefully, his chest mark displayed proudly. His had been so sad and listless lately, the bronze sent to the Poe, it was good to have some joy in the room at long last. Freyr thanked Poe's bonded through Poe, and sent an image of Ruliana into Samael's mind, since he knew that His liked human females, and felt the recent depression had been due to the blonde human female's absence from His' life since the dragon hatching, so hoped this new human female might help.

Samael, after receiving the image, blushed and stuttered even worse, barely noting Ruliana's introduction as he mentally retreated a few steps from the newly-introduced fact that he was talking to a very attractive young woman (though, unknown to him, quite a bit older than himself). He sat blushing and silent for a few moments after she had introduced herself, then suddenly remembered normal social interaction and realized he needed to introduce himself and his companions, as well. "I... er... that is... um... Samael. Is me. I'm Samael," he stuttered nervously out, "and that's Heimdall and Freyr," he added, gesturing in their general directions, helped by Heimdall's thumping and barking and his mental bond to Freyr to determine their locations.

[Ivy]

Azrain took to Heimdall immediately, there were no qualms in the puppy's mind about the massive size difference between himself and his new playmate. He batted at the larger dog and ran back and forth, pouncing and nipping at the mastiff every chance he got. His tail seemed to be in constant motion, a blur that could barely be made out to be a tail at all.

Seeing the two canines playing a smile formed on Ruliana's face, a smile which only widened a bit more when she peeked past Samael into the room to see Poe and Freyr interacting a bit. Still there was some stiffness to her posture, she stood straight and rigid.

A new friend Rulilove?[/color] Amalath inquired to her rider before reaching out and speaking to Samael, Rulilove is happy to meet you, even if she does not seem so happy. Just like the green to meddle in her relationships, as if she couldn't handle them on her own.

He feels... off. Came Amalath's observation to her rider after brushing Samael's mind to speak to him.

Its because he cannot see. He is blind dearest. Ruliana's explanation was soft but to the point, though she idly wondered if Amalath would even understand what she meant.

The green did of course, she had known dragons who were born without sight in one eye - known dragons who lost vision in their eyes as well. Still the concept of a human with no sight seemed to intrigue the green. Poebrother, show him?

Dutifully the blue did as he was told, flashing an image of the room to the blind boy - the canines playing, the bronze sitting across from him, Samael himself, and Ruliana. Then Poe went back to eying the younger firelizard with quiet curiosity and respect.

"So..." Ruliana spoke up after an embarrassing long silence. "Sorry about Amalath, she is like a doting, meddling mother figure who thinks people cannot do for themselves." She grinned a bit to show she was playing, but then remembered that the facial expression was lost on Samael. Hopefully from her tone he could figure it out on his own.

[Aftershock]

The canines continued to play as their owners conversed, and as Amalath mindspoke to Samael, he started a bit, not having had a dragon speak to him in a while. Actually, other than Feyrianth, Samael had never had a dragon speak directly to him, and since the birth of Erilena's children, Feyrianth had been unavailable to spend any time talking to the blind boy. Shaking his head a bit to clear it, he attempted to respond to Amalath (though it might not work, if she had disconnected from him and wasn't in view for him to focus on her), "Your bonded does not seem unhappy, just nervous, as I am. Thank you, though."

To Ruliana, he smiled a bit sadly, and snapped his fingers, causing Heimdall to immediately break away from playing with Azrain and move over to heel beside Samael, nosing his muzzle under the boy's hand to let him know he was there. If Azrain pursued him, he would ignore the pup beyond subtle positioning of his ears and tail to indicate playtime was over for now, and if necessary hold the pup down gently, but firmly with a large forepaw if he tried to continue jumping at Heimdall's face. "It is fine, don't worry. Unfortunately, some of us can't do for ourselves... some things, at least."

Still staring off blankly, he patted Heimdall's head, who wagged his tail happily, and said, "If it weren't for Heimdall, and now Freyr, I wouldn't be able to do anything at all without another person to help me... and I've never been very good with people..." Trailing off and continuing to stare into space, he suddenly started, as if he forgot he wasn't alone, and quickly said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so depressing. I've just been... thinking... a lot lately, and it's been a few weeks since I've really spoken with someone, and I was never that in practice in the first place. The eyes," he continued, waving his hand in front of his face to indicate his cloudy blue orbs, "they sometimes make people uncomfortable, so I don't exactly have much experience talking to people..." Trailing off again, this time not starting again, he made a subtle hand motion to dismiss Heimdall, who nuzzled Samael's leg once more affectionately before returning to playing with Azrain.

