The World At Large [Neph/Kephe]

[Lotty]

Picture perfect family. Or at least it was as close as the three of them were going to manage. Personally, had anyone told K'sel ten… even five turns ago that he - of all people - would grow up to be a bonafide family man he would have laughed them right out of the room. Yet there he was amongst the tall green grasses and pastoral hills, his arms laden with picnic baskets as he kicked a checker patterned blanket into place under one of those obnoxiously picturesque trees. That was just the thing about that particular day and time though... Rukbat was settling into a place at high noon, with exactly enough clouds in the sky to keep the light from being overbearing. The wind was a gentle breeze far too soft to pick up even a handkerchief and run with it, nor would it displace even an immaculately combed hair on the brownrider's head, but still ensured that the heat would not break a sweat on fully clothed skin. Arietta bounced around in a puppy like gait in-between and around the rider's legs while Pettahth, freshly bathed and oiled, fell into position, craning his neck back and around in wait for Nuoth and the others to arrive. K'sel had picked this place specifically. He was feeling like a shut in at the cold weyr, and he had already grown tired of wearing coats and scarves and hats (well honestly he would never get sick of hats) on a daily basis, at least the southern reaches of Ruatha boasted a nice warm breeze from the jet stream, and hosted relatively amiable people who wouldn't mind a dragon or two sitting about in their fields. It wasn't like they were going to hurt anything.

With an extra mental nudge from the dragon K'sel pulled his critical eye from the idyllic settings to push up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing the flash of scar on the inside of his right arm. He paid it little mind and started setting up their lunch as he promised he would do. It was his stupid idea anyway, and Neph and Kephe were going to be there any second to have a family fun field trip dammit, and they were going to enjoy it, if it was the last they do.

Dropping the baskets, the man got to work on laying out the spread of food, none of which was prepared by himself. Good thing too, unless they wanted to eat a delicious and nutritious meal of fish on a stick, or potatoes boiled in a hat. K'sel frankly was lucky on most days to put together a sandwich, but that didn't seem to stop him from rallying the kitchen ladies to put together something for his little outing. It was amazing what a sly smile could do from time to time, and really he think he came out with the better side of the deal. He could bring the food, the supplies, and the canine along, but Nephele... well she was stuck getting Kephe dressed and ready. Good luck on that one. He'd take this task any day over fighting with the boy over what was cool to wear. The little snot. The kid was adorable, but the redfruit did not fall far from the tree, he definitely was a handful just as any thing related to him could be. Inverness was already regretting the day they took on the family as their residents. Of course, the feeling was somewhat mutual. The brownrider was no homebody and given the option he very well could have elected the North of his own volition... but as it was, he hated being forced. Being relocated against his will. After all, Selenitas was his home and the land around it had become as familiar to him as the back of his hand. Why did he out of everyone need to relocate?

Bitterness aside, he glanced over to notice Pettahth perk up, and a green dragon appear in his sights, Our most esteemed guests are here... I hope Nuoth finds this weather as preferable as I do. Ah, finally! I'm sure she will... He could only image what lie was told to the kid to get him dressed so quickly for their picnic, but he wasn't one to complain about small blessings. Arietta too caught sight or rather scent of her master's other half and his own pup and wiggled happily by K'sel's side with her tail swinging back and forth like a motor. Chuckling, the rider patted the patchwork dog's fluffy coat, "We gotta eat first Etti, then we'll play to your hearts content ok?" Not that he expected her to understand everything that came out of his mouth, but the inflections were there... the patterns... he was using his "fatherly" voice that he'd been cultivating. Luckily it seemed to work on animals just as well as it did on kids.


[Yeah I had to stick this here in order to have a picnic... go with it.]

[Ember]

There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Nephele kept reminding herself of that fact as she suggested shirt after shirt for Kephe to wear, trying to convince him that running around in a pair of pants - the cold had quickly convinced him of that choice - and one of her more flowery blouses was not such a great idea. Kephe was K'sel's son through and through - absolutely loveable if you just let yourself get used to his charm but at the same time ridiculously frustrating. Oh yes, Nephele had it bad for both her boys...and Nuoth and Pettahth and the various pets that occupied their weyr. She snorted mentally that she had turned into such a loving figure when she had a distinct lack of it growing up.

