My Dinner with Detrith (T'vis)

[Aftershock]

Venideth flew through the dusk sky, his dark blue hide making him appear like a dragon-shaped blot of night that had come out earlier than the rest. His eyes scanned the herd of herdbeast on the feeding grounds, searching out an appropriate specimen. Finally, he spotted a large bull that would serve both as a proper meal and a testament to his skills, and flew up into striking position.

Reaching the correct height and angle, Venideth fell into a steep dive, slamming into the herdbeast bull at high speed and snapping the creature's spine on impact. The creature, desperate and flailing as it's limbs refused to respond to it, attempted to gore Venideth with a mighty horn, but the well-formed blue shifted his weight, causing the horn tip to skid off his thick, armored chest skin, then twisted his head down to rip out the creature's throat, ending it's struggles once and for all.

Lilu, dressed in her flight leathers, her helmet hanging from her belt and her collar opened and turned downward to allow her freedom of movement in her neck, smiled triumphantly at Venideth's performance, proud of the creature's skill and ability that she had trained into him daily since her Impression of him all those Turns ago. Perched on a fencepost beside where Hers leaned, her neon green coloration the polar opposite of her dark-hided dragon bondbrother, Tselitel watched the proceedings impassively, using a split in the wood of the fencepost as an exercise machine, separating the split as far as she could before releasing it, then doing it again. Suddenly, Lilu noticed another dark spot in the sky, and looked up to investigate what it was. Almost seeming to sneak through the sky, the dark blue and thin form of Detrith winged through the reddening sunset, seeming on the same search for a meal as Venideth had just been on.

Venideth, detecting his brother after His spotted him, glanced up from his meal to watch his equally-dark-hided clutchbrother at work, noting how he had still yet to put on any appreciable weight, muscle, or tone over the Turns, almost appearing as a collection of bones with hide wrapped around it. Noting how Detrith continued to fly for quite a while, as if indecisive, Venideth thought that perhaps his physically weak brother could find no herdbeasts he thought himself capable of slaying, so he decided he would give his brother a hand... or a tail, as the case may be.

Leaving his meal momentarily, Venideth took wing once more, finding a decent-sized herdbeast that would likely not be too much for the much thinner dragon to eat by himself and landing quietly behind it. Turning to the side, Venideth whipped out with his powerful tail, cracking the herdbeast between the eyes as it turned at the sound of his movement and stunning the dull-witted creature, causing it to fall on it's side with a grunt. Returning to his own meal, Venideth sent to Detrith, "I leave the honor of the kill itself to you, brother. It should stay stunned long enough for you to do your work without interruption."

[Ivy]

A dark mark in the reddening sky circled above the feeding grounds slowly as Detrith eyed the herdbeasts below. He was taking his time, watching carefully to decide which of the herd was the oldest or perhaps ill. They would make poor mates, unable to reproduce strong offspring so if he picked them off he would not be hurting the rest of the herd. Picking one out he was about to go into a dive when he saw his clutchsibling, Venideth, dive before him. This startled the rest of the herd into a frenzy, his prey was lost in the commotion. A frustrated snarl came from the blue as he circled around again watching for the beast he'd picked before.

A cry came from the herd and he glanced down to see Venideth had crudely disabled another of the beasts, I leave the honor of the kill itself to you, brother. It should stay stunned long enough for you to do your work without interruption.

Honor? There is no honor in killing, I kill to eat. Not to prove myself to anyone.[/color] Detrith's voice was a low whispering hiss to the other blue. Clutchsibling or not, the disdain in his mindvoice could not be hidden. After all, Venideth was a mere blue - not a bronze, nor a brown. There was nothing he could gain from being overly kind to him.

As Detrith began circling once more in the sky, T'vis approached the feeding grounds in a hurry. "Helios give it back!!" His voice rang out in high octaves as he chased after the all too-happy brown. From her perch curled about his ear, clinging for dear life at this point, Apima felt the need to join in the yelling.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Her mindvoice was piercing and quite annoying as she nuzzled against T'vis' cheek.

