Soothing Sounds (Open)

[rynnti]

The bluerider bit his lip as he realized that his comment was not very appreciated. He had not meant anything by it, he had simply been making a statement. Aliscia had seemed mildly surprised when Edenth told her that she wasn’t so bad on the inside, and S’dar had just wanted to clarify for the greenrider. He was really naïve when it came to dealing with this pair, and it just kept showing more and more. He and Edenth would go from putting Aliscia and her dragon in a light-hearted mood to making them tense and uncomfortable. Each time he took a wrong step in the conversation, his confidence fell even more. How exactly was he supposed to know what would be taken lightly and what would not? The greenrider definitely had the easier side of the conversation. At least she could say whatever she wanted without fear of offending him. She was getting amazing at making the bluerider uncomfortable, though S’dar was beginning to think his problem discussing fighting only amused her. “If I lived at Benden, I wouldn’t be open regarding my sexual tastes,” S’dar politely informed Aliscia. “Because I live at Selenitas, I don’t have to worry. In fact, I prefer to be openly fond of men so that I don’t need to explain to women that they aren’t my cup of klah.”

Edenth chose to completely ignore Tanith’s next snappy remark. He was not about to grace her with a reply. How would she know whose attention was best if she had only ever known Aliscia’s? Edenth did prefer S’dar’s attention over everyone else’s, but S’dar’s mother was a close second. If she weren’t so old, she would have made a fine dragonrider. She was very caring, kind, and gentle. Generally those traits bred good dragonriders. Perhaps not for the north, but Selenitas always welcomed the kind-hearted. If the south was dragged into the war, the results would not be favorable, but they would manage. After all, they had Tanith on their side. /You should tell Tanith that one. I’m sure she’d love it./ S’dar joked to his dragon. His remark didn’t warrant a response either. Trying to provoke the angry green further was not on Edenth’s to do list.

At first, S’dar didn’t know if Aliscia’s words were an insult or a joke. He could, however, see her eyes begin to soften, and her mouth turn into the faintest of smiles. A joke, then. He chuckled, perhaps a little more quietly than he should have, but he wasn’t too excited about being called soft. “Now, is it lack of experience that makes us soft, or are we both simply missing an important character trait?” His tone was a mixture of curiosity and humor. He could only handle being called soft for so long, unless it was in a more positive context. However, S’dar was having a great deal of difficulty thinking of a time when being soft was a good thing. Generally hard and rough tended to be much more pleasant adjectives to be attributed to him. He chose not to share this small bit with Aliscia.

Edenth looked up at Tanith as Aliscia asked him why he was staying. Well, at first it had been to help protect S’dar, and then… It had just felt right. He didn’t actually expect the green to injure anyone. Her rider, despite being toughened by Benden, would never approve of Tanith ripping Edenth or His to shreds. And, deep down, Edenth was sure Tanith didn’t actually want to. No, he knew why he had stayed and he was pretty sure he knew why Tanith wouldn’t dare attack S’dar. He looked back down at Aliscia, this time speaking for her alone. /She is not going to risk being dismissed from Selenitas and being sent back to Benden. For herself, and more importantly, for you./[/color]

[kysseh]

"You aren't open. You're just obvious," Aliscia said blithely, offering him a patiently humorous smile. Ah, males... among the most oblivious creatures born on Pern, they were. This was the first time in... well, Turns... that she had been part of a prolonged conversation that did not include any ogling or attempts at groping, and it was a pleasant relief, even if the conversation was a verbal minefield. The two pairs of conversers did not have much common ground; that much was patently obvious. "Well, most women may not appreciate your lack of interest, but I do. It's nice to not be examined like a piece of meat." Her face carried a distinct scathing edge, her eyes narrowed at the memory. Yes, this was certainly a pleasant change. "If Benden ever does show its face here, I'd strongly suggest you not look the part, though. You don't want to make yourself noticed," she added, though her voice was a bit softer on the ears now that she spoke from friendly concern, and her scarred face allowed for a tight-lipped, although genuine, smile, the most she would permit herself to give for the moment. "I'll do you the courtesy of trying to forewarn you when Tanith gets close to Rising, then, so Edenth isn't tempted."