"Ma, I dun wanna," Kephe whined, shoving away the blue and black shirt the boy had loved just moments ago, enough so that he stripped off her blouse and bounced on his feet to keep warm. "Your daddy is out...slaying ghosts at Ruatha so we can have a picnic to celebrate his victory. Don't you want to hurry up and see it?" Nephele told her son, internally wincing at the lie. K'sel would have to deal with his rambunctious son when they got there. Nephele had a sneaking suspicion the man liked embellishing his stories for Kephe though. The boy would eventually grow out of the stories...hopefully. If not...well, at least her son could idolize his father. More than she could say about her and Ae'on's father.

Her son's tired sigh brought her back to the current problem and she refocused on Kephe in time to hear him say, "Kaaaaaay, but I wan' my vest!" Ugh. Not that disgusting old thing! Nephele didn't bother to hide her disgust as she pulled his favourite vest out of the laundry pile - she had to do it every couple of days, what with all the clothes Kephe went through in a week - and handed it to him. It was already the fourth consecutive day in a row that he'd chosen to wear it. Nephele just didn't understand why the red plaid rag was such an obsession but that was four year olds, she supposed. Kephe pulled the vest on without an undershirt and Nephele sighed. Fine, Ruatha would be warmer than Inverness anyway.

The greenrider got them both mounted on Nuoth, clipping Kephe in before taking off her flight jacket and draping it around Kephe. "Can you hold on tight to that for mommy?" She didn't wait for an answer before having Nuoth take them into the air and between. Her son was already well versed in between practices. Two dragonrider parents would do that. They slipped out of the frigid abyss and into the warm sunlight of Ruatha, the green spiralling down to join Pettahth at his vantage point, far enough not to kick up wind by the picnic area. Nephele had a heart stopping moment when Kephe unbuckled himself and slid down Nuoth's side but the green was quick to make a safe landing by curling her tail around hastily. I hate when he does that! I would never let himself get hurt getting off me. The weather is most pleasant, isn't it Pettahth? The green smoothly transitioned from reassurance to greeting.

Kephe quickly got himself around the tail in his way - party pooper green! - and made a dash for his father. "Da, Da! Didya kill it? Huh, huh?" He shouted from not even half way to the man. Nephele giggled to herself as she watched his mad scramble, dismounting and rubbing warmth back into her arms. She wandered over and smiled as Kephe tackled K'sel's legs.

[Lotty]

Well, if he wasn't his son, then he had no clue whose he could be. Bouncing around like that and pulling daredevil moves... he was sure that he had done similar maneuvers off of his own father's dragon too. The tyke made for a handful at the moment, sure, but there were always lulls in life. Harper lessons shocked the old man into some sense of obedience, and soon enough they may do the same for Kephe, but then only time would tell. He rather hoped the boy would never settle too much, K'sel enjoyed living vicariously through the child's shenanigans ever since his own life became the much more mundane. Always fighting thread may have been the way things should be, but there were always the tiny moments where he missed roughing it in the jungles and playing traveler. Through his son's wild side he got to live it all again, probably to Nephele's dismay.

Catching the child as he ran into his legs, he resisted picking Kephe up and instead ruffled the boy's hair, figuring the child would think being coddled as such to be far beneath him. Arietta joined in, happily giving the kid a set of wet doggy kisses on the cheek before being sent away to lay at the borders of picnic. Still, the brownrider enjoyed being a doting father and knelt down to level with his son for a moment, "Of course I killed it. I'm here aren't I? Nobody gets the best of your Da," of course his eyes didn't settled on Kephe's for too long. It was strange, first of all, to look back at something so intensely familiar yet not, but also he needed to touch base with Nephele who he caught approaching. As a distraction K'sel blithely mentioned, "You're looking sharp kiddo, is that your favorite plaid vest?"

