Nighttime Viset (Piden/Pidesk, C'erc)

[raii]

Nighttime. Wherhandler Apartments. That's what Piden said, right? Lazuli chirped with memory. He had met him when he hatched, yes? Sari nodded. Yes, yes he had. I can come with you, can I not? Upasanath nudged hers in the stomach lovingly. "No dear, stay in the barracks. I won't be gone long. Dusk can stay with you, he does not like Piden's salamandyr."

I wish I could be with you, but I do like Duskpinklittle. Come, little pink one. We shall have fun. I will be listening, Saripersonlove. When I am bigger, I shall meet this Piden character. Sari nodded, and left the barracks. Lazuli took his normal seat in her hair, and Mika on her shoulder. Mika chirped cheerfully.

She found his appartment, somehow, a mixture of her asking for directions from drudges and Upasanath asking other dragons for hers. She knocked on the door. "Piden?" She called. "It's Sari...from the gather." She knocked again. Mika and Lazuli crooned in greeting.

She hoped he wasn't upset because she had stormed out on him at the gather. It wasn't very polite of her, but she did it anyways. When she was hurt there was a mind of her own. There was apology in her voice. Do not be sorry, love. You cannot help what makes you sad. Do not apologize for your emotions. You must be happy, like your Upasanath![/color]

[mierce]

Cer’c should have known that it would have been nigh impossible to sneak out from the weyrling barracks without Cuprite sensing his departure; they were, after all, bonded. And yet, he tried anyway, and though he managed to not disturb Eee’s trance, Cuprite was not to be left with that fat stubby brown firelizard. The bronze chirped questioningly, the sound bordering on anger as it quickly flew towards his human and settled on the nest of black hair. “Shh,” Cer’c said rather loudly. “You can come, but be quiet, okay?”

The bronze chirped again, and made himself comfortable on the boy’s head. Chuckling, Cer’c opened the trunk at the foot of his bed and removed first two low square boxes made of stiffened paper and a large leather canteen that was unmistakably filled with liquid of some sort. On his bed was a large square of cloth on top of which he set the boxes, one piled on top of the other. Grasping opposing corners of the cloth, he pulled the fabric upward and tied two floppy knots at the top so that it resembled a sack of sorts. Pleased with the results, he slung the strap of the canteen on one shoulder then picked up the bundle of boxes and headed out.

I’m going to visit Piden, he said cheerfully to Harmonyth. The green peered curiously at the boy. It’s a bit late, isn’t it? He said wherhandlers stay up late. He flashed the green a smile. Be back before dawn!

And with that, he headed off towards the wherhandler apartments with treats from the Gather in tow. He had yet to pay back the wherhandler for his generosity when they first met at the Blossom Gather and well, now seemed a good a time as any! He hoped the bronzehandler would be in!

But lo! Cer’c stopped in his tracks as he rounded the corner to the hallway connecting Piden’s apartment. Was that? Why yes it was! His amused smile now turned into a full-on beam of delight. Forgetting himself he briskly closed the distance between himself and Sari. “Sari!” he exclaimed, quite forgetting to use his inside voice. “Ooooh you know Piden as well?”

[Ruby]

Although it was 'early', Piden was awake, and (for once) not in his fuzzy robe. Instead, he was in the marginally better outfit of swimming shorts and sleeveless top. It was even hot at night these days, and he and Pidesk had been swimming a few times a week. Taking just a minute to stack up the papers on his desk and kick his clothes into a corner, Piden shielded the glowbasket and laid a hand on Pidesk's head, letting the Bronze know that it was dim enough to open his eyes. Both of them were hoping to sneak out without waking the salamandyrs; Red and Shells made pretty much anything difficult between the two of them.

That hope was dashed, however, as soon as Piden swung a towel over his shoulders. The voices in the hall woke Red first, and she scuttled up to cling to his neck with her prickly little claws, hiding in the towel. It was Sari's name that roused Shells, though. Naaa-aaa-aaasty greensie! he said through a yawn, opening one eye and fixing it on the door. Preeeety Sardic, else. Piden just shook his head at the Bronze, who was surprisingly chill compared to his normal frenzy. There was a good reason for this: Shells still hadn't adjusted to being nocturnal, and he had just gone to sleep. He drifted off again as Piden opened the door, offering a final Mmmmm.... pretty babiezz... as he went.

