Fan Dancing (F'lix)

[Requiem]

Toes curled against the surface, finding a grip on the slippery stone. One leg was drawn up, not so much for the impression it would leave - though it couldn't help but strike someone as distinctly graceful - but because there was only enough room on this particular rock for one foot. The spray crashed around him. Eyes closed, he listened to the spray, arms before him. There. A slight quickening. F'ur's eyes flared open, the man pitching himself forward as Ino's tail flashed overhead. He landed on a lower rock, one leg extended low. A shower or rocks. His arms moved, fans flaring open and closed, a skip to the left, leap to the right. Then he was running up the length of Inocenth's tail.

The blue growled at him as F'ur plopped down on his head, waving one fan before his eye. "You're going easy on me again." I don't like these games, Mine. If you make a mistake... He laughed, poking Inocenth in the snout with a closed fan. "Nice to know you care. Really, though, I know where you're coming from long before you get there." The blue huffed tempramentally. F'ur shrugged his shoulders. "All right. I'll just play by myself then. Worry wart." Not like you really need to keep on top of things here, Inocenth growled. He was never in that great a mood when worried. And, no matter what His said, getting hit by a dragon tail was not conducive to his mindmate's health.

The bluerider didn't heed him, allowing himself to slide down Inocenth's snout. He slipped slightly on the rock below, catching himself with the swing of an arm, fan extending for balance. It had been a long time since he played with these babies. F'ur generally preferred unarmed hand-to-hand, but...he'd had a habit of going into defensive fights with fans, just to piss off the attacking parties. (Besides, fans weren't as lethal as his bare hands, which meant prisoners, which meant happier higher ranking Fortians. Always good to keep the bigwigs happy.)

Since Selenitas was anti-death, maybe it was time to break the fans back out. Work out the kinks.

F'ur slid into a lithe dance on the rocks, one that started slowly, concentrating more on the feel of the extensions to his arms, the shift of weight from one movement to the next. He could see the moves, their counters, and slowly the play in his mind's eye picked up speed. He spun, dancing over the rocks, the fans flashing in brief bursts of vibrant color, in, out, flick of a wrist, sideskip, flare to blind followed by a jump kick, fade back, block, flare to catch wrist, the break. Sweat and spray glistened, the tight shirt sodden and clinging, bare feet bleeding a bit from the sharp catches - but unnoticed.

Inocenth huffed, stretching out on the sands and watching His with one eye. There really was no reason for this here...

[rii]

And what was F'lix doing all the way out to the coast?

Scouting. Or, at least he had been–and in a different area–until he had seen the Fortian run by carrying a set of.. unusual items. He had only watched him go by, curious, but ignoring it for a least a short while. F'lix had taken to watching people lately. After his and M'ta's brush with an unknown assailant, F'lix had wanted to know everyone's habits–more particularly those that braved the jungle, and not just the safer thinned trees toward the Weyr, but deeper, further into the wild darkness. He would find out who had been responsible for that day, or at least spy someone who did not belong. An old set of habits he tried to suppress since coming to Selenitas, yet there he found himself. Watching. Learning. Set on gathering information by pure observation.

But that curiosity festered, and even though F'lix had sat hours in the same tree, he couldn't shake it. Eventually he dropped down and followed at a loping pace, noting the direction lead toward the ocean. F'lix didn't really think he'd find out what the man was up to–scolded himself for even indulging in the curiosity. Yet when he came upon the more open area of the beach, he froze. Constant cover gone. And, with a brief scan of the beach he realized not only had he indeed followed the right set of paths, he had a slim chance of getting closer; Inocenth's dark hide stuck out like a sore thumb against the pale sands. Sneaking up on dragons was bad. Sneaking up on dragons like Inocenth? Very, very bad. Without any proper cover, F'lix garb would do the same as the blue's hide. The dark brown pants with a loose black long sleeve shirt that F'lix wore did well to hide in shadows in the jungle, it would work quite the opposite in such an open, pastel landscape.

So.. he settled for watching from a distance. Why? Because watching F'ur was an excellent.. learning opportunity. Golden eyes followed the movements with rapt interest–but soon grew annoyed that he couldn't really see. A series of boulders closer to the other bluepair would serve as a better view. Mm, yes. Putting as much stealth as he could in the movements, F'lix angled the rocks between himself and the dark dragon and slowly, creeping along on all fours, foot and hands making little to no noise as he moved closer.

He must have a death wish. F'ur was going to kill him, if Inocenth didn't get to him first.

The boulders were still a decent distance away from the bluepair, but at least now F'lix could actually see the full extent of F'ur movements with the.. fans? F'lix absently set his chin on the gray rock before him and silently observed the rather.. exotic technique. Hm, the man was full of oddities. Yes.

