Pickin' flowers [ Req ]

[rii]

Can't sleep.

F'lix rolled fitfully over in his bed, twisting the furs and pillows around his body in a poor attempt to cocoon himself away from the world. His brow furrowed in an irritated scowl and he shut his eyes more tightly in a vain attempt to force himself into sleep. Some noisey green had risen and was steering her flight in circles around the Weyr. Her croons and those of her answering chasers echoed against the cliff side. No matter how hard F'lix pressed his hands over his ears he could not block them out.

"Someone catch her already!" He snapped at the stone walls, part of his irritation shooting out to Saboth. He could feel the blue sun bathing on the Weyrledge--head tilted back to idly watch the aerial display. F'lix viciously kicked away the innocent blankets and jerked into a sitting position by swinging his legs over the edge of his bed. Fingers raked through his long black bangs, pushing them away from his annoyed expression. "Why aren't you up there anyway?"

Saboth rumbled boredly at his bonded. He made a show of stretching his large wings as far as they could go before folding them back against his slender body. It gave the clear impression of being quite comfortable and content in his current spot. F'lix growled at his dragon's peaceful demeanor and began to dress. He knew well that over the years Saboth had grown picky over the greens he chased, but since coming to Selenitas F'lix had yet to see the blue give anything but a friendly croon to the other dragons. Least to say, after several uneventful months at the new Weyr, F'lix was starting to feel a bit.. pent up.

You could easily solve that problem.

Muttering a curse, F'lix dropped the subject. The last thing he wanted to do was entertain the idea of having a southern weyrmate. They hated him, and he hated them in return. Why complicate such mutual animosity? Wretched green, damn her rising to bring all these thoughts forward. F'lix shoved them to the back of his mind and finished dressing, pulling on his dark riding leathers last--he'd rather die of heat stroke than go around in plain clothing. The leathers were like a second skin and he would feel utterly exposed without them. The two belts angling across his slender hips were also a must, one of which held his dirk next to his right thigh. A smaller knife was slipped into his boot and there F'lix stopped, vaguely wondering why he was arming himself. At Benden it was routine to dress each day as if going into a battle. Selenitas's relaxed atmosphere varied greatly from the north, and F'lix dared to think it boring in comparison. Well, it did not deter from the fact that he couldn't trust anyone; best to constantly be on guard.

Besides, he was only going to be out for a short period. Long enough to gather some plants for a nice, strong sleeping draught. He could just ask the healers for a sleeping aid, but as a former Benden rider he felt he needed to do things on his own instead of relying on others. The only people you could rely on there were the people you controlled. Did he control the healers? No. So he would do it himself.

"Is she caught yet?" F'lix stalked out toward the ledge, shielding his eyes (that appeared yellow in the bright light) from the mid-day sun. He laid a hand against Saboth's neck, absently stroking the gray-blue hide as they both gazed over the Weyr. Yes. You want to go down by the river? With a nod F'lix climbed onto Saboth and let the blue step forward to teeter at the edge; wings only slightly extended.

"No--don't Saboth I'm in no mood to---" Too late. Saboth slipped over the edge, making a straight dive down the cliff side. F'lix left his lungs somewhere back up on the ledge. The entire way he sent mental curses at his very amused blue. Saboth kicked out his back legs, hitting the cliff side to send him into a more horizonal flight--giving him space to fully unfurl his large wings and veer their path away from the approaching ground. Over the river they went, his wingtips and claws grazed over the water's surface before he pumped his wings, lifting them higher to glide along the shore. After they landed, Felix sent one last affectionate curse at his blue, then parted ways--Saboth to swim in the waters, and F'lix to tromp out into the jungle in search of plants.

It didn't take F'lix long to find a decent, shaded area to search. He curled his fingers around the hilt of his dirk, angling the scabbard away from the ground so that he could crouch down on his heels. With his free hand he began to brush away the jungle's undergrowth in search of a small, shade-loving shrub..

[Requiem]

When will you be done with it? Stop rushing it.

Sighing, the bluerider finished his brisk cleansing in the river, occasionally glancing at the twining dragons above. The dark blue was even smaller than his catch, he was. F'ur had been hoping to find himself a suitable partner, but it had been months and he still was displeased with the selection. Only the dragonhealer - the one-armed one - had even truly caught his interest, but S'lain was always busy and he didn't have the time to cultivate that particular relationship. It would take turning the man, something he might have set about doing with gusto had it not required spending time in the infirmary.

F'ur hated infirmaries.

Which meant that, after joining a Flight, he was forced to distance himself until the spillage from Inocenth abated should the rider turn out to be female. He didn't mind women so much, but they made him feel randomly dirty and he'd always, at Fort, followed up with a real lay, which was ever so much more convenient when you had a boytoy within easy reach.

It was fortunate that the man was not entirely dominated by Flights, but he was still decidedly amorous, so here he was, on the riverbank, wondering what to do with himself now that he'd gotten the female stink off him. Inocenth would still be at it for awhile yet. Leaning out over the stone, where he basked in the sunlight, his torso exposed, F'ur trailed his fingertips in the water. Something active. Yes. That would do. Something to expend the energy buildup from Inocenth...hunting. Yes. But he wasn't much of a one to carry blades and only owned a functional dagger that was more for leatherwork than hunting something down.