Privately, she would rather have a man who preferred other men share her bed during Flight, as had happened on occasion in Benden. They were less judgmental and less prone to more... sadistic tendencies. Considering S'dar's honesty and lack of malicious intent toward her, though, she felt it was the least she could do to not trouble him as such. He and Edenth were tolerable--perhaps even friendly--by her standards, if not by Tanith's. The green felt almost offended by Aliscia's very offer. //As if /he/ could catch me! I could fly circles around him for days and not get tired.// It was an exaggeration, of course, but the green made sure that both males could clearly hear her. The very thought that she would let such an unworthy creature Fly her was... laughable, at best, and infuriating at its very worst.

The bluerider's chuckle at her faint attempt at a joke relaxed her a bit, and Aliscia allowed herself the freedom to roll her eyes. Male egos. "Lack of experience. You've both grown up in a place free of most of the chaos and the fighting up North. You've seen skirmishes, not war." While she could not blame them for their lack of experience and their apparent softness, she could tell that they were bothered by it... or S'dar was, at least. She tilted her head to one side, light eyes narrowing as she considered a possibility. Would they want what she was offering? Perhaps not. Edenth's heartfelt and private comment to her hardened her resolve, and she gently patted the male dragon's dark nose in a gesture of acknowledgment and thanks. Shards, but coming here had been a good idea after all.

"I'm sure we could fix your lack of experience, though. Tanith and I would love to teach you a few moves for defending yourselves in the air," she said, having to raise her voice over Tanith's deep rumbles of what sounded like laughter. "It'd give us a chance to stay in shape, and it'd keep the two of you from being... destroyed... if trouble ever comes this way." //And it would not be any fun to let the Benden dragons get the first blow at you, Fat One. I have first call on that privilege.// the green echoed for Edenth's sake, arching her neck and letting out a delighted trill. Oh, that sounded like such a fun idea! They had not done any serious flying since arriving here.

[rynnti]

“Obvious?” S’dar sounded somewhat surprised, until he looked down at his clothes. Perhaps a tight shirt which framed his girly waist and loose pants that accentuated his hips weren’t the best look for a man. He pulled the shirt out from his body a little bit, contorting his face into a fake grimace. “I don’t know what you’re talking. Feminine figures are in.” The bluerider chuckled lightly as he allowed his shirt to continue clinging to his torso. At least all of his clothing ranged from dark browns to light tans. Some of the more flamboyant men, in addition to his younger brother, preferred bright colors. He wasn’t nearly as obvious as they were. Well, his clothes tended to be a little more form-fitting, so it was about even. At least from far away he definitely appeared manlier than some of the others. He briefly remembered a certain male greenrider he had once been on more-than-friendly terms with. Until, of course, that certain greenrider left him for a brownrider.

His thoughts were cut short as Aliscia continued on, and to his surprise, thanked him for not being interested in her. His smile grew a little bit warmer, “I know what you mean, about the piece of meat thing.” He paused, a humorous twinkle shining brightly in his eyes. He jokingly switched to a very girly voice as he added, “Some of those boys just don’t have any manners.” Edenth rumbled his amusement, knowing the rider whose voice S’dar was imitating. It was good they no longer shared a weyr with that green pair, Edenth had never been too fond of the other dragon. “To not look the part I either need a new wardrobe, or I need to hide out of their sight,” the bluerider explained. “I would appreciate that,” he thanked her as she offered to warn him of Tanith’s Flights. S’dar opted not to mention that Edenth was generally good at avoiding Flights with female riders. He didn’t want to turn down a friendly offer.

Edenth, however, was not going to accept the friendly offering with the grain of salt that was Tanith’s snide remark. The dark blue dragon snorted at Tanith. /Don’t make me want to catch you. I’m not as soft as you seem to think I am./[/color] The blue dragon snorted again for emphasis. Excessive? A bit. Did Edenth mind? Not at all. He had been the victor in quite a few Flights. Clearly Tanith was simply underestimating him. He would show her one of these days. /But in another Flight, okay? Aliscia is kind of a woman, and our new friend. Let’s not ruin this./ S’dar warned his dragon. The blue nudged his rider, both assuring him that nothing would be ruined, but at the same time not promising he would pass up a chance to prove Tanith wrong. /Don’t worry S’darmine. I will be careful to help you preserve this friendship./[/color] Luckily for Edenth, that much was enough for S’dar.