Rising again, he moved to pull Nephele in for a quick kiss and embrace, one fleeting enough to avoid any potential cries of "ew" from a cootie conscious kid, but long enough to whisper out, "So what is it that I have killed? In case I am questioned you know." He leaned back ever so slightly, his hands running down her forearms wiping away any lingering cold before linking his fingers briefly with his mate's. Ah, how domestic their life had become when their biggest secrets involved complicated lies about boogey men and ghosts. They were all very clearly living on the edge, and slightly louder the rider asked, "Are you ready to eat?"

Pettahth, though strangely fascinated as he was with the hatchling from time to time - again it was squishy and he had such fine times nuzzling the little when he could - the brown easily switched gears to enamor himself with the green. It was as if he didn't spend quality time with her every day on their ledge anyway, It quite is, and the grass is nice and green here. It nearly matches your hide. Nearly. Your hide is special... not another is like it. He rather didn't want to draw himself all too close to Nuoth. She always seemed too delicate as if she could be overwhelmed even by his tiny stature. Instead this was an operation of tiny moves, and the sandy dragon started first with a tail criss crossed to overlap with hers.

[Ember]

True to Kephe form, the boy protested the ruffling of his hair with a whined, "Daaaa!" and shoved away the much larger hand. How embarrassing! He was never one put off by typically gross things so the dog kisses were met with a ticklish sort of laugh from the boy who pet Arietta's head in a quick frenzy before she was banished to the fringes. No doubt to keep an eye out for more ghosts! He had it on good authority that Arietta had been his Da's companion for as long as Petta and was an excellently trained ghost slaying monster when not pretending to be a normal weyr pet. Naturally this so-called good authority was his own active imagination. Anyway, he was still trying to find a way to tame her for himself.

The young boy beamed up at his father when he confirmed a successful hunt, just like his Ma had said. Pride in his father swelled in his young chest. "Of course not! My Da's the bestest ever!" Considering the fact that Kephe was ridiculously blunt and honest about his feelings it was just about the best compliment K'sel would ever receive from the boy. At least until he had more mastery over words. "Not a kid," he mumbled in response to the compliment about his clothes but he was smiling widely still and had just puffed out his chest and was indeed thoroughly distracted, strutting around to show Arietta and the ever-present firelizard, Mother. Kephe had quickly gotten used to his Ma's bronze floating after him, the silent guardian unless Shit Went Down.

Nephele understood enough of the exchange - it varied little in form, really - that she was stuck smiling into the chaste kiss K'sel rose to give her. She snickered quietly before whispering, "Ghosts, of course!" into K'sel's ear. She glanced at Kephe before giving K'sel another quick peck as thanks for the warmth. He twined their fingers together and she nearly sighed contentedly. Five turns wasn't long enough for her to start taking what they had together for granted, especially not because she knew he missed the old days sometimes. She did occasionally, too. "YES!" Kephe's outburst made the greenrider twitch a little in surprise at the sheer vehemence of it. "You'd think we never fed him," she mused in amusement. "What's on the menu today?" Nephele released his hands so he could show her and so she could sit.

Nuoth settled on the grass next to Pettahth once Hers and the hatchling no longer needed her assistance. Here eyes whirled a pleasant shade of green to watch her hide as she cast a closer glance around her surroundings. Her gaze returned to Pettahth at the compliment and a bit of embarrassed pink slid into the green and she dipped her head a bit. As always, you are very sweet Pettahth. Thank you. In light of the brown's words the green didn't even notice the tail move until a few moments later - long enough that she didn't consciously realize it hadn't been like that since she moved next to him. A sly one, her mate.

[Lotty]

"Ghosts... what else?" He whispered back in an amused rumble before accepting his lover's brief peck. The brownrider then stalled, letting Nephele's fingers slip from his own, and took in the air briefly with a smile before turning to give a good look at what exactly it is that he had brought back. To be thoroughly honest, he didn't really know. The man had asked the kitchen ladies for something that even a kid would like - not that Kephe ever struck him as particularly picky about eating - and so he had assumed that the vast majority of the baskets consisted of sandwiches. What child was going to protest that after all?