And what he really wanted to hunt was a feline. He did it on occasion, though typically when he was better armed. It kept up his range of skills and was preferable to F'ur's picking a fight with southerners just to fight. Oh well. He wasn't worried about losing to a feline, not with his kill count somewhere in the dozens. What was it now? Twenty-seven? Twenty-eight? Yes, F'ur was bored at Selenitas, and it was dangerous for this particular bluerider to be so.

Oh, shards, he'd forgotten his shirt in the glade he'd left the woman in. Well. He'd just drop by and pick it up later, accuse her playfully of wanting to keep memorabilia or something. Right now he'd rather not feel the mildly disconcerting attraction to her that was sure to come if he went back to retrieve it. F'ur sprung to his feet and padded into the woods barefoot, just barely making the treeline before the blue dragon wound down his section of the river.

Picking up one of the large cat's tracks wasn't difficult. He slunk down the trail, keeping an eye out for any movement that might indicate he was being watched. Of a sudden, though, he did notice movement. Only it wasn't of the feline variety. F'ur drew closer, planting his back against a tree and watching the other dragonrider with a curious intensity that would have been disconcerting to anyone, had they noticed him. Ah, Faranth was mocking him again. Here, where he was supposed to be alone while Inocenth completed spoiling his plunder, she presented to him a creature perfectly suited to F'ur's tastes...at least externally. Younger (though not a child), short and slender, pretty in the face but not...feminine. F'ur thought it ridiculous that some men prefered feminine men. What was the point in preferring men if they didn't look or act like men? Really?

"What is it that you're looking for? I may be able to help..." Stepping from his cover, the man half-crouched, giving the younger man some distance so as not to spook him. He slipped the bared dagger back into his belt. The words held a distinct northern accent - a Fortian accent, if one paid attention and was capable of distinguishing between the regions. That and the latticework of burn, claw and dagger scars that crossed arms and chest attested to the fact that F'ur was definitely a fighter, at least before coming here. Although, considering how long he'd helped fill out the ranks at Fort, the man was relatively unmarred.

[rii]

He heard footsteps, soft footsteps.

F'lix continued his searched, slowly inching his way across the ground without kneeling in the dirt. Golden eyes stared unfocused at the intertwining plant growth, a sign he was devoting his attention to another sense--hearing. He listened with rapt attention to the faint noises not associated with the jungle. It sounded bipedal, but oddly lacking the harsh scuff of boot. It came near then, curiously, stopped. F'lix did not lift his head to scan his surroundings. If someone had taken the time to softly stalk near him, he would not spoil their potential surprise. He would wait patiently with fingers curled firmly around the hilt of his dirk.

I did not see anyone follow you.

Disconcerting, but F'lix did not feel worried about his mysterious visitor. Safely he assumed it to be a native to the Weyr; familiar with the jungle and packing around a grudge against Benden. F'lix never hid his origins. He was proud to be from Benden, just sick of living there. It created a near tangible tension between him and most of Selenitas Weyr, a tension he wished would break--they were all pitiful, brave enough to spit out few insults but always holding back their fists. Did one of them finally spot him alone and hope to catch him flat-footed? Hm..

When the voice spoke, baring no hostility, gold eyes re-focused and settled on the small shrub he had been seeking. He spared no acknowledgment to the other man. What, rude, him? Never. F'lix proceeded to dig his fingers into the dirt to expose the roots. The entire time F'lix kept his head bowed to let his bangs hang limply, blocking his face from a clear view. After a short minute he ripped up one of the roots and only then did he lift his head, directing the right side of his face at the stranger--always turning his left side away to hide the scars in a veil of ink black hair and shadows; a well practiced action.

F'lix regarded the other in silence, vaguely wondering the reason behind the man's state of undress. His gaze lazily read over the history of scars littered across F'ur's bare torso. Hn, either the man had a rough past, or he liked to frequently bushwhack through the jungle without a shirt on. The accent did not catch F'lix attention, but in Selenitas there seemed to be a lot of refugees--and the man could just be a northern found on Search.

Pulling the small knife from his boot, F'lix stripped the root of the dirty outer skin to reveal the pink inner layer. Still he did not speak, in a way testing the man's patience and perhaps his temper. Maybe if F'lix ignored him long enough he'd get bored and wander off. The bluerider stuck half of the root into his mouth and raised a single eyebrow at the stranger, wordlessly suggesting he did not need help. Yet the man still did not leave? Stubborn.

"And you" F'lix voice barely rose above a whisper, but spoke out in a tone strong enough to be heard. A faint rasp on the words carried out a subtle growl and a hint of mockery. "It took long enough for you to make up your mind." With the knife F'lix gestured in the direction he had heard F'ur's approach. His eyes narrowed every so slightly, a very clear go away vibe if anything. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

[Requiem]

Silence. Had F'ur not spoken at a relatively normal decibel, he would have assumed that the man hadn't heard him at all. He was a bluerider, though. Normally, F'ur might have touched Inocenth and found out which dragon this one was bonded to, but Inocenth was currently - busy. Otherwise, he might have found out that the man was one of those he'd sworn to kill. Not that F'ur would have done so at Selenitas. They tended to frown on murder here. Still, he wouldn't have been appraising him as he did now.

