Hot {{Req}}

[raii]

It was hot. Hot, hot, hot. It was a bad day to walk around outside. He wished he could turn back, but he was closer to the shore than the Weyr by now. Or so he hoped. The sun beat down on his back, making his sleeveless top cling to it. Its white coloring was darker in places where his sweat showed.

He pulled off the shirt and stuck it in the pocket of his shorts. The shorts were a light tan color. In the other pocket was his sketchbook and a writing utensil. He was much more comfortable now that he was shirtless.

He reached the coast. He wrapped his sketchbook and stuff in his shirt. He left it on the shore while he tromped into the water. He floated on his back, relaxing in the cooling water.

It was such a nice day, now. It was no longer too hot. Five minutes ago, it had been the kind of day he hated, but now it was the kind of day he loved.

[Requiem]

Bending, the nineteen-turn-old retrieved a large conch shell from where it lay mostly buried under the baking sand. His calloused feet dug into the grains, but, even used to the heat, they were still uncomfortable. He'd loosened the laces on his white shirt, foregoing the dark-colored vests he preferred entirely in favor of keeping cool, but the prospect of sun-poisoning after long exposure prevented him from completely removing the garment. He intended to be out here for some time yet. Minnie, too, had come along, the dark little creature currently hitching a ride on Eveyth's forepaw, using the rather large (it was truly staggering to believe that the small hatchling he'd cradled in his arms was now large enough for him to ride on her neck, and that they actually had their own weyr now) green's bulk to shade her from the worst of the light.

Eveyth's head nudged up against him, causing him to tumble to his seat, and she crooned apologetically. Still not used to her own strength. He picked himself up, brushing the sand from his clothes while wrinkling his nose in distaste. Bad enough it would be getting stuck between his toes...he offered her the shell she wanted, feeling her excitement and gratitude as easily as if it were his own. The green carefully took it in her jaws. The overlong sabers were now as big as him, which was somewhat disconcerting when her maw loomed close, even though X'rx would never be afraid of Eveyth. A quickening caused him to glance curiously toward the waves, but before he could do anything, the green was already bounding forward with undeniable grace considering dragons weren't supposed to move well on land, and slipping easily into the waves.

Where the green hardly ever spoke to Hers anymore - they didn't need to, after all, the two bound so close the separation had become blurred months ago - she didn't hesitate to speak to the little one bobbing in the waves. Hello, little, she crooned, dropping the conch right on his stomach. (Minnie had vacated her with a surprised squeak and was now perched on X'rx's head as he approached the water at a more sedate pace, chittering her woes at him animatedly.) Come to cool off like X'rxMine?

X'rx rubbed at his nose, amused at the green but also a bit concerned that she might startle the boy that he hadn't - quite - recognized yet. Eveyth responded to the unvoiced worry by spreading a wing out beneath the boy in case he flailed and started sinking. Now that would be bad!

[raii]

Almost immidiately, a large green crashed through the waves until she was just above him. She dropped a large conch onto his stomach, causing him to break his float. Being a naturally agile swimmer, he was able to grab the conch and begin treading water without submerging at all. She greeted him. "Oh, yes! It's very hot, isn't it? This is a very pretty shell, but a little painful on my poor stomach." He smiled.

He loved when dragons spoke directly to him. He felt, well, honored. A young man--the rider, he assumed--approached calmly, A dark little fire lizard perched on his head, anxiously speaking in a language he would never be able to understand any further than emotion. "You must be X'rx. Interesting name you got there. Pretty dragon, too. That's the most brilliant emerald I've seen in a looonnnnggg time."

Rofi had the unfortunate tendency of speaking in a mixture of sentences and fragments. "Rofinel is such a boring name. So, I don't know, balanced? Every other letter is a vowel or constinent. I like Rofi better. I mean, it ends in a vowel, it's more interesting, don't you think? Fun, too. Rofinel sounds like some pretentious Holder's son. I guess it's an all right name, but it doesn't suit me."

He also had the tendency to introduce himself with a full editorial on his name. The poor rider hadn't said a word and Rofi had already given an entire monologue. He usually didn't talk quite this much (though he was by no means quiet), but the cool water and the nice day had him in a very good mood. He decided to let the rider get a word in edgewise, and not just while he took a breath for more air.

[Requiem]

Oh, I'm sorry, she was quick to reply, with just enough concern to be more than polite...though she clearly wasn't distressed. He seemed just fine, he did, so she wasn't worried that she'd hurt him. Even for little humans, shells were not very big. Yes, this is X'rxMine, the green answered for her rider. Are you talking about me? she asked, rather delighted at being compared to one of the pretty shiny gemstones - if that was indeed what he was doing - and arcing her neck to glance back at herself to check. Which also gave her a pretty clear view of the fond smile on the face of Hers that she already knew would be there.

The greenweyrling finished his approach, blinking in bemusement at the younger boy as Rofinel started on a rather involved explanation of his name. He cocked his head to one side, the braid woven into one side of his hair sliding along his neck. Amusement danced behind his dark eyes. "You don't recognize me, Rofi?" Probably not. X'rx was a common sight at the creche amongst the weyrbrats, but Rofinel hadn't ended up there terribly often as he recalled. The greenweyrling had lived at Selenitas all his life and knew almost everyone else who had been born here (or lived here a good while) by face if not by name.

Extending a hand, despite the heat still swathed in the fingerless gloves he always wore, X'rx flashed a friendly smile. "Xerxes originally. My parents were creative with their names," he offered, as his own explanation. "And this girl, whom you are flattering and will likely spoil rotten, is my Eveyth." Indeed, the green was crooning at the younger boy, ever so delighted with his compliments. Only Mine is allowed to call me Evvie, though, she added quite seriously. He sometimes forgets and says it out loud, even though he promised not to. X'rx silently wrinkled his nose at her good-naturedly.

His eyes flicked over Rofi, then settled back on his face, a curious gleam coming into them. "You should be about old enough to Stand now. Will you be a candidate for Hepaticath's clutch?"

[raii]

“Yeah, I am,” he grinned at the dragon as X’rx finally neared him. He seemed to know Rofi. Rofi took the offered hand and shook it lightly, before exclaiming, “Xerxes! That’s right, I remember you…somewhat. I have a bit of a bad memory, sorry.” He smiled at the green, who seemed to be extremely happy. “Every dragon deserves a bit of spoiling. I’ll try not to make a habit of it.

Eveyth seemed to be one of the friendlier dragons he’d met, certainly not hesitating to speak directly to him. He certainly appreciated it. “Don’t worry, Eveyth.” At X’rx’s question Rofi’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes! I am so excited! I don’t know if I’ll Impress, but it will be fun either way. I really hope I do, though! I love dragons,” he said, grinning.

Dragons were so pretty and smart, and so much fun to ride on. They were soft and pleasant and attention-loving—well, for the most part, anyways. “They should be hatching soon, don’t you think? Maybe I’m just so excited time seems so much longer…I wonder if there will be a queen? Not that it really matters for me, but it is pretty interesting. I wonder what I’ll Impress if I Impress? How could you stand this…waiting?”

If there was one thing Rofi was not (though there were many things he was not) it would be patient. Waiting. The source of all evils. He could barely be patient through chores, how could he survive this if it wasn’t soon? Not only was the waiting time longer, but the end result was greater. Potentially. Hopefully. He couldn’t imagine the disappointment if he didn’t Impress. But if he did…