Helios kept flying ahead of His, the brown coming to where Lilu was perched and dropping a scroll in her lap. He then flew over to where the striking green was perched and landed next to her, bowing his head respectfully as he looked to her with bright green eyes. T'vis came jogging up, slightly winded but not too bad off. Immediately he recognized the other bluerider, Lilu. They had been in Weyrling Training together, her blue was a brother to his. It had been awhile since he'd seen her in anything more than passing though - from what he could see the turns had been kind to her. The turns had been kind to him as well, he was no longer the awkward teenaged boy she'd first met back when he'd just Impressed Detrith. Eying the scroll his brown had deposited in her lap he reached out hesitantly, "Uh, hey there... Lilu right? Looking nice... I don't suppose I could get that back, eh?"

Detrith meanwhile had picked his prey - allowing the herdbeast disabled by Venideth to recover and go about its business. Pulling himself up and then throwing himself into a dive, his smaller frame (yes mostly skin and bones still) allowed him to move quickly. The beast he'd picked went down easily, his razor sharp talons making quick work of it - ending its suffering before it had begun. Pulling his meal aside he began to enjoy his meal, away from Venideth and the other herdbeasts.

[Aftershock]

And suddenly, Venideth remembered why he did not interact with his similarly-colored clutchsibling very much, Detrith's condescending mindwords sending a swirl of annoyed orange into his eyes as he watched his clutchbrother ignore his proffered assistance and choose another herdbeast entirely. "There is always honor in a job performed well, my dear brother," Venideth sent to Detrith as the other blue began to drag his kill farther away and begin eating, "Whether that job is Threadfighting or killing. I make it a point to be the best at whatever I do... I simply believed you might wish some assistance in doing the same, since Yours seems to not be feeding or exercising you properly," Venideth concluded, his mindvoice filled with it's own undercurrent of scorn.

Tselitel was fully prepared to throw a fit when Helios arrived and gave some kind of gift to Hers, but then the brown was beside her and giving her the attention she deserved, so she paused in her exercising and held her large body to advantage, showing off her toned musculature that likely nearly matched the brown in bulk, if not size.

Lilu, meanwhile, snatched up the scroll as Helios deposited it in her lap, catching it before it rolled off her legs and quickly unsealing and unrolling it, figuring it was some variety of important message from her Wingleader or the Weyrleader. What greeted her eyes instead was some variety of sappy love declaration, filled with flowery words and embarrassing admissions. She turned from her reading as T'vis arrived beside her, raising one eyebrow as she listened to him speak (and attempt to butter her up with compliments), then replying as she rolled the scroll back up, "Hello, T'vis. Thank you, I suppose... though from your reactions, I assume I am not the 'radiant sunflower' this note seems addressed to?" Her language was plain and matter-of-fact... there was the tiniest undertone of teasing, but it would take plenty of empathy or plenty of time around Lilu to learn her specific social cues to likely catch on to it. As she spoke, she poked the re-rolled scroll casually in T'vis' direction for him to take if he so chose.

[Ivy]

Detrith had decided the best course of action would be to just ignore his clutchsibling - after all he was just a blue and not worthy of his attention anyway. So he stayed silent and worked on eating his meal off on his own. He would be done soon enough and then he could leave, His was on his own in regards to dealing with the other rider though - Detrith had no words of advice to offer when it came to the fairer sex.

T'vis flushed a bit as he saw her reading over the words and a hand went to rub the back of his head as she spoke, "No, no not at all. Its not even mine really. Something that Helios plucked from the library... I was just trying to return it."

The words that came from his mouth were blatant lies, and he knew she would know that. For one, the library was boarded up tight - nothing could get in or out. It was guarded too, so unless the brown had been there before he wouldn't be able to get in. Given he was fairly young there was no doubt the brown had not been inside beforehand. The second bit of his lies would be found within the words on the scroll themselves. Clearly his signature was scribbled in the far corner of the scroll underneath all the 'flowery' words of the poem. Clearing his throat he reached out and took the scroll from her before looking around for an excuse to change the subject.

"Your blue looks quite nice. You take him through extra exercises, don't you?" Not that T'vis thought his blue looked any less lovely - in his eyes Detrith was the best dragon around. Even if he was rather skinny and shrimpy looking.