At the desk, Freyr wrapped his tail around a spoke of the chair back and settled down, realizing Poe was apparently a reserved flit, and simply enjoying the opportunity to be around another firelizard.

[Ivy]

Amalath gave a gentle mental croon to Samael at his words, she was always open to speaking to anyone and welcomed his thoughts in return. Ruliana watched as the expression on the boy's face changed to a sad smile and frowned, I upset him.

He is nervous, he says., her green replied knowingly.

Stop talking without me, you know how I hate it.

Amalath would have grinned if she was capable of doing so - but as she couldn't the feeling transferred to her bonded instead and Ruliana had a brief grin on her face. Then she was back to being stoic and nervous. She watched as the simple snap from Samael brought his dog to his side. So obedient. Interesting. Then he dismissed the dog after speaking a bit about himself. She admittedly was only half-listening to the boy. Not meaning to be rude of course, but she was interested in the way he had the dog trained.

Azrain had followed Heimdall when he came to his owner, and watched with his head tilted. They weren't done playing! He pounced at the larger dog - only to be met by a paw in the face. Yipping he moved around to the other end then, pawing at Heimdall's tail. But then the other dog was dismissed and came back to play with him, oh joy! Yipping and playful growls came from the husky mix as he went back to playfully mauling the larger dog once more.

Poe watched the humans interact. He watched the dogs interact. Then his attention went back to the younger firelizard. Head dipped in a polite nod to the bronze and he looked around the room. Curious place, where was the dragon ledge? The wher couch? Poe had been around the weyr for quite some time, true - but he didn't go to the weyrfolk areas, and his curiosity made this fact very clear.

When Samael had finally stopped speaking, "I'm... sorry to hear that." Oh, this was rather awkward, wasn't it? Not that many of her encounters with the opposite gender (M'ta excluded) seemed to be anything but. Unable to think of anything else to say she suddenly blurted out, "How did you get him to do that? The dog I mean. He came and sat without a word. Mine won't come even if I spend all day yelling his name or trying to entice him with scraps. Spends his days running, playing, and trying to herd everything. I'm beginning to think I'm not a canine person."

[Aftershock]

Samael again smiled with a hint of sadness as she apologized, and he responded, "That is one of the reasons for the awkardness, yes... people think me delicate and are uncomfortable bringing up my disability, yet they are often curious about it, and find it difficult to think of anything else to talk about, so they find speaking to me difficult because of it." Shaking his head, he added, "No need to feel sorry, it was not your fault. Not anyone's fault. It just is. I've lived this long with it, and I've come to understand that. Feeling bad about what I don't have and that no one can fix solves nothing. My sister helped me realize that, rest her soul..." Samael's smile faded, and his face became hardened for a moment, before resuming a neutral expression as Ruliana asked her question.

"Oh, that? I've had Heimdall since he was born, and I've depended on him for so much we've become extremely close, and able to determine each other's needs and wants easily." Scratching his chin a bit as he thought about it, he said after a moment, "I suppose the trick, though I never thought about it before now, is that we grew up together. I got him as a puppy, and I was quite young myself, so we've both grown up with each other by our side. Heimdall is more like a brother to me than a canine, to be honest, and I think he sees me as more of a packmate than an owner or master." Getting into the flow of the conversation, he continued, "I depend on Heimdall for a lot, and he depends on me for getting food or being groomed. I've always tried to see things from his perspective, and try to help him see things from mine. I use his eyes, he uses my hands. We respect and love each other, and each helps the other do things they can't do on their own."

Freyr, for his part, overheard Poe's thoughts, and responded that the dragons and whers did not Impress to His because of His' blindness, so they had no need of a wher couch or a dragon ledge in His' room. Freyr did not understand why, however, since he Impressed to His and found His to be a wonderful human to be bonded with.