With a sigh for his Salamandyr, Piden smiled out at his two guests. "Sari and Cerdic, my two favorite candidates cum gather partners! Or... you're both Weyrlings now, aren't you? Congratulations!" Pidesk had followed his handler to the door, and now he shoved his head out under Piden's arm, snuffling at the new arrivals. "And this is Pidesk, of course. We were just about to go swimming... would you two like to join us? Or at least get out of these dark corridors?"

[raii]

"Oh hi, Cer'c. Yeah, we met--"

Sari stopped as Piden opened the door. She smiled warmly at his greeting. "Oh, yes. I Impressed Upasanath!" She said proudly. Hello! Upasanath adressed the two males. I am Upasanath, and Sari is my personlove. I am happy to meet friends of my Sarilove.[/color] Sari smiled fondly. She nodded eagerly at Piden's question. These halls were certainly to dark to stay in. "I am honored to finally meet you, Pidesk. I've heard a lot about you!"

The first question registered a moment later. "Wait...swimming?" Sari blinked in confusion. It was dark out. She'd never been swimming in the dark. It was cold, too...wasn't it? What is swimming, Sarilove? Sari blinked again. She always forgot that Upasanath did not know much about the world yet. Well...It's kinda like playing, but in water.

Can I come? Please Sarilove? Please! You said you wouldn't be gone long, but now you will be, so can I come? I want to swimmmmm![/color] No, love, I don't want you tripping on your tail and getting hurt. I'll take you when it's not so dark out, okay? Besides, your watching Dusk for me. He would make a fuss if he were here, would he not? The green dragon gave an affirmitive answer, and nudged the sleeping pink fire lizard happilly.

She looked to Cer'c to see what he thought of night time swimming. Mika also looked in the same direction, but for a different reason. She looked at Culprite and chirped sweetly. She was rather flirty, even for a green. Her lightly glowing hide called for most males attention, and she loved it that way. For them, her beauty more than made up for her, well, idiocracy. She was large, beautiful, and a healthy emerald in color. She rather adored her admirers, and wondered if this pretty bronze would be one of them?

[mierce]

Cer’c swung his head in the direction of Piden’s door as it swung open. Sari didn’t clarify where she met Piden, but the wherhandler addressing the two of them as gather partners gave him enough of a clue as to where the two met. “Hi Piden, hi Pidesk!” he greeted with much bravado, extending a hand out to affectionately rub the wher’s snout. “Aww your wher is quite charming in person~”

He turned his direction back to Sari when Upasanath spoke to them. “OMIFARNATH! Congratulations!!!” His free hand rose to his chin, fingers clenched in a fist as he hopped in excitement. The boy was already imagining the sort of fun they could have together once Upasanath was large enough to take to the skies with Sari. He couldn’t wait!

In the meantime though, Piden had just invited them to join him for swimming. “Swimming at night?” he asked, his voice tinged with interest. He hadn’t swam in the dark after arriving at the Weyr--curfew and all--but he’s been back in Blossom and the idea just tickled him. A grin cracked his face. “It sounds adventurous, and look--“ he held up his bundle. “I’ve brought snacks too! So we can swim and eat and drink!”

He chanced a glance at Sari, promptly noting her somewhat confused expression. “Is something the matter, Sari? You’re not scared are you??” Despite the taunting words, Cer’c tone of voice was completely devoid of malice as supported by his playful smile.

While his human-pet was preoccupied with half-flirting with the human female, Cuprite was sizing up the crowd to discern whether any of those present were a threat. Sari he had met before he despite his scuffle with Dusk, Cer’c seemed to fancy her and so he deemed her a likeable character. Piden and Pidesk the bronze flitter had never met before, but like Sari, his human seemed to like them and so the flitter regarded them favorably as well. Now Mika...