S’dar allowed his grin to grow into a hearty smile. “Lack of experience is more reassuring. That means that I still have a chance.” S’dar ran a long-fingered hand through his short curly hair. This was one of the longest, if not most awkward, conversations he had participated in for quite some time. He had to be careful to tiptoe around topics that might upset the greenrider before him, but he was getting a lot better at avoiding them. He was even earning a few chuckles and smiles. Was he actually getting the former Benden rider to warm up to him? That was unexpected, especially after their horrible first impressions.

“Edenth and I would love to learn those moves,” S’dar replied, almost a little too excitedly. He placed a hand on Edenth’s shoulder, patting the dark blue dragon. Edenth pulled his head away from Aliscia to gauge Tanith’s response. Hearing the green dragon rumble with laughter was more than enough encouragement for the dark blue dragon. /Perhaps it will be my privilege to show you that I’m more than just a silly blue./[/color] Edenth responded to Tanith, arching his neck to match hers. His wanted these lessons to help them learn to defend themselves and to make them look less like a naïve Selenitas pair. He wanted these lessons to prove he and his rider to Tanith. Edenth already knew that he and S’dar weren’t completely soft, S’dar just needed to realize it for himself.

[kysseh]

Aliscia just turned her eyes toward the sky, noting that the light around them was increasing. The rest of the weyr would be waking soon. "Actually, your clothing was not what I meant by 'obvious', though it certainly doesn't help your case." Poor man. After Turns in a weyr where men of his type were prosecuted, she had learned to spot the signs. The clothes, the behavior, the speech patterns... the distinct lack of interest in a feminine form. She was female, not stupid. Still, his joking was at least mildly humorous, so she allowed him a faint smile for that. The warmth of his smile was comforting, lacking the confidence and hidden layers of the smiles she had often received before. He was being honest, and that comforted her, though she still did not trust him enough to turn her back to him. Better safe than sorry, after all.

His ridiculous vocal mimicry startled a full-out laugh out of her, a sound that shocked even her, and she almost immediately snapped her mouth shut, surprised at herself. Shards, but she had not laughed in Turns! Startled by this discovery, she managed to bring about an appropriate "you're welcome" to his grateful reply, leaning a bit more against Tanith for comfort and reassurance, which the green was quick to provide.

Tanith's assurances were cut short, though, and the green snobbily informed the larger dragon of exactly what she thought of him. //Never trained for combat or long patrols... you do not have the speed or the stamina or the skill to keep up with /me/. The new little Benden weyrlings could probably best you.// She snapped her jaws once and flared out her broad wings, letting out a low growl that stemmed from her disbelief at his assertions. As if he could keep up with her. Her! She would show him a thing or two about stamina; that was for sure!

S'dar's enthusiasm reminded Aliscia of herself and Tanith as a weyrling, and she almost regretted her offer, not wishing to spoil whatever naivete they still possessed. His excited expression and Edenth's look toward Tanith made it impossible for her to take it back, though, and she decided the exercise could not be all that bad. They would, all four of them, benefit from it, Tanith likely the most. The green had been itching to get back into the skies for some fighting practice ever since they set foot at Selenitas. "It's getting to be time to start the day proper. Tomorrow afternoon, maybe? We can meet here and then take to the skies. We won't go between much, so don't bother with heavy gear." Her smile was almost predatory, though her face lacked any real malicious expression. "And don't expect us to go easy on you."

Tanith let out a deep rumble, thrashing her tail excitedly back and forth and tossing her head. The very mention of getting airborne to practice a few flying maneuvers was all it took to get the green distracted from thoughts of snobbery. She wanted to fly. //Yes, you are a silly soft blue, with an ego to match or surpass that. I will enjoy flying circles around your lazy carcass.// she told Edenth, her eyes whirling quickly with excitement. //Hopefully, you will not over-exert yourselves with the futile effort of proving that you are capable.//

Aliscia let out a very unladylike snort at her dragon, glaring at the scarred head that was bobbing and weaving back and forth. "If he kicks your tail, I will be laughing right along with him," she said, giving the green a light swat to the nose. Tanith rewarded her with a gentle bump, which nearly knocked the greenrider onto her backside. Honestly, Tanith, you are /impossible!/