[Ivy]

Oh. Well, that wasn't exactly a helpful answer for the Greenrider now was it? Chewing lightly on her bottom lip for a brief moment before realizing how very un-lady-like that was. So she instead moved her hands to smooth over the front of her shirt and then down to her skirt. "I see... Hm."

She felt awkward and was trying to think of a way to excuse herself when Amalath butted in, You should join Rulilove for a meal sometime. She rarely has company.

A horrified expression flitted across the woman's face before she regained her composure, thankful that the young man in front of her was unable to see. Honestly, being set up by her dragon? She knew the Green was merely trying to be helpful, she worried about how often Ruliana was alone and her lack of male friends. But the concern was not needed! She was not a child, she could make friends on own!

Unsure of what to say Ruliana just stood there for a moment, but then realized if she didn't say something it would be very rude, "I would enjoy that, sometime when you are free."

Azrain continued trying to pounce the much larger Heimdall. Poe tilted his head slightly and then opened his wings. He took off from his perch and flew up to the rafters where he twined himself around one, wanting a new view of the room and its inhabitants.

[Aftershock]

Samael, blind though he was, could hear the disappointment in Ruliana's response, and he said, "I'm sorry, I wish I could be more help. I'm sure many of your problems simply stem from the fact that he is still a puppy, though, and therefore has lots of energy... if you would like, Heimdall will gladly play with him when you have the time to visit, and if Azrain is worn out, perhaps he will be easier to train."

Startled again by Amalath's mindvoice, though this time it was simply from the fact that unlike a human, a dragon's mindvoice has no warning like a human opening their mouth, so is always unexpected when one does not have a direct link to the speaking dragon, Samael recovered more quickly this time, and was about to respond when the air between himself and Ruliana shifted a bit... with his other senses enhanced from his lack of sight, Samael found he could sometimes detect major changes in mood in someone he was speaking to, if he and the other person were alone, from subtle changes in the air around the person due to flushing skin or the sudden stillness of a person stiffening uncomfortably. Such a shift had just occurred in Ruliana, and though he did not know the source of her mood change, he did not want to proceed until he knew better, so he sat silently along with the greenrider as she thought to herself.

When she finally responded, Samael's mouth twisted slightly, and he responded, "I would enjoy that, as well... but do not worry about me, if it would be a bother. As a weyrfolk, I am usually free beyond chores, but I know a dragonrider's life is busy and exciting, so I would not want to be a bother or a burden..." Trailing off, his mouth quirked back into a slightly uncomfortable smile, as his mind told him that she was likely only agreeing with her dragon because she felt sorry for him.

Heimdall, meanwhile, having more bulk to move around, was finally tiring from his play with Azrain, and had stopped bouncing about to simply lie on the floor, his tongue lolling out as he more casually bopped and shoved the much younger canine around with his massive paws. Freyr, meanwhile, having been abandoned by Poe, flitted down to land on the floor, posing with his chest marking displayed proudly as he observed Azrain curiously, thinking that Azrain was a different species than Heimdall, similar to how the much larger dragons were related, but different species than firelizards like himself.

[Ivy]

Ruliana couldn't help but chuckle a bit, "Busy and exciting? Please! Aside from drills with my wing I really do not do much. Oh I bathe and oil Amalath when she needs it, but honestly I think you have the wrong idea about the life of a dragonrider."

It was true, she felt like lately her life was in a rut. A routine of the same daily activities that she was stuck in, a loop day after day of the same things. This was by far the most 'excitement' she'd had in a few months. Azrain had, if nothing else, added a little spice to her life. Annoying as he was when he didn't listen, she had to give him that.

"Honestly it wouldn't be a bother. I may not be fond of my dragon trying to set me up, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy your company for a meal or two." Normally shy around men, she was finding it a bit easier to speak with Samael - perhaps it was because of his inability to see. Perhaps it was his younger age. Whatever it was, she didn't feel threatened by him.

Azrain nipped at Heimdall's paws and then when the bigger beast laid down he whined. He was having fun! Why wasn't he playing anymore?! Then another being came into his field of vision - Freyr. Yelping the fluffy little mixed breed pup jumped towards the firelizard, intent on rounding him up next to Heimdall. There was one thing that Azrain was good at - herding. Now that playing was out, he was going to fall on his next talent, and quickly he tried to turn and snapped a bit at the same time in an attempt to scare the firelizard closer to the other canine.