F'ur was nothing if not patient. His habits attested to that, if nothing else; the man enjoyed playing with things, manipulating them to his will, and that was something that took time and craftiness. Both things that he had an overabundance of, here at Selenitas. He was, after all, just a bit bored here, without the wars and the subterfuge of sneaking around on lovers' trysts to keep his attention. Odd to think that here he could be himself openly and he wouldn't be messed with; homosexuality wasn't looked down upon at Selenitas.

Meeting the curious-hued eye that looked him up and down, F'ur didn't bother hiding the slight smirk that twitched at one corner of his mouth. He wasn't much to look at, admittedly, when fully dressed, but the wiry musculature that usually went hidden was on display at the moment. And the bluerider was vain enough to be somewhat proud of his lean shape. He was, after all, in his thirties, but he wasn't using that as an excuse to get soft.

When the other finally spoke around the plant in his teeth, F'ur's face took on a boyish grin that had a touch of mischief behind it. He always did have a rather youthful face. And this bluerider very definitely had the misfortune of intriguing him. The older man knew a northern accent when he heard it, but it still hadn't occurred to him that this stranger might be from Benden - for much the same reasons that the other hadn't pegged him as a Fort deserter. Cheekiness was something that always caught F'ur's attention; it represented a challenge.

"Well, let's see. I was looking for a minx to add to my collection..." F'ur gestured to a portion of bark on a nearby trunk that had been rubbed raw, a single strand of tawny hair still caught in it. "But I don't think you're the one who left that behind." Was he suggesting that this stranger was a minx? That he had found what he was looking for? Both? Neither? Hard to tell sometimes, with F'ur, though there was definitely a hint of playfulness behind his words. It could just be amusement at the other's obvious ill mood.

"Anyway, it was merely a whim to satisfy my boredom. If I can be put to better use elsewhere..." He shrugged eloquently. "The name is F'ur. Inocenth's the beaut finishing up over there." A gesture to the climactic fall of the dragons in the last leg of the turns-old mating ritual. So maybe it was a little odd for a rider to be out and about, clearly not overwhelmed by Flightlust, while his dragon Flew another, but F'ur was a good sight older than he looked and Inocenth had a long string of conquests; Flights were rather commonplace to the bluerider.

Nor would it have occurred to him that his name might cause any trouble. In all actuality, he wasn't that well-known at Benden by name, though quite a few might recognize him - or more likely Inocenth - on sight. Inocenth had quite a reputation, he did, and there were few who looked like the near-black dragon with his viciously long, off-colored claws.

[rii]

F'lix distrusted the grin plastered on the older man's face. The playfulness in the words only served to make his glare narrow further, appearing more bored than annoyed. F'lix rolled the slivered root around to settle at the corner of his lips, it left a mix of bitter-sweet flavor behind to swallow down. Back to his dirty work, three more roots were ripped up and brushed clean. They behaved as natural tranquilizers, not as potent as others, but boiled into a tea (much more effective than chewing on the roots) they would relax him enough to gain a decent day's sleep.

Wait, was that a pick-up line?

Although he held back a laugh, it shone in his eyes--a looked that laughed at F'ur instead of finding his words humorous. To be honest he had heard worse at Benden. Oh sure the lot of them were all homophobic but it still happened, usually by those most vehemently against it. F'lix had enjoyed it, targeting men in positions of power. The blackmail earned him quite the number of benefits--and wounds. His gaze flicked over F'ur a second turn, this time with a slight touch of intrigue.

Who is he?

A bluerider.

You are purposely being unhelpful.

No matter, F'lix stood while slipping the roots into a pouch attached to his belt. Such games were a waste at Selenitas. And the man also was playing word games, dropping subtle hints that could be twisted around and denied if he so wished to retract their meaning. F'lix hated it. He also didn't like the long-winded wastes of breath--not that F'ur was going off on a rant, but his round of words were wasted on the former Benden rider. He didn't speak riddles nor did he try to play into the minds of others. Waste. Of. Time. The urge to press the dirty blade to the other man's lips and tell him to spit out what he actually wanted to say did appeal to F'lix. But he was not that annoyed, yet. He still believed that ignoring the man would make him go away.

"You misunderstand. I didn't ask for your name, or anything about you." F'lix still spoke softly, but still managing to interrupt F'ur's unwanted introduction. The man thought too highly of himself to think F'lix cared to know. He walked over to the other, one golden eye uncovered while the left one peeked through long raven strands. "I'm--" He came close, more so than what a person would consider a 'friendly' distance. Intimate would be a more proper description. F'lix didn't touch, just shot a glare up at the man's hazel eyes before stepping around him. "--not interested."

Not interested in his name. Not interested in his dragon. Not interested in the joyful exchange of pointless conversation. Not interested that apparently he had caught the noisy green--actually, maybe thankful of that. Hn. "Good luck finding that minx."