As if out of habit to check his surroundings, golden eyes flicked aside, noting the bird's nest, complete with eggs, sitting in the crack of the adjacent boulder. On cue, mother bird returned, settling on the smooth stone and regarding F'lix with suspicion. F'lix slowly sneered, waiting for it–sure enough, as all animals seemed to react violently toward him, the bird started squalling and flapping her wings in a way meant to intimidate. Annoyed that she was drawing attention, F'lix swung his arm out at her, missing, of course. His second swipe caught her, a loud caw sounded, a puff of feathers, and she took to the air.

Oh shards..

F'lix, feeling his on-coming doom, sank behind the boulders with one hand up and palming over his scowl.

[Requiem]

Inocenth caught sight of the slinking figure fairly early on, huffing slightly. Saboth's. He didn't have a problem with Saboth's...odd as it might have been to anyone else, Inocenth really did bear quite a lot of affection for F'urHis, and any man who'd had the opportunity to take advantage of his mindmate but hadn't? Not an enemy. F'ur had few enough people who actually fell into that category...probably because he was always hiding behind that ridiculous grin. (And, admittedly, knowing that it would annoy F'urHis if Saboth's got close enough to really see was a major incentive to allow the skulking figure to approach unchallenged.)

The bluerider's foot slipped a bit on a rock at the sudden screeching of the bird, the man instinctively twisting toward that sound...but before he could really get a good look at what had startled it, the nesting creatures on the surrounding rocks suddenly all burst upward. He leapt out of one's way, another striking him in the shoulder in its panic and nearly toppling him off the rock. One caught him in the face with a wing.

Okay. That was it. All the bleeding hearts could lynch him later, but he was not taking a tumble down the rocks and slashing something unfortunate open - or breaking a limb - because of a bunch of birds. F'ur snarled, It wasn't a very pretty sight, unless you happened to like watching puffs of feathers...although...the bluerider's suddenly purposeful dance was still rather graceful despite its deadliness, the flash of color and falling down making it almost surreal. If anyone wanted to know what the earlier moves were meant to be used for, this would clear it up a little, though of course it would be different if he was actually fighting something capable of fighting back.

The majority of birds by now high in the sky, F'ur stood on one of the higher rock outcroppings, a glower on his face. Enough had scratched him in their frantic flight to severely irritate the man. "I'm going to catch and eat whatever startled them," he grumbled to himself, ignoring Inocenth's rumbling. Looking awfully pretty there, Mine. Did the birds get the better of you? He shot Ino a glare. He didn't care if some of the feathers were stuck to him. That could wait until after he roasted himself whatever creature was out bird hunting this morning.

Leaping over the rocks, the fans whirled back in casual twists of his wrists, snapping closed. He stopped right by where the first bird had been, fully expecting to only see tracks...maybe a tunnelsnake...but no. F'ur's eyes widened then narrowed, his irritation very much clear for once. "And here I thought it was just some stupid animal. One part of that was right." The bluerider had descended into a crouch, the edge of one closed fan darting beneath F'lix's chin and tilting it up. "Now would be a good time to tell me why you're sneaking around, minx." Oh, definitely irritated, if he wasn't calling the boy kitten as he usually did.

[rii]

Yes, the world had it in for him. The chorus of wing beats and squawks sounded oddly, in a very twisted way, like the land's childish laughter, mocking him for his foolishness. F'lix didn't even take notice of the sound of fan hitting bird, no, he was too busy trying to earth meld into the sand. Sad to say, it was not working. The younger bluerider, upon hearing F'ur land on the boulder, could no longer deny the arrival of his ill-timed fate, and lowered his hands into his lap while slowly sitting upright.

His eyes studied F'ur's bloodied bare feet until the fan touched against his chin, raising his line of sight to meet with the narrowed gaze of the Fortian, a look the younger matched without hesitation. Vaguely F'lix pondered, feeling the fan firm against his jaw, would the odd weapon serve as a creative method to end someone's life? Perhaps. But now would probably be a bad time to inquire such a thing. F'lix laced his fingers together, idly rubbing right thumb against the side of his index finger. He lifted his chin away from the fan, stalling an answer as his eyes flicked to and fro from the scratches to feathers scattered over F'ur. It did make a rather comical image paired with the man's glare, and the corner of F'lix lips did twitch in a near smile–but he quickly erased the motion before it could inspire immediate punishment.