"Well... I think we have some..." his voice trailed off as he walked over to the spread, and began lifting the cloth lids to find their contents. All along the way he rattled off the foods like they were a grocery list, "citron fruit, and some tuber chips, and sandwiches..." he parted the bread on one of them to investigate, and with a sniff of his nose he had determined, "ham and cheese...but it looks like we have some condiments too..." he noted this by pulling out a jar of mayonnaise and shaking it briefly. He was quick to move on though, finally remembering the one thing that he had very deliberately orchestrated. Snickerdoodles... though he couldn't tell Kephe lest the kid want to skip right away to the dessert. For this he looked over to Neph and mouth the word and pointed at the basket before, looking over to find where it was that his son had wandered off to.

Etti was awfully preoccupied with him it seemed, circling around him and sniffing at the old vest the boy had insisted on wearing. It had been so many places, she could tell in just one whiff, and lots of foods had been dropped on it. With a wiggle of her tail she hoped that he would keep up the habit and spill again now when she had the chance to jump and eat up his leftovers. The quicker his meal was in his hands though, the quicker it could be dropped and forgotten, and the speckled canine nudged the boy back in the direction of his parents. K'sel being privy to his pet's little herding act, called Kephe over. Not that it was going to take that much effort considering how excited he seemed about eating, "Well if you are so hungry then get over here you goof." He turned a sly smile towards his weyrmate as he said it.

Pettahth knew that Nuoth was always so easily embarrassed, but the brown being as he was, didn't really know a way to talk with her without causing the pink to whirl about in her eyes. It just seemed that she was going to have to be perpetually blushing and hiding in her coy mannerisms, because as blocked headed as he could be, he refused to stop, Oh thank youuu Nuoth. He pushed his freckled muzzle over to press against the green's cheek in clear imitation of how their human counterparts always acted, Our people are always eating all the time. I wonder if they know to just eat a whole lot every once in a while. They would get so much more done with their time if they didn't have to stop three times a day.

[Ember]

What else, indeed. Nephele supposed they should count themselves lucky that Kephe was obsessed with ghost stories and not mud or dangerous plants or fire. Young kids did so love their obsessions. Granted, he seemed to like anything of the paranormal sort so old stories of wolfmen and boogeymen came up occasionally but ghosts were what his father fought so ghosts are what he intended to fight. In true hobo fashion, of course. The minute Kephe grew out of that vest Nephele fully intended on having Nuoth burn even the ashes away. With some kind of gas filter over her nose and mouth because she was certain it was going to be toxic within another couple of weeks.

Nephele listened to the foods as K'sel listed them, sitting down on the picnic blanket as she did so. A knowing smile crept onto her lips when she realized that K'sel, awesome weyrmate though he was, probably didn't pack all that food with quite so much variety by himself. Which meant a heartfelt thanks to the kitchen staff when they got back because the spread was pretty sweet. More than enough to feed two dragonriders and their growing almost-five turn old. She grimaced a little at the appearance of a mayonnaise jar, glancing towards the distracted Kephe. The boy loved his mayo but she couldn't figure out why for the life of her. She hated the stuff. Snickerdoodles, though, she loved. Her smile was more child-like in joy than Kephe could manage sometimes when K'sel secretly revealed they had them.

Inevitably the attention finally went back to Kephe and Nephele finally paid attention to the boyish giggles coming from him as Arietta sniffed and poked and prodded with her nose. The boy bounced back when he was called, already part way there do to the canine's herding. Apparently the boy was part sheep, who knew? "'m comin!" He said cheerily, plunking down halfway onto Nephele's lap and already reaching for a sandwich. His hand was batted away by the mother and he got a stern look. "Wha'?" Nephele rolled her eyes at the boy and responded with, "Manners, Kephe. Think of the blanket like the dinner table." Kephe paused for a moment, clearly thinking it over, before he pointed out, "So it's'okay to sit on the table now?"

