I've come to love your disappearing act (Erilena)

[raii]

He never paid much attention to his socks. Like all other pieces of clothing, they were simply there. He didn’t like socks, he didn’t hate socks. Socks existed and he thought nothing of them. As a result, he lost pairs of socks on a weekly basis. Most of the time, he couldn’t recall taking them off. He didn’t exactly keep tabs on his sock adventures. It was only socks, and it didn’t matter if he lost a few of them, right?

Wrong.

Lost socks had a tendency to pile up. Perhaps add up was a better way to phrase it. All Rof’l could envision now was an enormous mound of dejected socks forgotten somewhere. Poor socks. Where were they? No idea, of course. Normally, lost socks would barely register in his mind, but today he was completely out. He’d had to listen to Kamath lecture him about leaving his ‘smelly socks’ around for others to ‘choke and suffer’ on the disgusting scent. Kamath seemed pleased that there were no more socks.

Rof’l sat in his room, contemplating his plan of action. Kamath had long ago given up scolding for the nicer option of sleeping. The bronzeweyrling had already ripped up his room (with absolutely no help from Kamath or Pinch--Kamath preferred chastising his rider and Pinch enjoyed watching) to no avail. The most reasonable place to check next was the common room. Rof’l could not remember taking his socks off there, but perhaps someone had found them and put them there…or something?

As he got up, Pinch attached himself to Rof’l’s shirt, humming softly. The blue was supposed to be another set of eyes, and he hoped Pinch wouldn’t be content watching Rof’l stumble around aimlessly on his quest. Pinch had a reply ready for his defense: But it fun! Rof’l sighed, flicking at the black-blue salamandyr. Pinch gave a squeak of surprise. “Help me look, little pest.” Pinch spiraled to the ground, inspecting the ground in a comical sense. “We’re looking for socks, not specks of dust,” Rof’l remarked with a chuckle.

That looked like socks. Was that it? Nope. Some random stretch of fabric. Oh, there? Nope. This time he found a sock, but it was certainly not his. There? What was that? N--Nope! Pinch interjected. Learn much: people leave things fun to look. I see-- “Socks?” Rof’l interrupted. The salamandyr remarked that sock-searching was boring.

[Rei]

“Ca’tauri? Here Kitty, kitty, kitty!” Dang it all. This was the second time that Erilena had freed R’ven’s feline by accident. It was almost getting to be a game for the large cat. Lets see how long I can make Erilena flail before I just show up at home and wind smugly around her legs. Only this time Ca’tauri had quite bizarrely taken one of her boyfriend’s socks with her. Actually lately she had been quite obsessed with clothing in general. Clawing at it, curling in it, and stealing the more easily carried items to squirrel away somewhere. Why she was doing it the greenrider didn’t know. All she did know was that she had to find the cat. R’ven would hate her forever if she lost Ca’tauri. That Erilena was quite positive of. He obviously adored the feline more than anything else. Well besides Trilaranth probably. Rubbing at her temples she walked into the common room still calling and promptly froze.

There upon the floor was something she always hated to see. Not because she hated mandyrs but because the sight of one always opened that old dark hole. The one that had been living in her since Leo had passed. Backing up from Pinch Erilena pressed herself against the wall of the common room and bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste in her mouth shocked her enough that she was able to move her eyes from the mandyr and to the younger boy routing about the room as if looking for something. Oh well that was rude. She hadn’t even noticed him. Swallowing past the lump in her throat the greenrider spoke softly at first, her voice gaining volume as she gained more confidence. “You haven’t seen a feline run by with a sock in her mouth have you? You really couldn’t miss her she’s about the size of a small dog.” Erilena gestured with her hands to indicate her size. Which really was no joke. Ca’tauri was huge for a domestic feline. She could probably beat most smaller dogs up if she had half a mind to.