Cuprite tilted his head curiously at the green firelizard. Was she giving him attention? The bronze padded forward on Cer’c’s head, a paw planted square on the boy’s forehead so that he could lean in a little closer to the greenling. Was she flirting? Oh my oh my! He chirped playfully back at her, quite pleased with himself for having an admirer (nevermind that Mika saw him the same way). His tongue darted past his lips and licked his maws almost seductively then lightly flared his wings. Why don’t you come here, pretty greenling? So lovely~

[Ruby]

"Well, apparently I have an eye for the greens," he said, letting that sound just a tad sleezy and raising his eyebrows comically. In the collar of his shirt Red cringed, shrinking against his neck and making Piden squirm just a little bit. Pidesk shoved his way all the way into the hall, nuzzling the two Weyrlings and rumbling happily at all the attention. It was rare that people thought of Whers as - what was it, charming? - and Pidesk was loving the attention. Piden chuckled slightly, leaning back against the wall as excitement erupted.

"Come on, come on," he said, herding the Weyrlings and Pidesk up the hallway towards the door. "Whether we swim or not, other Handlers might not be awake yet. We'll head outside, I don't mind if we wake the Weyr." As they headed up the hallway, Piden let the two younger day-people flirt lightly, taking pleasure in their fun. Piden didn't really have friends, exactly, but... well, with Tira around he seemed a lot less interested in bedding everyone he saw. He could leave Cer'c and Sari to their own fun, for now. He put a hand on Pidesk's side, enjoying his Wher's contentment. It was good to have young ones around again.

Once they'd left the apartments, emerging into the sultry night, Piden took a long stride or two, coming up between the two Weyrlings. Feeling unnecessarily companionable, he slung an arm around each one, eyeing Cer'c's packages. "So what have you brought me, hmmm?" he asked. "If I remember correctly, you owe me a cookie, at least. Anything ever come of our blonde?" Possibly not the best topic while Sari was there, but if she was going to be offended she should probably not hang out with him.

By now they'd reached the river, and Piden spread his towel out on the shore. It wasn't huge, but there was enough room for the three of them to sit side by side. Pidesk lay behind them, making a tolerable backrest, and Piden took the towel spot closest to his Wher's head, then gestured for the other two to sit. Nice to have company that weren't Handlers. Very nice.

[raii]

“Thanks!” Sari beamed enthusiastically. “Upasanath really is wonderful.” She flushed slightly with pride. What amazing luck, that she had Impressed a dragon such as Upasanath! The most wonderful, beautiful, kind dragon in Pern! You are very kind, Saripersonlove, and you flatter me. It wasn’t luck, though. You are the most wonderful, amazing, spectacular, incredible, fantastic person in all of Pern.[/color] Sari smiled fondly at her dragon’s endless devotion.

She listened to Cer’c, having forgotten his excitable charisma. Now that he mentioned it, she was pretty hungry. As he taunted her, she shook her head. “No, not scared. I’ve just never heard of swimming at night before. I’m sure I’ll love it.” She wasn’t sure, exactly, having never done it, but it did appeal to her, considering it wasn’t too cold. She enjoyed nighttime walks, she enjoyed swimming. She enjoyed just about everything relating to nature in general. If nothing else, she could get some fresh air.

Being rather temperature sensitive, the simple change from night to day affected her greatly, so she was glad she brought her long shirt, just in case it was cold. She moved her attention to Pidesk as he nudged into the two Weyrlings. She scratched his eye ridges, gently but firmly, feeling how much thicker his hide was. She moved her hand to the top of his head, rubbing the hide softly.

Mika flared her wings in response. He was one of her admirers! She accepted his offer, lightly taking off of Sari’s shoulder. Her slightly empty mind didn’t calculate how to land on Cer’c’s head next to the bronze. She ended up half on his head, half with her legs slipping off of it. She scrambled up. It was a good thing the green was graceful enough not to hurt him, because she wasn’t quite smart enough to know to be gentle.