F'lix blew a quick puff of air at feather stuck at the end of the fan, watching it twirl aside. "You know what they say about curiosity." He shrugged lightly, an innocent creature to the whims of a human mind. F'lix slowly began to rise to his feet, ever cautious that his life expectancy shortened according to how close he stood to the Fortian. "I saw you running by, carrying those," A flickering glance down at the fans. "and I–" The younger bluerider attempted a retreating step back. "–followed you."

Switching stances, F'lix folded his arms and gave the Fortian a near accusing glare. Oh yes, he was a defiant one, scowling back at the face of death. "I wouldn't have to sneak if you didn't hide." He shifted his weight to his left foot, not exactly nervously, but on edge–and for a good reason. "I was interested in what you were doing. It's rather.. unique."

[Requiem]

He did realize that he kind of stuck out in that clothing, right? Even if F'ur couldn't make out a big, annoying lump against the sand, the dark clothing gave him away. Just a little. F'ur's brow rose as he noticed the fidgeting. F'lix was kneeling, back partially arched until he'd straightened it by forcing the bluerider to actually look at him, the hair parting along the line of the neck...hands demurely in his lap. Oh, please. As if. An interesting game the kitten was playing, certainly, but no Bendenite was that cute without trying. Conniving little minx.

Blowing at the feather. F'ur sneezed, clenching his muscles against a sudden shiver. Even at Selenitas, the water was rather cold at this time of year, and the wind was blowing through him. As F'lix began to rise, F'ur flicked his wrist, the fan flaring wide, before twirling back and closed again as he rose at the same pace, dark eyes never leaving F'lix's.

Now we were going for defiance, were we? The other fan twirled, sliding partialy open and back closed again, in fair imitation of a wild animal twitching in irritation. "Because of course it can be considered hiding when I had no idea I had a tail," he murmured darkly. He slid off the rock, using one hand to aid his descent, before straightening, eyes still slitted dangerously. "You like the fans, do you?" An arm passed before his face, the fan flaring open and masking everything below the line of F'ur's eyes from F'lix. It snapped closed with an audible click.

"Shouldn't you be a little more wary of me, minx? I find it interesting how often you turn up. I really do."

[rii]

The fans were distracting. Their flare open, the coloration, F'lix couldn't keep his eyes from darting off to the sides each time F'ur flicked them open. The bizarre weapons were more eye-catching than the flash of steel, and because he couldn't keep his eyes firmly on the Fortian, that alone made F'lix slide back–light on his feet in case he learned first hand how the weapons were meant to be used in a pair of skilled hands. Only a matter of time, F'lix chided himself, just because he wasn't in pain yet meant very little. But how did they work? Blunt or edged F'lix understood. But, fan.. ?

"Hiding yo–" F'lix snapped his gaze out toward the ocean, the end of his tongue pressing into the sharp tip of his canine. Must keep better control on that thing. Another flick, F'lix eyes returned to F'ur, giving him a curious look over as the man appeared to fan himself–strangely like a person might use a regular fan, casually eyeing someone with a harmless flirt. And how fitting it seemed, F'lix mused with a faint shake of his head at the Fortian. Albeit, the look on the man's face was anything but. Yes, that usual smile was strangely absent. F'lix didn't know what to make of that..

"No," A bland response, paired with a faint narrow of his eyes. He didn't like the fans. Would never touch them if given a choice. "But watching how you use them, yes." Talking far too much, but slowly F'ur seemed to be advancing on him and F'lix had no means of escape. And–F'lix stopped backing up, actually leaning forward to F'ur for a moment; the growl dipping back into his tone. "You've been the one turning up unexpected, not me.

"And you've made your intentions toward me very clear. It sort of removes the worry over what ifs if you know what I mean. Just the how remains.." A sudden expression of seriousness wiped his face. In the next second his eyes were searching F'ur for an answer, again that faint accusing and suspicion rose. "It's just between us, right, you wouldn't get someone else involved, would you?" A odd question, but their.. interactions had been anything but normal, so maybe the question wasn't so strange.

[Requiem]

A faint quirk of the lips on one side. "How I use them." He stilled, one sliding open slowly as if his fingers were simply growing lax, still down at his side. "They're very communicative, aren't they? Not like a blade." It snapped shut. "A blade only talks when it sings...and when it bites...I find them rather primitive." Something about the way he said 'primitive' made it less than a complete insult, however, almost as if he had a mild fascination with them. But little more.

His tone was low, almost seductive, the dangerous edge never quite leaving it but drifting beneath the surface. F'lix was getting in his face, one of the fans twirling lightly, opening and closing as if it was breathing. Waiting, perhaps, to pounce, or such it suggested. He laughed, then, the sound more mocking than anything else. "What is it that you think I intend, kitten? Your life? Hardly a challenge...especially when you come alone, out here with just me...and Ino...do you wish for death so much?"