[Requiem]

F'ur, who had come to stand as the other bluerider approached him - his smile broadening into something that might have been considered friendly but was decidedly not - looked down into the eyes of the polecat and thought that the man was certainly dangerous. Intriguing. There was only one other here at Selenitas that could give him that nice little thrill of flirting with danger like that, and he was the property of a goldrider and a bronzerider with a really quirky salamandyr. (F'ur preferred not to interfere in the affairs of metallics as a general rule.) The smile on the man's face, well-practiced, didn't betray him at all save in that those who knew him knew F'ur to be at his most dangerous when his smile was broadest.

Not interested, eh? Maybe not, but the glances weren't lost on F'ur, nor was he one to be deterred so easily. Inocenth's competitive edge was no coincidence; the rider tended to hide his better, but that was one trait the pair most certainly shared. "Kind of you," he responded lightly, turning to pad after F'lix in a way that was humorously reminiscent of a faithful pup, "but I think I'll put that off for a bit, after all. Gets rather boring after awhile." And F'lix was more interesting at the moment. The older bluerider appeared to be completely oblvious to - or unaffected by - the near stranger's efforts to be rid of him.

Get me a name, will you? Something tells me he won't be forthcoming with it on his own. Innocenth coiled around his prize and yawned expansively, wondering if he could get away with leaving her here just as F'ur had left her rider. F'lix. That was interesting. You've been watching him. Questioning, amusment and accusation mingled in the statement. Knew you'd grow tired of Jaxith's. This one seems to be someone you might consider. Why are you so surprised? More annoyed that you didn't mention him sooner than surprised. Don't like him, Inocenth responded simply. That actually did give F'ur pause for a moment. The blue wasn't the nicest or friendliest of creatures, but he generally didn't care enough about others - particularly humans - to like or dislike them.

He cast a sidelong glance at F'lix. What was it about the little cheeky snot - the terms not an insult in the bluerider's mind at all - that Inocenth found distasteful? But the blue didn't seem to care to elaborate. "Just southern courtesy, to exchange greetings without being asked, F'lix," F'ur commented, apparently still utterly oblivious. But now he'd begun to probe in earnest, had F'ur, Inocenth's dislike adding to his own natural curiosity. The blue yawned again, annoyed but not surprised at F'ur's reaction to his opinion, and promptly decided that the green would serve as a good enough couch for a time. The dragon was asleep in moments.

[rii]

F'lix lightly sneered, the expression hidden from the man trailing at his heels. He only made it a few strides before he came to a smooth stop. His head tilted forward, shoulders slightly tensed and raised--giving the distict image that F'lix bristled in annoyance. Not a submissive, please-don't-hurt-me stance; more of fur rising on end and a low, warning growl vibrating in the air.

"You're persistant." An insult, not a compliment, and F'lix disdaining tone clearly illustrated the difference. He shifted his weight onto his left heel, hip angling as he relaxed his right leg. A typical person would have turned and left earlier, at the moment F'lix had pointedly ignored the man's presence to be exact. Either the man was thick-head or---No. Just by the looks of him, and his mannerisms, F'lix knew F'ur was not a stupid man. And that constant smile irritated the younger. A man that smile all the time was hiding something.

Back at the river Saboth lifted himself out of the water and calmly laid down on the warm shoreline next to the thick growth that led into the jungle. He had his wings fanned out to dry while his head laid on a fallen tree next to the path F'lix had taken. The slender blue seemed quite content and at ease, the soft plea-like thought he sent his bonded contrasted with his outer impression. Please come out.

F'lix head jerked, the side of his face showing as he peered over his right shoulder--past F'ur and toward the river. He could not see Saboth, but he felt the dragon's concern all the same. Why?

Please, F'lixlovemine, come out.

Visibly stiffening, F'lix--for only a split second--looked thoroughly rattled. The raven haired rider quickly recovered, spitting aside the chewed up root and slitting his golden eyes into a venomous glare he pierced to a nearby fern. Saboth never used endering terms, and never to such an embarrassing degree suited more to a hatchling than a full grown dragon. A bit irking to know Saboth purposely withheld information. F'lix, however, did not have long to dwell on possible reason's of Saboth's concerns. F'ur's words cut into his mind.

So, the man wouldn't take the hint to get lost? Very well, F'lix would just have to be more blunt. Before he had been polite. Yes, mild rudeness was his way of being tolerant with the other Weyr residents. The slender youth spun, smoothly sweeping his right leg low--boot heel aimming at the side of F'ur's knee. F'lix was too far away to make a decent hit, but he did the action to put even more distance between them. The fact that he had not thrown the knife, or used it to slash out, spoke enough of F'lix intention of not aiming to harm (but if the man was too slow to dodge, then it wasn't F'lix fault).

"Seeing as neither of us are Southerners, I think you'd understand my apathy toward such customs." F'lix didn't know F'ur's origins, other than somewhere north, but with Saboth's worry nagging at the back of his mind, the younger bluerider was starting to form an idea. "You obviously already know my name. I don't know what else you want, I honestly don't care. But since you are acting the part of a dimglow I'll say it plain and simple. Get lost."