To say Nuoth minded being complimented would be wrong. Though the green needed no praise for anything she did appreciate it - especially from her mate and best friend. The kiss mimicry had her quietly amused and she dipped her neck gracefully to slot hers under Pettahth's briefly, a draconic hug of sorts before she retreated. It would hardly be comfortable to stay like that without resting her head first, after all. She was silent for a moment, considering her words, before she said, One would think they would learn to mimic us eventually but I suppose they are the way they are. They seem to enjoy their mealtimes, too, so it's not a complete waste of time.

[Lotty]

K'sel had begun fixing Kephe a sandwich by taking a knife and smearing some of the mayonnaise on for the boy before cupping one cut half into a handkerchief. It was right when he was deciding if he should hand the kid the fruit first or the chips to go with the ham and cheese - ever the concerned parent worrying about making his child enjoy all the food groups - that Kephe unleashed a rather witty little remark that made his heart so swell with pride that he almost clapped a hand over his chest. Instead the brownrider settled for laughing cheerily. Something he knew he shouldn't have done since it so clearly rewarded the same developing sarcastic tongue that could someday be used against him, but then sometimes it was hard to resist something so genuinely funny.

Settling on chips and the sandwich for now, he lightly plopped the small little meal over towards his son and after a few residual chuckles added, "Oh man... he got you with that one Neph," with a playful sort of wiggle of his eyebrows at his weyrmate he added, "and don't think this one is all on me, he gets just as much of it from you." He poked the corner of the next sandwich he began work on at the greenrider, signalling that she knew exactly what he was talking about. It wasn't all that long ago that they were masters of snarking at each other, laying on the trash talk as if it was their business.

"Anyway," K'sel continued, giving his surrounding one glance to notice his canine settle down behind him, "you can't sit on the table now. There are different rules for outside and inside. You know it's considered rude to have even your elbows on the table tops in there. Out here with have dragons and bugs, and even Ariettas to share space with, so things are different. That being said... you have to be able to reach the table top before you can actually sit on it shorty," it was said all in good fun, K'sel knowing that he wasn't exactly the tallest man in the weyr either. How his T'ri shot up like a weed he didn't know, but apparently the elder had received a few more of his mother's genes, leaving him to be the decidedly average one of the pair. Perhaps his son could hope to exceed him some day, but there was no telling now, and either way K'sel was hardly concerned about it. It was lunch time, and his main prerogative was to eat and be merry as he dug around in the baskets for Neph, "Is there something else you want on your sandwich? Or is it fine plain, I think there was some mustard in here too."

And so there he went again, forgetting to feed himself. He was sure there was some joke about "Mommy Kasella" there somewhere, but he wasn't going to be the one to bring it up.

I suppose that is true Nuoth. Though I enjoy my meals too, but that does not mean I should bandy about all day only eating. I would be fat, and bloated, but not with air, so I would only drop to the ground should I try to fly. You would not enjoy me nearly as much then, I don't think. How else would he be able to catch her after all? Pettahth was determined not to fail at this at least, and so he remained in tip top shape as long as he had anything to do with it. Threadfall was helpful in that regard, and gave him plenty of reason to fly around with as much speed and elegance as he knew. For now though, he could be just a little bit lazy, and so he laid his head down in the grass, curving his body just perfectly to open up a knave into which the green could fit. Snuggle?

[Ember]

Nephele was pouting. It was the closest word that fit, anyway. Her lips were pursed but she was glaring at Kephe rather than looking upset. That...was not the response she had wanted. Not so surprising considering the source though. When her weyrmate laughed the greenrider's brown eyes tracked to him in annoyed disbelief. K'sel was laughing. Not cool, not cool at all. Kephe was beaming, of course, and laughing right along with his Da like he hadn't just done something disagreeable. His Ma's glare had bounced right off the boy because it wasn't like he broke any of the rules or anything.