One fan circled before F'ur's face, between them, and as it passed his other hand, now empty, shot up and captured F'lix's chin. He drew the other man toward him swiftly, before his action could register, noses close enough they nearly touched as F'ur canted his head to one side. He could feel the Bendenite's breath on his face, and his eyes narrowed. "Was it so terrible a life, kitten? You've got plenty of turns to turn it around as long as you stop acting the fool." His lips drifted closer...and then he pulled back, releasing the man's chin and palming him hard in the chest with the fan he still held at full spread.

F'ur walked past him, second fan leaping out, both flicking almost separate from the man's body in something that could only suggest agitation. "Don't insult me. I've never had anyone do my dirty work."

[rii]

"They're deceptive." Not the most flattering word, to most, but his opinion none the less. He couldn't make sense of the flowing movements, a casual flick of the wrist turned into an expression, or maybe even an attack. If F'ur had been difficult to read before, now he became near impossible. "Graceful, took time to hone that skill. It's alluring to watch in action." F'lix gave the other a pointed look, never once really talking of the fans, but leaving his words to be translated accordingly.

A reasonable question. What did he think F'ur had in mind for him. Death, yes, most certainly in the end. Other than that, the man gave him nothing but dislike, insults and threats–but these things he almost cherished. Knowing better, surely, but firming to the belief that hatred would always be more reliable than if he was liked. He had been shown nice before, but it had only been a ploy, a manipulation, a lie. Like was given and easily lost. But hatred, the hatred was loyally there, always would be. A dark view, and F'lix knew it, didn't enjoy it, but knew it all the same. There would never be anything more for him. He didn't pity himself, it was only the truth. He either accepted it, or wallowed in misery trying to deny it.

Out of reflex F'lix tensed, hand flying up to seize around F'ur's wrist. His eyes narrowed, but grip loosening as the man drew him close, teasing him. Tricky fans, tricky man. One brow rose, daring the other to finish, lips even parting slightly as invitation. Yet, even as he absently turned to lessen the blow against his chest–intimacy follow by pain–F'lix wore a satisfied smirk. He absently ran his tongue along his bottom lip, again shaking his head in response to the Fortian's actions. F'ur would never follow through. F'lix was not even sure if he was disappointed, or relieved of that fact. Torn, for certain. "I can't change what I've become."

His golden eyes followed F'ur, peering out the corners, head turning slightly to keep him in sight. "But I can learn." Lightly he clucked his tongue, the semi-amused smile still on his features. He playfully cocked his head to the side, shifting his gaze back toward where Inocenth laid. "Unfortunate for me, no one willing to teach." Not to this feral feline. They would have to endure both claws and teeth of retaliation.

"Mm.. " The younger bluerider pondered over F'ur answer, measuring it for truth. It sounded fitting enough. "Then I guess someone nearly beat you to it. Wouldn't that have been a shame–" F'lix dropped low, sweeping his right leg back at F'ur's ankles.

[Requiem]

Changed what? His being a fool? The death wish? Did F'ur actually care? No, he told himself. He didn't. If he cared he wouldn't have turned his back on the man. A gesture of dismissal...or trust...but certainly not the latter in this case. No Bendenite was worth trusting. No Bendenite was worth...worth what? Killing, that's where he'd been going, but then that was kind of ridiculous considering how many he had killed. Maybe toying with was the phrase. But then what about R'el? R'fuin?

Why was he treating F'lix any different? He should have been pressing his advantage. If the kid wanted death, so be it, he'd brought it plenty of times. What was once more? What else could he really want, anyway? F'ur's mind flashed briefly to the scene before things started getting unsettled. No. He hardly wanted F'ur to just...abuse...him, did he? Even if he did, it didn't matter. That wasn't in the nature of the bluerider. Humiliation, yes. Once. Something extensive and spirit-crushing, though? No. He didn't have the patience.

Wasn't, in the end, that cruel.

What, then?! What did F'lix want with him? Because, if he just knew what it was he wanted, he could get the younger man to go away. Inocenth was strangely quiet in his mind. "What the shards are you talking about now?" he growled, his irritation palpable. Teach him what? Not the fans. Not the...no. Just simply no. Stupid kid wanted something he couldn't have, just like they all did. Everyone wanted what they couldn't have. The kick caught him completely off-guard. It was a strange sensation, really, falling without any warning. He palmed the ground, sliding around into a crouch, and was sprinting for F'lix before he even thought.