Helios gave a soft trill as he watched the large green stand and pull herself up to her full size. A low sound, almost purr like, came from the brown as he eyed her - his eyes a brilliant swirl of greens and blues. She was a lovely green, and he was perfectly content to sit there making it well known.

[Aftershock]

Spearing the man with her sharp grey eyes, Lilu responded to his words with, "The library and records room are still sealed off due to Kymans, and your signature was on the bottom of the page. I care not who this was directed at, but do not think me a fool, and do not think lying to me is a habit you should foster." Her words were a bit icy, though not angry, and she forced T'vis to look her in the eyes at least once before she released the scroll into his possession. After he had taken it, she turned back to watch Detrith and Venideth on the field, obviously thinking her warning clear enough and paying the situation no more mind.

Settling back against the fence on her elbows, which was about as relaxed a posture one would see Lilu take outside unconsciousness, Lilu nodded at T'vis' observation and replied, "Yes, I always exercise him beyond what is required of me... personally, I believe the exercise and training requirements for all should be more stringent. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and some riders around here seem to think Thread a much smaller threat than I do... or that their natural abilities are superior to what they actually are." Sighing a bit, she added, "There is a training position open... perhaps those in charge will see my capabilities and consider me for the role." Turning her head slightly, she looked at T'vis once more and asked, casual curiosity in her tone, "Would you think me a good trainer, or would you chafe under my instruction?"

[Ivy]

As her cold eyes met his the hair along the back of his neck stood on end. When she looked away he shuddered ever so slightly while tucking the scroll deep into one of his many pockets. His gaze went back to the dragons and stayed there as she spoke, ignoring the obvious jab about his own dragon's physical state - it wasn't his fault his blue had been born slender and bony and seemed to stay that way regardless of anything he did. Finally she came to a question and he could feel her eyes on him once more so he turned to look at her.

"Ah... Um..." He knew she would not accept a non-answer to her question, but he also knew if he worded it incorrectly she would flip off the handle at him. Another icy stare was not what he wanted so he thought over his words carefully, "I think you would be an excellent instructor to some, though others may find you a bit too... intense."

[Aftershock]

Lilu watched T'vis impassively as he answered her question. He was obviously bothered by her, but she didn't let it affect her... for as long as she'd known the young man, he'd never been a big fan of anyone, though she in particular seemed to disturb the bluerider especially. Nodding, she said, "Thank you for your candor, and I do agree that some might find my training methods too intense... but to be honest, I believe those who would think that way are the ones who would need my training methods even more than anyone else..." Shrugging, she added, "I suppose it falls to those in charge to determine whether they wish superior riders who complain about the intensity of their training, or their current batch of inconsistent and honestly somewhat lazy riders who seem perfectly happy with their training."

Meanwhile, Tselitel was quite enjoying the attention of Helios... normally she would have wanted T'vis' attention as well, since he was a male, but Helios was such a devoted creature that, for the moment, his abject worship of her form satisfied her as she nuzzled the brown affectionately.

[Ivy]

How does one react when being told they are lazy and inefficient in a backhanded manner? She had not directed her comments at him specifically, but he knew the other bluerider well enough to know she felt everyone was far inferior to her. His hand busied itself along the back of his neck again, fingers playing through his hair before dropping back to his side. Suddenly there was a clod of dirt on the ground that was really interesting and he dropped his gaze to it while kicking at it lightly.

Helios on the otherhand seemed blissfully unaware, or at least unaffected, by His' discomfort. Females were not a mystery to him, after all they just required attention and affection! The bubbly brown chittered appreciatively at Tselitel before nuzzling her back affectionately. Glancing from the green for just a moment to His the brown looked thoughtful and turned his attention back to the lovely green. Another nuzzle before giving a soft apologetic churr - then he dashed off. He was quick to return with something in his claws and something in his mouth. The object in his claws he dropped at T'vis' feet before returning to his spot next to the green, where he offered her the object in his mouth - a lovely flower.

[Aftershock]

T'vis' discomfort seemed to increase for some reason, and he fell silent after Lilu said her piece, which the female bluerider was perfectly happy with... she was never much good at small talk, so the silence was perfectly acceptable as she watched Venideth finish his meal and begin cleaning the herdbeast blood off his claws and muzzle.