“She’s my boyfriend’s cat. I accidentally let her out and he’ll be so upset if I don’t find her.” The last bit was offered in explanation as she blinked at the boy’s knots. Bronzeweyrling. It was a good thing Feyrianth was currently sprawled out in the weyr and dead to the world. Bronzes and her green where a bad mixture. Purely because Feyrianth was nervous around the shiny males, even scared of some of them. Again she mentally kicked herself as she realized how sharding rude she was still being. “I’m sorry. I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m normally not this rude.” Giving a hesitant smile she shook her head lightly. “My name is Erilena of Feyrianth. You are?”

[raii]

Rof'l looked up from his search to see a girl enter the room. She froze, her eyes locked on Pinch with an expression unlike he'd seen. Shock, perhaps? Fear? No, something more than that. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but she backed against the wall. A soft voice broke the silence, growing in volume as she continued the question. "I haven't seen any felines run by, but I am missing some socks. Is the sock in her mouth yours? Or your boyfriend's?" He smiled, walking over to the older Weyrling. "You aren't being rude at all. I'm Rof'l of Kamath, and I can help you find the cat if you help me find my socks."

He'd forgotten about Pinch and the girl's reaction to him. Until, of course, Pinch broadcasted his words to Erilena and Rof'l. Is Pinch. 'Lena nice, I help. Rof'l looked at him. "You wouldn't help me." He turned to Erilena. "I'm sorry, does he bother you? I can send him away." He didn't ask about her reaction, though his comment hinted he had seen it. If she wanted to tell him, she would. If she didn't, he wouldn't pry. It was personal, and he had just met her. Even if he had known her for years, he still wasn't the prying type. Pinch took this as a chance to scuttle up Rof'ls leg and perch on his shoulder. He didn't want to go! He liked this new Weyrling.

Pinch bad? Is sorry, no mean. Pinch hung his head in apology for whatever he had done. Help find, be nice. No go please? No mean scare or things. I help! Of course his blue wanted to help now. He didn't want to help him, of course not. Now that he had found a new ear to listen to his chatter, he would do whatever it took to keep them there. "Don't listen to him. He's no help at all," Rof'l said with a grin. "I'll send him away if you want. He'll get over it." He'd go chat up Kamath for something.

He'd probably chat the poor girl's ear off anyways. He flicked at the salamandyr lightly. Pinch glided to the floor to avoid the finger. He looked up at Erilena. Would she like him to stay? He would entertain her and help...maybe. He could tell her all about Kamath's favorite places to be oiled! Maybe about every picture Rof'l had sketched of dragons! He could tell her pointless information about every corner of the Weyr!

[Rei]

Erilena blinked back at Rof’l as he spoke. A ghost of a smile flitted across her face as she tried to concentrate more on his words than the blue mandyr near his feet. Mandyrs still made her feel odd but it was the blue ones that made her almost tremble. Reminded her to much of her darling Leo and those dark times after. Never wanted to go back their again. The only way the greenrider could do that was by never impressing another mind bound thing. Hence why the last few hatchings she had avoided completely. As the weyrling spoke her voice by comparison was relatively calm. “It’s nice to meet you and it’s his sock not fine.” Lifting her skirt to the ankle Erilena displayed her sandaled bare foot.

“I tend to forego socks more often than not. Except when it’s really cold. Then I make myself put them on.” Dropping her long skirt again she shrugged. “I just don’t like them. But Ca’tauri our cat, well really his cat, seems to be obsessed with articles of clothing lately?” The greenrider shrugged again to display her helplessness. “I don’t know why she is, just she’s carrying stuff around now. Usually we just keep her in the weyr but she’s taken to trying to sneak out sometimes. Usually she pulls it on me. My boyfriend would be heartbroken if I lost her. I’d appreciate the help.” Idly one hand came up to nervously pushed the curtain of her hair back behind her ear. “I’d be glad to help you find your socks if you’d help me find her.”