The woman sighed as food passed hands and Kephe stuffed half - yes, she could swear it was half - of his sandwich in his mouth. K'sel's comments earned him a weak glare because children weren't supposed to one-up their parents but it did pretty quickly when he mentioned her own stubbornness. "Yeah, yeah. But you've always made my snarking worse so I still mostly blame you," she commented lightly enough so that he knew it was only in jest. Kephe was watching the exchange as he laboriously chewed on his over-sized bite, a sneaky upturning of his mouth at the corners. His parents were so funny - and it really was a miracle that he didn't snark more.

His Da's attention back on him the boy was initially listening curiously and then hastily swallowing the food. For a moment Nephele worried that he would choke but he managed it somehow. "I'mma be bigger'n Da! You'll see!" Wait, nevermind, she caught a glimpse of some food still in his mouth. Eww. "Kephe, swallow your food before you eat," Nephele scolded, switching quickly to K'sel to add, "Mustard would be nice, hon, but I can find it." Not that she didn't appreciate him making the sandwiches but he would need to eat too. Kephe needed all the energy they could find to look after.

For example, he had mayo spread all over the corner of his face and in the same movement she swiped a potato chip and wiped his face with her thumb - blessedly free of any spit juices because she'd hated that trick as a kid. Nephele rolled her eyes at his "Maaaa!" in complaint and caught K'sel's eyes. Silly kid was silly. And totally his son. The greenrider also reached out for the sandwich and peered at the baskets as if one of them would tell her where the potential mustard was.

Nuoth hummed very softly so that it took physical contact like they had for it to be noticed. She took a moment to consider her words before saying, I would not be able to dislike you any, so if you should choose to...ah, bandy about as you say, then I would not be upset. Her wings twitched a little - an aborted flutter so as not to whack her mate with an errant wing. The green gratefully curled up in the space left specifically for her by Pettahth, he nose right by his cheek where she nuzzled a little, her breath ghosting over his face gently.

[Lotty]

K'sel always felt intensely guilty when Nephele made those sorts of faces. He couldn't help it after all, he had to laugh at Kephe, and he hadn't meant it as any sort of slight towards her. It didn't seem to soothe him any when the boy laughed right alongside him, but then there wasn't all that much he could do about a child's outbursts like that. It was much better than crying or a temper tantrum after all, and with a four turn old you had to be grateful for the little blessings. The brownrider was just stuck doing all that he could to try and rework his weyrmate's face back into a pleasant smile for the sake of harmony... and also with the hope that he wouldn't have to sleep on the couch - that was a quick way to throw one's back out after all.

Catching a quick opening when Kephe was preoccupied with his sandwich, he so easily shot back with a playful quip, "Ohhh you know you like it..." the words were half muttered, spoken in a smokey tone that would be easy to miss should the woman not spot his twisted lips or gentle snort he allowed to follow. They were becoming something of masters of this, saving their exchanges for those rare spaces in between the rigors of parenthood. Constantly alternating they were between each other and the kid... though admittedly it was so much easier when Kephe couldn't speak, "Bigger than me?" He switched real fast, "Oh I hope you do. Just be good to your old man when it happens, and don't beat me up ok?" Definitely not a legitimate concern, but it was fun enough to think about regardless.

Hmph, someday that very kid with mayo all over his face could be a force to be reckoned with. Faranth save Pern... or whatever. Taking cues from Nephele, he abandoned the search for mustard and let the greenrider go on her own quest while he dug out his own sandwich to eat. Within a few breaths and a few chuckles at Kephe's stubbornness, the man was finally stuffing his own face with one hand and leaning back on the other arm clearly enjoying the easy breezy day out. Finally flicking an overgrown lock of his hair out of the way he gave his family an adoring appraisal before idly joking to Nephele, "And to think that you don't want another one..." He considering teasing Kephe with the prospect of siblings, but instead snaked his foot over to nudge at counterpart.