Finally giving in, she slid playfully down his head onto his shoulder. She took a step to the side, gesturing for Cuprite to step down beside her. She chirped kindly to Cer’c, her human playground, thanking him for letting her use him as a perch. He hadn’t given her permission, but that didn’t quite occur to her. She flicked her tail, waiting for the bronze to join her for a nice, warm cuddle.

Sari watched her greens antics, flashing Cer’c an apologetic grin. Before she could comment more on nighttime swimming, Piden herded the two out of the area. Once outside, Sari took a deep breath, filling her lungs with pure, clear air. Behind them, Piden came up, and slung his arms around them. Sari smiled. Cookies? That sounded so good! Wait…”Blonde? What blonde? What are you talking about?” Piden spread a towel, and took a seat by the wher’s head. Sari took the seat next to him, enjoying the middle seat.

[mierce]

Cer’c beamed in delight at Pidesk’s response, running his hand over the wher’s head as one might an affectionate feline. Sari’s response likewise earned a wide smile from him. She didn’t sound like she was trying to deny his accusation so he didn’t press her on the matter. Instead he took her hand and leaned in closer. Before he could say anything though, Mika chose that moment then to attempt to land on his head.

Cer’c reflexively flinched back from Sari in surprise, not having noticed Cuprite extending the invitation to the green. The boy froze as the green continued to try and crawl upon his head (along his face no less) before settling for his shoulder. He couldn’t tell what exactly was going on, but the twitter of amusement from his bronze clued him in well enough. Cer’c laughed, angling his shoulder closer to Sari as Cuprite flitted down from his perch to rest right next to Mika. “Ohh, they’re getting friendly real fast,” he whispered loudly to the girl. The firelizards’ legs and tails brushed against each other but the bronze didn’t go right in for cuddling, instead holding himself like a coveted prize for the green to act upon--after all, he was a bronze. A stately one at that, if he did say so himself. He chirped invitingly to Mika, playfully curling his tail around hers.

At Piden’s prompt, Cer’c nodded and allowed himself to be directed outside. “But yes,” he began, picking up the conversation where Mika had interrupted. “Swimming at night. It is soo much fun.” He nodded in confident agreement with his own statement. “I promise you’ll love it!” The boy then proceeded to chatter about all the great things about swimming at night, such as seeing the stars, listening to the crickets and nocturnal wildlife, being able to do things with fewer prying eyes…

Piden’s sudden arm and comments jolted the rest of the list out of Cer’c mind. The boy looked questioningly at the bronzehandler at first, having completely forgotten that he was holding anything. “Oh!” He held up the boxes, a wide smile spreading on his lips. “I do indeed have cookies. And bread slices, fried dough, bubbly pies, cream cake, a bunch of berries, and a wherry leg for Pidesk. Aaaannndd--“ He gestured to the bloated canteen hanging at his hip. “Pirate Mead! Did you really only want a cookie?” he asked teasingly. “Because that would mean more for me and Sari~~!”

The question about the blonde, similarly, elicited a flash of confusion across Cer’c eyes. He had, until that moment, completely forgotten about the cute strawberry-blonde girl at the Blossom Gather that he had pointed out to Piden. “No,” Cer’c said with a bit of an exaggeratedly disappointed sigh. “She was just some girl we saw at the Gather,” Cer’c explained rather openly to Sari. “Eating a cookie.” He tapped a finger against his chin. “Sort of like a woodland animal, now that I think about it. Munchmunchmunchmunchmunch.” It clearly did not occur to him that Sari might be upset with talking about what sounded like one of his past crushes, mostly because the blonde girl was nothing more than a passing conversation topic with Piden.

Upon reaching the river, Cer’c waited until Piden had spread his towel first before setting down the boxes in front of the group. He unwrapped the sack and opened each box for his two friends to take as they pleased. He then sat down next to Sari, and held up the canteen--only to realize that he had forgotten cups. Well, more like had had just imagined taking swigs with Piden, but maybe Sari would not be too keen on sharing the same canteen?