The fans whirled, one after the other, opening and closing, a strange dance that intermingled. Meant to distract. They popped closed, and F'ur hit F'lix close-fisted. Fast. Never before had he struck at F'lix, not like this, in a whirlwind of motion that was more a fit of passion than anything else. He paused, fans flickering, arms falling. "Why...should I care...if someone were to put you out of my misery?" he spit. "I can't kill you. And I can't abide the sight of you. I'd thank them." Was it true? Not precisely. But he wouldn't. There were too many reasons not to. Too many dead lives grabbing at him. He could abide Bendenites...had, in fact, lived with them relatively peacefully until recently...but he'd never touch one.

Impossible.

"If you want me to kill you, I can't." He finally told F'lix, his voice having lost spite and grown more weary. "If you want to be tortured, you need to find someone like Ka'rys. I don't do that either." He shrugged. "And I can't do anything else for you either. So why don't you just go? All you're going to do is piss me off enough to start breaking things."

[rii]

F'lix felt quite shocked when his foot connected with F'ur's ankles. He only had that tiny moment of regret before Fur came at him in a flourish of color and motions. As the fan's snapped, so too did F'lix head, snapping to the side with the blow that struck just above the junction of his jaw, but below the temple. His body tilted to the side, forcing him to brace with an arm. It didn't come as a surprise really, and it hurt, enough that he couldn't ignore the sensation. At least this time he had been punished for his transgression. But oddly he didn't feel it evened out matters at all. He still felt terrible.

He gently licked the corner of his lips, a coppery flavor, and with a light touch he tinged his fingertip with red. Gingerly he opened his mouth, stretch the jaw muscle out and hearing a grinding sound echoing in his skull. A faint ringing in his ear. He blinked almost in a dumbfounded way up at F'ur, having trouble focusing on the man–who had lost his usual composure. Oh no, F'lix thought strangely, he broke him. What a strange thought. The younger bluerider shook his head, trying to put the thoughts back into proper place and perspective. Slowly F'lix reverted to siting in a lazy half-crossed legged pose, hands hanging limply in the sand. MmMm, he felt so liiight.

"Oh."

Quite the intelligent response in a light tone. "I guess feeling important enough for someone to want to personally kill me was nice. I know it's stupid. I don't get it either." He smiled, then winced, bringing a hand up to the side of his face, confused at the feeling of pain. "I know you hate me, but I needed a reminder, huh?" Idly he rubbed the soreness radiating near his cheekbone. He must have done something really wrong to deserve it. "That's one of the reasons I left, you know." His tone was drifting, and his gaze not quite staying on F'ur's face. "Always fighting, day and night, couldn't trust your own shadow. I got tired of fighting, but I guess I can't stop – eh? – Torture? Why would I want that? Ja'kin did something like that. He got weird, use to be nice. He was just a liar though–about the nice part. Nice people are liars."

Yes, defiantly something knocked loose in his head. It was tickling his ear too, F'lix began to itch at it, fingers coming away more red than they had been before. Really, the Fortian had just been unlucky to strike an old wound, a fracture in the skull that had healed poorly in his childhood. And likely a light concussion as well, if F'lix child-like ramblings were any clue. His eyes re-focused in on F'ur's face, and he seemed to brighten. "Hey–oh–you want me to go? But, I just came here to watch you. You're really good. Can't I just watch? I'll be quiet." Squinting, he tilted his head trying to figure out F'ur's expression. "I made you mad?" His own expression became crested-fallen, sad. "I'm sorry. Can't seem to get it right, can I.. but you don't make it easy, you know."

He glared, half-heartedly before blinking a few times. "Sure I can't stay? You said you don't like being alone. I know I'm not good company, but at least I am company, you know? Kind of like.. at least bad attention is still attention, right? Heh." F'lix wobbled, raising one foot up, bracing with an arm, then slowly rising to his feet. "Don't look so so.. whatever that face is. Alright? I'll go I'll go. Sheesh. Kind of got dark fast anyway." Yes, despite it being bright out without only a few clouds in the sky. Right, now which way.. F'lix spied the tree line and veered off in an awkward two step at a time pace.

[Requiem]

I think you broke him, Mine. Maybe that'll make him happy. F'ur's fans seemed to have taken on a mind of their own as he regarded F'lix in something like puzzlement. He'd...kinda blown his lid right there...but even he knew he hadn't done anything that should have knocked the kitten silly like this. And silly was definitely the choice terminology. He's leaking red now. I can see that, Ino. And it was rather...strange...too. Bleeding from the ear and mouth definitely wasn't what he'd call a good sign. You should probably fix him. F'ur sighed. Inocenth...please...just clam up for a few seconds. Okay?

Clearly the kid believed every word that came out of his mouth. He'd never intended to kill F'lix. Having the Bendenite around, though, wasn't really good, and he'd hoped the bluerider would have enough sense to...but no matter. Clearly F'lix had no sense. Or perhaps he had more sense than he realized. F'ur stopped pursuing that chain of thought for his own sanity.