[Requiem]

Not very good at hiding his annoyance, was he? F'ur was far too amused by that. But then, he was a man of subtlety, a man come from a Weyr that naturally promoted such traits as the bluerider had in abundance...there was little about Fort that was straightforward. Particularly for a bluerider of his stripe. The pieces were falling into place fast and in a hurry, but not quick enough - not consciously enough - for him to register them just yet. Some part of him must have, though, because the mind behind the dark eyes that still flashed with unbridled good humor was assessing the other man in a wholly new light. Had he gone out hunting felines? Oh yes, and the tracks had led him to his mark after all.

Persistant wasn't even close to the appropriate word.

Watching the sudden jerking, the flicker of distress over the younger rider's face, that ever-present grin took on a slightly nasty touch. So. The dragon was somewhere in that direction, was he? Good to know. If he decided to satisfy his curiosity in a more direct manner - and F'ur was ever so capable of it, despite the cheerful rogue routine that had the kitchen drudges so enchanted - it had to be here. In the trees. Where the blue couldn't reach them. (Or, at least, if he was small enough to manage, Inocenth would still have the advantage of being even smaller. Size held no advantage on the ground in thick growth, not for dragons.)

F'lix was the first to betray himself, though, since he'd never been hiding that was likely a technicality. He did, however, force F'ur to do so in kind. In that there was a victory for F'lix. The older bluerider slid backwards into a crouch that put his center of gravity directly over the heel of his back leg, the dagger clearing its sheath in an instant, swift slash, return as if it had never left the scabbard. His first instinct had been to catch the foot, but the kick was too poorly aimed to be anything but a warning, so he'd quickly shifted to offer his own in turn. The severed laces of F'lix's boot dangled idly from the man's foot as it returned to earth. And the smile never wavered. Not bad aim, if he didn't say so himself.

Actually, though, F'ur was more annoyed than ought else. He should have let F'lix catch him 'unawares', but his blasted reflexes had him dodging before he could fully think it through. Hard to pretend at harmlessness now, eh? Well, fine. If the gloves were off...

The only remaining suggestion of civility was that blasted smile on the man's face; his eyes and tone were equally cold. Just one word, in F'ur's mind. Benden. Nothing else described this behavior, the northern accent, Inocenth's strong dislike. Fort riders weren't given to random acts of violence. They schemed. Planned. Poisoned and stabbed you in the back. Benden had always fostered brawn and little brains. "Do the big words usually scare the unwanted away, or is that just your way of trying to sound smarter?" F'ur queried, only the smallest touch of mockery in the words. "But as long as we're being direct, you're hiding something and I want to know what it is."

Straightening, he moved casually between F'lix and the direction of the man's dragon.

[rii]

Hn.

F'lix irritation vanished as he dropped his gaze to his boot, idly examining the severed laces. The situation had escalated, but now the bluerider felt more at ease; more comfortable in the familiar territory. Violence was something he knew well (even if it had been a very brief and trifle show of it). It had been part of his every day life for years. A language quite fluent to him, the only one he really learned, and now F'ur was starting to speaking it. F'lix could not help but feel deeply amused. A slow smile spread over his lips, nothing close to being friendly when his eyes shone with a dark sense of humor.

He's a Fort rider, isn't he. When were you going to tell me that?

Saboth rumbled in the distance, but his sigh could not be heard through the thick growth. If I had told you, you would have picked a fight with him..

True enough, F'lix couldn't help but to prod the fragile tolerance--as he came to refer to it as--between him any the others at Selenitas. Shard, the bluerider barely got along with those from his own Weyr, let alone Fort. Meh, but these southerners seemed to expect him to fall to his knees and cower, beg for forgiveness, woe on about how cruel life had been at Benden. It had been tiring yes, but cruel? No, they just didn't sugar-coat things. The truth of life was not pretty. Others would do well to learn that.

F'lix whistled appreciatively, raising his amused smile to regard F'ur. He tilted his foot back and forth, silently complementing the man on his swift work. F'ur was not the typical brawn F'lix had grown use to at Benden; smaller, and defiantly quick--a mental note to remember. F'lix was fast himself, he had to be, obviously not able to back up a threat with muscles. He had adopted other means in order to survive.

The small knife was put in his more securely laced boot, and F'lix spread out his hands, the pale palms catching the light filtering through the canopy. "Seeing as I am not suppose to fight," now it was him that held the playful tone, words all but purring in delight. He began to back pedal, slow steps not in the direction of his dragon. Perhaps the other man knew the jungle from hunting, but so too did F'lix from his scouting days. "It usually does the job to keep people away. Then once in a while someone, such as yourself, comes along."

..and proclaim he's hiding something? F'lix chuckled, a low, dark sound. He was fairly certain he kept no secrets. The bluerider proved to be fairly open about himself, if asked. Although trying to force or trick him into answering anything earned the opposite reaction. "Oh, I'm being secretive, am I?" His tilted his head, still smiling. "I'm sure what I hide is nothing compared to what you've hidden behind that friendly smile you once wore."

[Requiem]

F'ur watched F'lix keenly, the tenor of his own grin shifting to match that of the other bluerider's. The dagger remained sheathed. He had no need of it, really. More a show piece than an actual weapon, unless you had felines to worry about. F'ur was much better with his hands. Besides which...you tended to look less threatening without the glint of steel. He cocked his head to one side. F'lix was enjoying this a little, wasn't he? Well, it did get rather boring at Selenitas when one of the other weyrs wasn't wasting time throwing riders and schemes their way.