He offered the leathery pouch to Sari, a sheepish smile plastered on his face. “Would you like to take the first sip?”

[Ruby]

"You can swim though, right?" Piden asked Sari as they headed up the hallway. These were important things to know: the Bronzehandler wasn't above dumping someone in the river if they thought it was too cold or something, but he didn't really want to toss in someone who couldn't swim. Mainly because it would be a pain to have to rescue them. Rescuing was all well and good, but it didn't get you any kudos if you were the one that caused the problem in the first place.

Pidesk, for his part, had taken an immediate liking to both of the Weyrlings. They'd scratched him, they'd praised him: that was pretty much all it took for the Bronze. He broke out ahead, leading the way with the shambling walk-hop that turned so easily into a smooth run. Every few feet he would turn around and make a low barking noise, urging them all on. He wanted to go swimming too!

The Handler remained silent for the rest of the trip, letting Cer'c chatter on and laughing at the fire lizards' antics. One of those might be nice, he thought, as Red dug her claws deeper into his neck, drawing blood when the towel shifted. Not nearly so neurotic.

She perked up briefly when food was mentioned, and Piden turned his attention back to the conversation, too. "Do you only eat sweets?" he asked Cer'c, obviously teasing. Then, with a curious look, he added, "If I only have a cookie, does it mean I get more mead? Then again, maybe that's not the best idea... I guess we'll just have to share. Sorry, Sari." He smiled at the bit of alliteration there, nudging her with an elbow. "Much less fun if I'm... having fun and you guys aren't."

Of course, Piden had no idea how strong Pirate Mead was (or even if it was alcoholic - it sounded like something from the Southern gather). Either way, it sounded fun. As soon as the boxes were open, Piden leaned across Sari to grab a cream cake and a handful of berries. He stuffed the berries into the cream and started nibbling, doing his best imitation of a woodland creature once Sari and Cer'c had finished working out the mead. He wasn't usually one to be silly, but this early in the 'morning' (and with these particular weyrlings) he wasn't worried. And he would like to make them laugh.

[raii]

Sari giggled. "Oh, I can swim all right. I'm not too good but I absolutely destroyed him when we raced." She smiled with teasing smugness at Cer'c. She nodded to the other Weyrling, taking a large swig before passing it back to Cer'c. It was his after all. She laughed lightly at Piden's berry nibbling. Perhaps she should eat something too. But what? Her sweet tooth told her to grab the bubbly pies. No, fried dough and berries. Cream cake? Cookies? They all looked so good. She decided to go for the simple pleasure of the cookies.

A simple recipe, and yet so delicious. It lacked the complexity of pies and cakes and breads, but certainly didn't lack the taste. She took one and bit off a piece slowly. Her eyes brightened as it hit her taste buds. It was delicious! "These are very good cookies, Cer'c. Who made them, do you know?" As she took another bite, a small crumb tumbled from the corner of her mouth onto her skirt. She brushed it off absently. Her ankles at the bottom of her skirt were a little cold, but her heavily calloused feet felt next to nothing, although, as always, she was barefoot.

Mika crooned softly to her little bronze admirer. She took a graceful sidestep closer. She rested her neck along his neck ridges, pressing her hide against his. Mika's tail wound around his as his did around her, elegantly entwining the two tails. Pretty bronze, was he her admirer? He could say she was pretty, she wouldn't mind like she did with most people. She rubbed her wedge-shaped head against his hide gently, enjoying the contact from one fire lizard to another.

Lazuli was amused. Quite amused. His silly pink role model was now dozing with the large green nice thing. His was having fun, eating and drinking. And the stupid but pretty green was flirting and cuddling with a bronze. Yes, amusing indeed. He longed to pull a slight prank on his clutchsister: wouldn't it be interesting if some creamcake fell on her and her little friend? No, Sari would get quite upset, and he was the obedient one. She'd told him this before. Playing pranks on Sari was okay. Playing pranks on Mika and Dusk were okay. Playing pranks on Upasanath were even okay. Sari had carefully instructed him that playing pranks on anyone else was NOT okay. So he simply watched.