"Well, I'm certainly not nice, so I guess you're okay there," the bluerider commented quietly, his dismay growing. F'lix was babbling now. Inocenth was right. He had broken him, and he was beginning to think it may well be a permanent thing. Only then noticing that his fans were still flickering with every nervous twitch of his hands (and apparently he was twitching a fair amount) F'ur snapped them both shut with a certain finality and shoved them into his waistband.

He was just about to start toward F'lix when some part of the boy's ramblings stopped him cold. A brief flickering behind his eyes. Didn't want...to be alone? When had he said that? F'ur couldn't remember. But now the bluerider was toddling off, and there was no way he could just let him wander. Might as well snap his neck right here and be done with it. "Hey, come here. You can watch, if you promise to be quiet. I just don't like all the noise and the flapping." Lying again, but at least this time it definitely was for a good cause. It definitely wasn't the remotest bit dark out here.

F'ur caught up to the younger man, wrapping his arms around the kitten's chest and drawing him back against him. He took the opportunity to investigate the ear...and yes. It was coming from inside, not a cut F'ur had left. "Why didn't you move, huh? Just because it's pretty doesn't mean you have to let it hit you." Now what? He had no idea how to deal with this sort of thing. Would flying be a good idea, or would that just hurt him more? F'ur bit his lip. Strange as it was to admit it, he wanted the other slightly neurotic Felix back. Not this strange broken thing.

Saboth. Yours is leaking from his head and saying odd things. Mine didn't mean to break him...do you know how to fix him? F'ur glanced at Inocenth. Well...doubtless the other blue already knew. He pulled a face. "You're going to sit for me, right? No wandering off?"

[rii]

"Alright."

Be quiet and he could watch. F'lix was certain he could manage such a thing, even though he had been doing that exact thing when the bird started up a fuss, then a the whole flock. And then–oh, arms around him–Felix leaned back, back of his head tilted to rest against F'ur's shoulder. "You've got feathers in your hair." A hand reached up, went for a feather but paused before touching the man. F'lix frowned, went to reach again with the same sudden apprehension, and in the end he lowered his empty hands back down to his sides.

"I figured I deserved it. You know, for making you angry. I obviously was doing something wrong but you weren't telling me. So then I really did something bad. It's suppose to make things even." He blinked, looking confused. "I don't think it worked. And my head really hurts, I think I should of dodged. That's a bad side of my head, why do they always hit there.." He wrinkled his nose at the other. "And you're not pretty. I didn't let you hit me 'cause you're pretty. You're good looking, but not pretty. I did it because.. well you know. You're the one in–" He paused, looking downtrodden for a moment. "–No you're not. Why do I keep thinking that? You're not anything like that. He's just got that stuck in my head. Keep seeking it out. Makes no sense. Can't help it."

His chin slowly sank down, gaze trailing lazily across the ground. He nodded mutely to F'ur's question.

Saboth unfurled from his nap upon hearing Snarly in his head. Mine is always broken. What happened this time? The dragon craned his neck around, trying to reach his rider but only feeling a sadly familiar darkness. Safely he assumed F'lix was in the infirmary, again, because that just made sense. He had not felt any distress from his bonded's end, and Inocenth didn't exactly say he needed to fetch him. So it made perfect sense. Seems he is knocked out, he mumbles in his sleep sometimes. I'm sure as long as he is one piece, he will fix himself, or the healers will. Always gets better does Mine.

F'lix peered up from his newly acquired sitting position, eyes nearly yellow in the bright sunlight. Again he rubbed at his ear, it was getting hard to hear out of that side. The ringing had faded, but now he couldn't hear the constant crashing of the waves on that side. Squishy. Fingers were getting coated with blood. Hm, he peeked a quick glance at the Fortian. Looked away with a frown. Must not have been quiet enough to watch. Hn. F'lix eyed the warm, pale sands with an odd smile. A nap sounded nice. Oh, no, but then he'd miss it. F'lix trained his eyes back on F'ur with a determined interest. But soon he swayed, eyes unfocused–only to jerk back and re-align his sights.

"Hey.. " He lifted a hand to touch F'ur's leg, but the same thing happened as it did when he reached for the feathers. Fingertips paused before contact, hovered, then slowly curled into his palm. That same look of uncertainty in his eyes. Something else stirred there, focusing and F'lix brows began to crease in a faint scowl–then it was gone. Golden eyes hazed, drooping to gaze at the sparkling sands.