"Ah, but the poor southern wherries would piss themselves if I didn't play nice," F'ur responded sibilantly, following the comment with...was that a wink? Yes. It was. "And the dark, dangerous stranger bit only goes so far with the ladies. Quite a bother." His weight was now on the balls of his feet, the bluerider half-expecting F'lix to make a dash for it at the first opportunity. He actually wasn't much interested in making a fight of it; that was likely to end with one of them dead and the other banished, as it were. Lose-lose.

If F'lix didn't know him, and F'ur would bet marks he didn't, then he wouldn't know that the bluerider had always hidden behind a smile. He didn't close the distance just yet. "It's not at all secretive, wandering out into the woods on your lonesome and doing your best to drive all you encounter off. Although I suppose I could just smell bad. Is that it?" Yes, F'ur had a tendency to talk, but it got other people to talk, and that could be quite telling.

Of course, F'lix's on-button seemed to be the threat of violence. Odd. Or maybe not so odd, given F'lix was Benden and that was more or less all they knew. F'ur might be Selenitas now, for all intents and purposes, but were D'loro and Kamerai still at the helm in Fort you'd best believe he never would have left. That Fort of the past was a familiar, well-liked world of his, it was, where the smartest, swiftest and craftiest thrived. Besides, you'd never find someone like D'loro to pledge your loyalties to and put your faith in at Benden.

He had to keep where he was in the forefront of his mind. F'ur wasn't just a Fort rider, after all. He was a veteran Fort rider who had been in the fight since the moment it started, on the front lines, turn after turn. If anyone had reason to hate Benden, it was one such as him. In any other circumstance he'd have already engaged F'lix...and most likely the pretty little polecat would be very much dead. A shame, too. He was a pretty thing.

"Of course, I may just be overly paranoid." Ah. See? He could be a touch gracious when he so desired.

[rii]

"Then how convenient.."

F'lix smirked as he hands lowered back down to his sides. He made a show of looking left, right, then back to the older man. Fingers touched along the bark of a thick trunk as F'lix continued to move backwards. His voice remained soft, the subtle growl now a purr. "There's no southern wherries about. Just you," He began to slink away, breaking line of sight by stepping behind the tree, and going further into the shadows draped down from the canopy. "And me."

Was he baiting the older man? Yes, yes he was. F'lix did not run--disregarding the fact that if he tried his boot would fall off--but he weaved his way carefully, almost slowly, through the the jungle; somehow feeling F'ur would not allow him out of sight. But F'lix did not out right flee; nothing was more vulnerable than a fleeing man; the prospect of a chase usually triggered a rush of adrenaline and an animalistic, predatory nature; to hunt. F'lix frequently cast long glances over his shoulder to keep track of F'ur--it was more than a tad difficult to calculate the older man's moves.

The shadows flickered, at least in the spots where light still picked through the over head plant life. Probably just a dragon, F'lix didn't look up to inspect, but he knew it was Saboth. His blue could glide silently on those long wings, and the dragon had sensed his bonded's motives and acted accordingly. For the time being he lazily flew stretches over the forest.

"Perhaps," F'lix spoke to the greenery around him, having to slightly raise his voice to ensure he was heard, and keep F'ur's attention. "I honestly didn't get close enough to smell you. Didn't really want to risk it. A half-naked man running around in the jungle, you probably smell horrendous." Not that F'lix had room to speak, he was wearing his leathers--at times it made it unbearably hot, but he refused to wear less; considering the trouble he often found, who could blame him? "Let's not forget your earlier romp with that green's rider." He clucked his tongue. "She must not have been good enough to tire you out."

Pointless banter. F'lix eyes continued to flick around to keep his bearings and watch for familiar areas, and not to mention dangers other than the Fort rider. F'lix couldn't afford to be careless. Dark and dangerous, those did fit F'lix interests well enough where it might not suit F'ur's ladies. Add in a splash of blood and pain, and F'lix would surely be there. What? Everyone had their vices.

"I don't know why you are so paranoid about me. What could I possibly be hiding that you want, so badly, to know?"

[Requiem]

Suddenly quite locquacious, wasn't he? And slinking off, as well, but not quickly enough for it to be considered flight - and not subtly enough for it to be considered sneaking. Was F'lix attempting to lure F'ur somewhere? That was an interesting thought. Common sense dictated that, even if F'ur wasn't expressly interested in seeing the other man dead, they were still natural enemies and it would be better to play the game on his terms. Anywhere F'lix chose to go was suspect.

But F'ur was loathe to let the polecat simply prowl off on his own. He didn't trust him as far as he could spit, for one. Then there was that natural competitive streak. If F'lix truly was angling for something, F'ur was interested in playing - and winning. A game of wits, was it? Normally he wouldn't have cared for one with a man from Benden, but F'lix wasn't typical of the breed. And F'ur was a sucker for a pretty face, but who was going to admit that, eh?