[Aftershock]

Samael chuckled, a bit darkly, at Ruliana's claims. "Well, when one does amazing things every day, they become normal and pedestrian, I suppose" he said, rubbing his chin in thought. "I would think flying on a giant dragon who you share your mind with, being the hero of those you protect from Thread, would be a life filled with glory and excitement, but I guess when one does such things every day, they go from being 'amazing' to 'another day'." Running a hand through his messy hair, he began to realize he was not nearly as nervous talking to this woman as he thought he was going to be... perhaps it was her own slight awkwardness, despite her beauty, or the fact that she saw him as someone worth speaking to, even someone to ask questions of, despite her status as a dragonrider compared to his status as a simple weyrperson, or some combination of all of those things combined, but he found himself no longer tripping over his words or stuttering in embarrassment talking to Ruliana... he was actually quite comfortable around her, if he was honest with himself.

He listened as she continued to speak, and genuinely smiled as she claimed she would enjoy spending a couple meals with him. "I would enjoy that, too, I think. As mentioned, I've barely dealt with any people other than Heimdall for quite a while now, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to during my meals. If you continue to enjoy my company, perhaps we could even make it a normal part of our schedules," he concluded, smiling openly for the first time in quite a number of months. It felt good, he thought to himself, and he hoped this new friendship would help him get over his loss of Vellani.

On the floor, Freyr screeched indignantly as Azrain suddenly pounced at him, and he flapped quickly up to perch on Heimdall's head, watching the young canine circling his larger bondbrother and yipping excitedly, eyes swirling a yellow-orange of fear and confusion as he wondered what the little creature was trying to do. Heimdall, for his part, sat up, lifting his bronze bondbrother farther out of the reach of any possible nipping from Azrain, snorting in disapproval of the husky mix's attempted herding of his firelizard friend.

[Ivy]

She smiled at the boy as he spoke, but then suddenly, "Azrain!"

Frowning she didn't even have to look at Poe for the firelizard to know what she wanted of him. Swooping down from where he had been twined around one of the rafters he nudged the husky mix's rump. Nudging him over and over again, skillfully avoiding the small sharp puppy teeth, he managed to corral the overly playful pup to his owner. Bending at the knee she quickly scooped the wiggly fur ball up and held him against her chest.

"I will have Amalath let you know what time is best for me, if that is agreeable? For now though I think I should get this little one back home and penned up before he gets himself into more trouble." Another smile was flashed his way - not that he could see it, a voice mentioned in the back of her mind. "It was a pleasure meeting you Samael."

Turning she was quick to leave, Poe trailing a distance behind her. Before he left though the blue looked at the boy and flashed him an image of himself - as if to say he may want to do something with his dishevled hair before the next time he and His met.

[Aftershock]

Heimdall, seeing what was going on, attempted to assist Poe in the herding of the small pup back to his owner, his thick, loose skin resistant to any puppy bites he got for his trouble. After Azrain had been contained by Ruliana, Freyr flew up from Heimdall's head to Samael's shoulder, crooning thanks to Poe and his bondbrother for their help in freeing him from his tiny, nippy pursuer.

Samael, for his part, stood by while he heard what was occurring, assisted in understanding by the emotions he got from his bond with Freyr. Once the scuffling was over, and Ruliana had said her part, Samael smiled in turn, less in response to her smile than an awkward reflex at their encounter coming to a close. "Um, that's... that's fine. I, er, I'm looking forward to, um... seeing you again," Samael said, fighting his way through the simple sentence as the reality of the situation hit home. He had made a new friend, he thought... and another girl, at that. Another pretty girl. And she wanted to see him again, innocent as it might be.

Fighting back a flush, Samael waved to Ruliana, not realizing she had already turned to leave. As he received the flash from Poe of his own appearance, the flush won through, coloring his face crimson as he realized how terrible he had looked the entire conversation with Ruliana. Nervously running a hand through his disheveled locks once more, Samael closed the door as he retreated into his room, thoughts of his recent re-introduction into socialization running through his head.

{{End of Thread}}