[Requiem]

F'ur didn't know what to think of the babbling Bendenite. Strange parts of him (parts that likely had recognized it in F'lix before but he'd mostly ignored) were strangely moved by the words. They were hinting at something, but his mind refused to piece it together. Possibly for his own sanity. Much easier to just write the bluerider off as delusional and not pay attention to any of the words - not put any meaning behind them. There probably wasn't anything there anyway. F'lix was bleeding out the various holes in his face, after all, though F'ur wasn't bothered by the substance getting on him - which some of it did.

Nor was he bothered by the way the younger man seemed to melt against him, though his frown didn't waver. It simply wasn't F'lix. Shards, but he must have really shaken something loose. "Yeah. Feathers for decoration. I'm not pretty, as you say, so I have to do something to soften the revulsion a little," he commented lightly, even teasingly. The other seemed skittish enough right now that he felt he needed to keep the mood light.

Best not to comment on why he was angry or any of that nonsense. "If there is a next time, just move. I won't mind. Really. The goal is not to knock you silly." Most of the time, anyway. Inocenth? Working on it. The dark dragon coiled loosely between the rocks. Yours got in a tussle with Mine, who hit him on the head. It wasn't very hard, but Yours is bleeding and talking funny? He's not asleep.

"It's not good to let him sleep, is it?" Inocenth huffed from his position not far away. As if he'd know any more than F'urHIs. Stepping away from F'lix, the man fingered one of the fans for a moment, then mentally shrugged. If it kept the bluerider's attention...Unlike the first time, this dance actually was a dance, and a lively one, too. The fan twirled from hand to hand, F'ur stepping nimbly. Distractions he could do. The dance itself was made up, taken from a set of moves that basically was a form, though he adapted it to one fan and to remove the aggression as he moved. He had no idea what F'lix might be sensitive to at present.

Phremath's says keep him awake and talking. She also says it would probably be best if you brought him yourself. I think she wants to snarl at you, Inocenth added helpfully. F'ur sniffed. Typical. He approached F'lix again, crouching in front of him. "We need to go back. It's getting a little cool out. You can walk with me, yes?"

[rii]

F'lix eyes narrowed on the sands, scolding the tiny grains with a weak glare. "Not revolting," he mumbled childishly to himself, the words barely audible to his own ears. His vision wavered, darkening around the edges and F'lix felt his mind falling. Hands came forward as a brace, fingers curled through the sands to anchor himself. "What is the goal then..?" Confusing Fortian. If he didn't strike to hurt, then why had he done it. Was F'lix suppose to have dodged it? Would of been nice to know that earlier. "And what do you mean by if.. " F'ur had told him to go before, so he really did mean he couldn't stand the sight of him. "Oh." The younger bluerider continued on in a one-sided conversation. "I understand now. You were confusing before, I thought you were just.. well, don't worry. I'll leave you alone."

His thoughts drifted aside when he noticed F'ur had moved away, far enough that he became a heavily blurred image barely recognized in the darkening scenery. Golden eyes hazed, trying to watch the moving figure.. graceful.. floating over the water just beyond.. the flash of color from the fans suddenly made him tense. So vibrant in the darkness, like a glint of steel, subtle until caught in the moonlight. His pupils shrank to pin points. Why..

Saboth stirred from his sunning ledge, confused by Inocenth's words. He took to the air and glided over to land on the infirmary ledge. But, after a short search of those present, the first touches of panic whirled in his eyes in shades of bright orange. He couldn't sense his rider at all, where was he, and how badly had Inocenth's hurt him? Saboth didn't trust that man, nor the dragon. A very cold, yet calm question went out to the dark blue. Where is Mine?

F'lix was fighting against the images in his head. Pupils dilating then contracting at an alarming rate. The fans, appearing so red, vibrant–red hair. And the sky behind the color, a pale blue–those cold eyes. No no no. By the time F'ur approached, F'lix breathes were slow and deep; trying to keep himself calm. His gaze latched onto F'ur, and the younger came forward on knees to bring the man into better focus. He came close, but never touching. Hands rose out of the sand, one coated with the tan grains.. now darkened to a deep brown as it mingled with the blood. They reached for F'ur's face, fingertips hovering a breath away from cheekbones, simply lingering in the warmth next to skin. F'lix drew in close, nearly brushing the other's nose with his, golden eyes still rapidly flickering with emotions until they could focus fully on the Fortian. His open gaze, mild fascination mingling with fear.. relief.. shifted back and forth between left and right; intensely searching F'ur's gaze for a truth. Not blue. Not blue.