Really!? Pettahth asked in an amazed and exasperated manner. He'd be likeable still? Even if he was lying around and growing plump like a wherry? Well... that was something he supposed, but that didn't mean he was going to start at it. He had trouble with the concept of being idle for far too long, and though this little respite was nice, the brown was likely to twitch and pace when the their picnic ended and all his energy piled on in preparation for the next day's wingdrills, Well I mean. Of course. I don't suppose there is anything you can do to make me not feel the same. He settled in with the green and felt comfort in the sensation of her breath tickling his hide.

[Ember]

Nephele stuck her tongue out playfully at her weyrmate and settled back to watch the return to Kepheland. Seriously, the kid ate up most of their lives and yet they adored him anyway. In theory, Nephele really ought to be annoyed by the kid. Kephe bounced happily as he quickly chewed his mouthful to avoid another scolding before answering, "Just a little? Pleeeeease?" Nephele rolled her eyes, wondering exactly why any child would want to beat up their parents if they actually liked them. Maybe it was a boy thing.

As K'sel dug into the baskets to make his own sandwich she rustled around for the mustard and hummed happily when she found it. Spreading a rather copious amount on her sandwich, the woman put the condiment on the makeshift table before digging into her own food. Much like her partner, the greenrider leaned back and enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere while she took bites out of her food, snatching potato chips occasionally because damn those things were good. She watched her boys discreetly - well, when it came to Kephe, anyway. He had a tendency to get a little twitchy if he thought he was being micromanaged. He was bound to be a nightmare for leaders someday.

K'sel's tease made Nephele snort softly and she commented, "Don't tempt me." Sarcasm and a light tone of voice made her words little more than a joke. Not that the greenrider hadn't considered a sibling for her son - Ae'on, at least, was a loved brother - but as much as she loved kids, Kephe was more than enough of a handful. Not to mention she had nearly gone insane when she was pregnant with him. Knowing what pregnancy was like and wanting to do it again? She wasn't quite that insane, thanks.

Nuoth crooned happily at Pettahth's declaration. The company was very pleasant and the atmosphere almost as pleasant. The green let her eyelids fall as she stayed warmly curled up in the sun with her favourite brown. Nuoth didn't mind flitting about and moving at a high energy pace but the green really was far less naturally productive compared to Pettahth. She was more than willing to lounge about during her times out of wingdrills. That or provide the sort of assistance she was more attuned to - emotional and some physical support for others was her strongest suit and that made her happier than non-stop wing drills when she was already quite skilled in the air.

"I think Nuoth's got the ri-" Nephele was interrupted by her own sympathetic yawn as her green slid into a nap "-iiight idea."

[Lotty]

"Just a little I guess..." K'sel conceded to his son with a sigh. The kid better not try at all. He didn't want to be a senior citizen regularly beaten up by his progeny. That was pretty far off though. The brownrider didn't expect that his body would shrivel up into little old man mode for a few more decades, and by then the boy would have enough sense not to want to be wild and break things. Probably. Hopefully. Actually... there was just no telling at all.

Yawns seemed to be contagious though, and between Nephele's own and Pettahth's retreat to sleep, the brownrider couldn't help be hit with the sensation himself, and his mouth stretched open wide for him to make a soft yelp that was only belatedly covered by his hand. Dammit. Did this make him old? Eating and then immediately wanting to fall asleep? He considered breaching the subject with his weyrmate, but instead looked at her sympathetically, and moved over even closer to her and Kephe with a scoot, careful to avoid knocking any jars or baskets around in the process.

He even managed to sort of prop himself behind Nephele to serve as a half support for her should she choose it, and he rested his chin on her shoulder to peer over at Kephe in a sort of, what'chu lookin' at face. This was the problem. He was tired if in denial, and Neph was obviously sleepy, and any other time they'd be able to simply lie back and rest, but here was their rambunctious child there and they couldn't very well ignore him. In a conspiratorial whisper he hummed to the greenrider, "Now... what to do about Kephe?" As good of a watch as Mother and Arietta could be, it still seemed so wantonly irresponsible to let the kid run off with a firelizard and canine as a baby sitter. Compromise then, "Do you want to sleep?" He nuzzled his nose into her hair for a moment, "I'll stay up and watch?"