Erilena trailed off as Pinch spoke aloud actually wincing in response to the words in her head. Words that where not Feyrianth’s and had the typical grammatical errors attributed to a mandyr. Squeezing her eyes shut she took a few deep breaths and tried to think of something else, anything else. Okay, okay she could do this. The greenrider had dealt with M’ta’s blue mandyr PMS before this shouldn’t be any different. Opening one eye the weyrling offered Rof’l another hesitant smile. “No. It’s okay. Don’t send him away on my account. It’s not his fault really. I used to have one. He…he died almost a turn ago now but still whenever I see one it reminds me.” Blinking rapidly to disperse the moisture collecting in her eyes, no way Erilena was willing to cry in front of the bronzer, she swallowed. He wouldn’t really understand. No one but another who had lost a mandyr or a firelizard would understand, even minimally. It wasn’t like losing a dog or cat. It cut deeper. But at least now he had some idea.

The greenrider’s eyes automatically went to Pinch as he clambered upwards, and she tried to offer the mandyr something resembling a smile. It really wasn’t the mandyrs fault he was what he was and no matter how much it hurt it wasn’t right to be rude to him. “Really it’s okay. I’m fine. I’ll get over it in a few minutes. It’s always a shock at first and then it starts to fade again. I didn’t meant to upset him.” The use of her nickname however made her flinch. Hearing that from a mandyr she could /not/ deal with. Taking another deep breath Erilena let her eyes fall to Pinch. “It’s okay you can stay but can you call me Eri? I know Erilena is a little long but I would rather you call me Eri.”

Confident that the little blue had at least heard her the weyrling turned back to Rof’l. “Okay so I guess now would be a good time to commence operation sock and cat hunt? Where have you looked?” Seeing as how Rof’l was male the greenrider was betting that he hadn’t looked anywhere near hard enough. Males seemed to have a gift for overlooking things even when it was staring them in the face. Turning her head Erilena gazed briefly about the floor. Ignoring the presence of Pinch should be easy once she actually started searching for something. It was really a shame Feyrianth wasn’t awake. She could have used the mental support right about now.

[raii]

“I don’t have any socks anymore,” Rof’l said, offering his bare feet in response with a grin. He nodded at her offer. “Sounds good to me.” He would, of course, be happy to help anyways. The young Weyrling couldn’t help but notice the expression on the girl’s face as his Pinch bespoke her. She explained her hesitance, and it all made sense. She looked as though she was about to cry, and Rof’l wanted to hug her. But he didn’t want to hurt the poor girl more; maybe she had a thirteen-turn-old brother once too?

He imagined how he would feel if he lost Pinch. The dark blue sensed this and crawled onto Rof’l’s shoulder, nudging him sweetly. The girl was dealing with Pinch’s presence, but it was a stress on her, it seemed. Rof’l was too considerate to allow Pinch to stay. He offered a sympathetic smile, before speaking to Pinch. Why don’t you go join Kamath? I’m sure he could use some company. Kamath stirred for a moment, but only long enough to murmur, Only if he’s very quiet.[/color]

Pinch, however, did not want to leave. No! Help, make good. You share? Rof’l responded with a mental sigh. It doesn’t work that way, dear. As the next words sounded, Pinch turned to Rof’l. Say get over in soon. Can stay. Before Rof’l could respond, Pinch spoke again to the green rider. Is sorry, ‘Ri. Quiet now. True to his word, the blue stopped speaking, and Rof’l gave up on trying to send the salamandyr away.

Erilena turned back to Rof’l, asking about his searching progress. “I’ve only looked around here, really, and not too well.” I was kind of distracted, and busy keeping someone out of trouble, he said, subtly scolding Pinch, who decided to ignore him. “I managed to find a sock, but it’s not exactly mine. Maybe the cat was through here and dropped it?” Rof’l gestured to the sock on the floor he had picked up earlier.

Now that Rof’l had help, Pinch found himself no longer needed for the boring task. He glided off of his bonded’s shoulder, sitting on the floor. He would watch, of course, which was so much more entertaining, wasn’t it? Pinch had already forgotten that the girl had lost her salamandyr, but remembered Erilena’s hatred of socks. Strange little creature indeed. Rof’l continued to ignore him. He didn’t bring any attention to the ‘mandyr by speaking aloud to him, or even looking at him. Pinch understood as well, and didn’t speak, only watched.