They were nice eyes, but.. this was a bad man too, right? F'lix had trusted him not to really hurt him. Kill yes, but that was an end, hurting meant he had to live with the pain, remember it. He thought F'ur had enough control.. he had before. Punished, but not to the point of harming, despite how wild F'lix had gotten. That intangible line had been found, and F'lix had crossed it, nothing could erase it. Now it would nothing but pain, of hate. No more illusion. Why did he always end up pushing people too far? A touch of hurt cut through his eyes, glistening against his will. Left fingers curled slightly, tracing down in a ghostly caress of the cheek. Very softly he whispered, pleaded. "Forgive me."

He blinked rapidly at the question directed at him. Slowly his hands began to fall, his body drawing back. "No." An honest answer, for a few reasons. The main one being he didn't feel like he had enough strength to stand back up. Saboth was going to be angry. Saboth.. couldn't hear his blue. His blue, always there, never judging him. Always loving him. "You can go.. but could you maybe ask Inocenth to ask Saboth to come get me? I can't.. seem to talk to him.. tell him I'll wait here for him. It's dark, I don't want to walk.. dangerous.. going to.. rest before he comes.. "

[ ooc: blergh, will get him back to normal soon >>;; -kicks broken f'lix- ]

[Requiem]

What was the goal? F'ur ignored him. Likely, F'lix would forget he'd asked the question in a moment anyway, and the Fortian didn't care to answer him. Mostly, he'd just found himself confused by the whole mess. No one managed to aggravate him like F'lix did. He wasn't even really sure why. It was a curious mixture of vulnerability and defiance and the fact that he was Benden. Far too often F'ur found himself forgetting that, and for some reason it was important that he not do so with F'lix. Other people...whatever. Fort, Benden, none of it mattered, but it did matter with this one. For some reason. And that confusion had translated easily into anger when he'd found himself striking earth without warning. It was rare for such a thing to occur, and that it was F'lix had sparked him into a rare loss of temper.

It was very clear to him now, though, that he hadn't wanted to hurt the younger man. (F'lix was quick enough that it shouldn't have ended as it had.) No, he'd just wanted to scare him. Get him to go away. Not because he couldn't abide F'lix's presence, but because the bluerider was aggravating and confusing and F'ur didn't like feeling like that. Loss of control was not something that the Fortian particularly liked. His emotions, body language, facial expressions...all were usually very carefully controlled. That F'lix was able to shake these things up was disturbing, to say the least.

Strangely, though, when F'lix said that he'd leave F'ur alone the Fortian wasn't altogether happy about the prospect. Oh, he might bluster that he wanted to keep F'lix close, that no one was allowed to kill him because F'ur wanted that privilege. But of course it was merely bluster. He didn't hate Benden enough to take it out on defected riders...at least not so permanently as killing them. It was just easier to spout nonsense than admit...that...well, he actually liked the other man a little. (Not a lot mind you, but it was nice to run into someone with some backbone. F'ur could hardly be buddy buddy with a Bendenite.)

He didn't know what kept him there, as F'lix drew close. He really didn't. But F'ur remained as he was, just the same, frowning slightly and searching the golden-hued eyes in return, trying to decipher what the loopy rider was thinking now. Surprised to see tears, the words were even stranger, and he didn't respond immediately to the touch. His stomach tightened unbidden, though, and the familiar annoyance resurfaced. The crazy urge to lash out at F'lix was back. Why did he always react like this to the younger man? Perhaps he didn't like the vulnerability. F'ur almost never felt...vulnerable. It was uncomfortable.

And, strangely, when F'lix pulled back it bothered him even more.

Perhaps that was why F'ur's response came so sharply. "You can't. You've likely got a concussion, so you can't just rest. And if I leave you here someone will climb up my ass for it." Likely multiple someones. Not that they wouldn't already. Forcing the strange mingling of odd emotions down, he rubbed wearily at his temple, the bite leaving his voice. "I don't know how good flying would be for you. If you can't walk...well..." And he decided not to give the young man any warning. F'ur had been inching forward steadily, and now wrapped his arms around F'lix, lifting the younger man with ease. F'lix wasn't exactly heavy. "I don't know what you think you're apologizing for. I'm the one who hit you. Even if you were too much the fool to move like you were supposed to."

But there was no sting to the accusation whatsoever. If anything, he just sounded...befuddled.

We are by the ocean. The blue wasn't nice, but he wasn't cruel enough to keep information like that from another dragon. Not when they were supposed to be on the same side. Mine doesn't know if he should fly, though. He...wouldn't hurt Yours intentionally. Clearly he would hurt him, though. Inocenth didn't mention that F'ur was intent on carrying the younger man back to avoid further injury. He believed in fighting battles when they were at his best advantage. Namely, it would be difficult to argue once F'ur was already in the forest and out of reach.