Glancing up at the position of the sun, F'ur reverted to his usual stance, hands thrust deep in his pockets. He slipped casually beneath the leaves, walking a straight line in the direction F'lix was flitting except when a tree or bush got in the way. Not directly following the other bluerider, but still within sight. The man seemed for all the world to be out on a casual stroll - shirtless and barefoot.

"Mmm," he sounded in deep-throated agreement to F'lix's words on his state of cleanliness. F'ur simply let the man talk, eyes on the trees. The man was loathe to wake his dragon, but he did so anyway. Self-preservation had to dictate behavior from time to time. Is he new? What game are you about, Mine? Is he new? A pause. Relatively. Mmm. Do you want me... No. I'm curious as to what he's about, and you'll just give it away that I suspect something. Might be best if you just cut and run. Possibly. He may not be alone. Possible. Mine? Hm? Don't get yourself killed. That would be annoying.

The face that was unusually truthful in its expression of mild interest twitched into a tiny smirk for a moment. Nice to know you were loved on occasion. He wasn't worried, though. He wasn't dead yet, was he? "Mmm. Youngling. Youth has energy but little staying power," F'ur commented drolly, almost absently. True enough, but it hardly would have lasted any longer with any other woman. The bluerider was just too used to covering over the truth of his sexuality - it was so much a habit that, even when unnecessary, the lies sprung to his lips unbidden.

"Mostly just why you're here. Here being at Selenitas at all and out here in the jungles on your own in the middle of the day," F'ur responded truthfully. Sometimes people expected subterfuge so much that the truth was actually better than a lie. "But since I'm a fair sort: I'm clearly out here because that's where the greenling was, and I had little desire to return to the Weyr while Inocenth was still chasing. We left after the assassination and the power shift. Too many strange accidents happening to dragonpairs in our circle." No mention of which circle that was, but it was probably the most truth he'd given anyone at Selenitas.

Of course, he would rather expect F'lix to dismiss it as an attempt at manipulating him, which kept that truth safer than if he'd tried to cover it up. Gradually, F'ur had been closing the distance between them, though he still appeared to be walking a straight line with little regard as to where F'lix flitted next.

[rii]

In truth F'lix did not really have a set destination in mind. If he had wanted to see F'ur dead that would have been a different story. As temperamental as F'lix could be, he actually proved to be quite methodical when he put his mind to the task. Otherwise he was a creature of the moment, playing it by ear and reacting to whatever may be around him. Currently his interest laid in feeling out the other man, to study his moves and words; know thy enemy so to say. And, if anything else, life at Selenitas had become quite monotonous and the Fort rider offered an entertaining twist to the mundane, regardless of how dangerous the circumstances.

Ah, this area looked familiar. Yes, F'lix could see the faint trail the felines often used (And he happily noted this particular section of forest had been swept in the past couple of days, lowering any unfortunate chances of running into the vicious beasts. But only a fool would think himself safe). F'lix came to a pause, choosing a small clearing in the trees to avoid giving F'ur any cover to spring out from behind. Golden eyes slowly scanned the jungle before shifting in the direction of the older man.

He took in F'ur's words, privately commenting that they sounded truthful, but he would file away the information to be picked apart at a later time--if their little game of cat and mouse (though F'lix certainly did not fit the term docile mouse) didn't end in bloodshed. For now F'lix would take F'ur's words at face value. "You chose self-preservation." A simple, human nature. F'lix did not fault the other for it, his own situation had be of little difference. "It's not easy leaving a life you've grown accustom to, attached to.. Do you miss it?"

The older bluerider had shortened the distance between them, but still he seemed to hang back--perhaps waiting for the perfect, opportune moment to pounce? F'lix had the calming thought that at least he knew in this small gap in growth the man could not launch a surprise attack. Oh, but the younger rider would give the older man enough opportunities. How else would he learn anything about the Fort rider? Shifting to balance on one foot, F'lix slid off the poorly fitting boot and held it loosely in his hand. All it needed was new laces, it would be a terrible waste to toss the boot aside. It was good quality leather. "You saw what I came out here for, and I hardly need company to dig up a few roots. I do night watch shifts so during the day I rest. That pesky green woke me up and I needed something to help me get back to sleep.

"As for my reasons for coming south.. " A smirk, F'lix tilted his head, his slender body swaying toward the near-invisible trail. "That's a secret." Not really, the reason actually was boring, but no one ever asked and always assumed. The assumptions they made were far more interesting. "To tell would imply I trust you, but we know such a sentiment is not shared between us. You don't need motivation to hate me, that comes without reason. Would you even want to know the truth?"


F'lix didn't wait for an answer, he was off down the trail--foot falls light and quick. One hand clutched the boot to his chest while his other held the scabbard still against his thigh as he ran. He slipped gracefully along the winding path, effortlessly jumping over obstacles while never sacrificing his speed. He didn't zigzagged or attempt to veer off and hide from the older man. The green around him became a blur as he focused solely on the trail, not giving into the urge to glance behind him for a potential pursuer. Only when the trees parted around him, giving way to a small clearing, did F'lix come to a stop.

A jutting piece of rock served as a lean-to. The young rider angled his back to mostly face the direction he had come--opening himself to an attack, purposely. He set his hip against the side of the rock and brougt his left leg up to start unlacing his other boot..

[ ooc: Just to let you know, I changed the last two paragraphs. I didn't like where I ended it off before.]

[Requiem]

And...the smile was back, a sickeningly sweet expression as F'ur shrugged his shoulders in an eloquently noncommittal gesture that clearly indicated he wasn't interested in divulging anything more. Hah. Self-preservation... The little polecat didn't have a clue, did he, but then, he was Benden. Fort had already died with D'loro and Kamerai - long before Inocenth and F'ur finally decided it was time to leave the corpse and find something better to put their sweat into. At least here he could still pretend that the Weyr was alive somewhere. No, Fort was gone. R'anatar's Fort was something else entirely, and F'ur didn't regret leaving that behind for even a moment.

Even had he felt like talking about things that he wasn't particularly inclined to talk about with anyone anyway, he wasn't fool enough to expect a Benden rider to understand the loyalty that Fort Weyr had commanded. That D'loro had earned time and time again. F'ur almost felt sorry for F'lix. Truly. The poor thing would never have that, would he?

Still far from comfortable just following F'lix's lead, the older of the pair came to rest his back against a tree as the younger bluerider fiddled with his boot. F'ur watched him in silence, the smile lingering, though faint. The explanation the young man gave seemed reasonable enough...and Inocenth verified pieces of it.. Good it was to have a blue who tended to keep an eye on things. Confident in his ability to handle anything F'lix might have up his sleeve, F'ur allowed his eyes to wander, searching out the familiar tracks and looking for any indication of recent occupation. F'lix's own twisted sense of humor, leading them into the part of the jungles the felines preferred to frequent? Or just a strange coincidence?

A single brow rose in what appeared to be mild amusement, though it was actually more...irritation than anything else. F'ur didn't mind games, but the suggestion that he'd already made up his mind about F'lix was somewhat annoying. If he had, he wouldn't be testing him; risk or no risk, F'ur was the type to take matters into his own hands and deal with the consequences later.

F'lix darted off again, and again F'ur followed, though he didn't run. Didn't change his stride at all. His eyes still swept the trees, looking for a different type of cat and fingering the blade at his waistband idly. He could track well enough that he hardly need to have F'lix in sight, and F'ur took the time to evaluate where he wanted to take this encounter. In the end, though, he knew too little.

Nor did he break stride when he entered into the clearing, one eye drifting toward the skies to be certain that, for now, they remained alone. He didn't mask his footsteps, or deliberately make the soft footfalls louder. Drifting up to F'lix's back, F'ur's posture was deceptively lax. Still testing. An arm extended, finger brushing lightly down the curve of F'lix's spine. "An interesting invitation. You're an arrogant one, aren't you?" Strangely, there was no judgment behind the words. F'lix would have to be, if he thought he could escape anything F'ur intended for him.

His voice lowered. "I don't ask questions I don't want to know the answer to. Waste of breath." F'ur was tempted to step around F'lix and get a good look at the man's face, but he merely remained where he was, hands once again deep in his pockets. Close but not so close that he couldn't react.

"Unless you'd rather me work for this 'secret' of yours. Inocenth and I have always enjoyed a good...challenge." An unusually high compliment from F'ur, given who he was offering it to.

[rii]

A smirk appeared, twisting on his lips. F'lix slid off the other boot and listened to F'ur's approach. The younger rider had wanted to know if the man would give in to the chase, to be impulsive, but instead he had shown to take things at his own pace. Not that it bothered F'lix either way, he was done running. Albeit, the fact that F'ur had again stopped, not closing the distance, slightly irked F'lix.

He held the boot aside but froze, shoulders tensing at the touch along his back; muted through the leather, but F'lix was very aware of it all the same. Back in to motion, both boots were dropped to the ground, and F'lix cocked his head to the side, refusing to turn and face F'ur--otherwise he'd see the odd smile. The older man certainly was observant of the situation and body language. It made F'lix inner feline purr. "And you refused my invitation. How rude of you."

Any retorts about knowing that F'ur wouldn't kill him--right off anyway, were kept to himself. He didn't need the Fort rider to prove him wrong out of spite. Arrogant, quite. F'lix crossed his arms over his stomach, fingers curling around the edges of his leather jacket. He stripped it off, leaving a thinner off-white tunic behind; it didn't cover the pink scars (slashes) that ran up his right arm, nor the larger, dark red scars that traced down the side of his neck, his hair stopping at his jawline (the high collar of his riding leather had covered it before) The jacket joined his boots on the jungle floor. All the while F'lix faced the clearing.

A shadow flew over the ground as Saboth glided over the clearing. The blue dragon tilted his head down at them but made no show of landing.

"He's watching for felines.." Again the soft tone, growling at nothing in particular. F'lix pushed away from the rock and took a step forward, his movements becoming smoother, more liquid as he shifted sideways to present a smaller target. Hands slowly raised to unbuckled one of his belts, the one holding the dirk, and that too join the pile. His golden eyes calmly regarded F'ur. "I have no intentions of freely giving anymore answers, if you want them.."

F'lix inclined his chin to the other man, a clear challenge. If not obvious, the Benden rider did not respond well to words alone.