Tselitel, meanwhile, enjoyed the affections of the brown, until suddenly he made a noise and flew off. She was moments away from displaying her extreme annoyance at her abandonment when the male returned... and with a gift, no less. Crooning in appreciation, the brightly-colored green accepted the flower, nuzzling the brown affectionately and looping her tail around his before shoving the blossom into her mouth, chewing it up quickly and swallowing it before daintily cleaning any errant bits of plant material or pollen off her muzzle. If the brown was trying to butter her up before her next Flight, he was doing a damned fine job of it, she thought to herself.

[Ivy]

T'vis saw something drop at his feet and glanced to Helios, who was busy once again showering the green in attention. Rolling his eyes he bent down and picked the object up, it was a shiny shell. Standing up he turns it over in his hand a few times before arching a brow back at Helios, but the brown was not going to offer any other advice it seemed.

The brown-thing means for you to give it to Venideth's. Though I cannot see why. She is no Goldrider. Detrith offered some help, though even that was not very helpful. Tossing it in the air and catching it a few times he chanced a glance at Lilu, who had seemingly dismissed his existence.

[Aftershock]

Lilu noted the actions of the brown out of the corner of her vision, the annoyance radiating off of Tselitel catching her attention when he whisked off to retrieve the shell and flower. Turning slightly as T'vis started tossing the shell into the air and catching it, she arced one eyebrow slightly as she asked, "What's that, then?" Her voice was mostly indifferent, but curious nonetheless.

[Ivy]

The shell fell into his palm as he felt Lilu's cold eyes came to rest upon him and once again T'vis shifted around uneasily. Looking at the other bluerider he sighed softly, "Helios intended me to give it to you. Apparently he thinks you're as easy to win over as a firelizard or 'mandyr is." He tossed the shell to the girl, who he assumed would catch it - after all she trained all the time and was likely to have quick reflexes due to it.

"I have no such delusions, however." He was quick to let that be known, least she get overly offended - as women tend to do - and overreact. "Not, that I am in the mind to attempt to win you over."

Even Detrith cringed inside his mind as His spoke. Helios chittered at T'vis then turned all of his attention back on the green, nuzzling her and churring softly of his admiration for her great beauty and grace.

[Aftershock]

Lilu easily caught the shell, rolling her eyes as she said, "Yes, they are simple creatures, are they not? At least he's distracting Tselitel, else she might be annoying me by attempting to get your attention, as well."

Taking the shell, she sighted at a nearby tree and flicked it in a practiced motion, the shell whistling through the air before striking a large trundlebug, which fell off the branch it had been crawling across and rolled up on the ground below. Smirking a bit, she then said with complete seriousness, "So, you seem very nervous around me, and I worry it might affect your Threadfighting ability if we fight in the same wing. Would having sex with me help relax you?"

[Ivy]

T'vis watched with little to no reaction as she caught the shell then launched it at a tree. Just like a girl to toss away a gift, even if it was something silly and meaningless. Geez. His gaze had followed the shell and stayed lingering on the tree longer than necessary, if only to avoid Lilu's gaze. He was fine with the lull in conversation and was about to dismiss himself as Detrith had finished his meal and taken to the skies once more - when Lilu spoke up.

Every muscle in his body froze. He was certain even that his heart may have stopped for a brief second or two. Had she - did she -... The bluerider was having a hard time bringing his mind to wrap around the words she had just said. A part of him understood how she had come to such a conclusion where offering to sleep with him made sense. Another part of him was eager to say 'yes' - even if she was a detached hard ass she was still hot. Yet another part of him reminded him that it was not uncommon, they were riders. No one expected him to keep it in his pants all the time.

"N-No... No thank you." The words stammered from his mouth even before he managed to come to a conscious decision on how he was going to react. A war of conflicting thoughts and emotions waged through him and the color of his cheeks probably paled a few shades as he stood there very taken aback.

[Aftershock]

If T'vis expected Lilu to show disappointment or mockery at his refusal, he would be disappointed as she simply shrugged and said, "All right." Turning to the field, she sent out a mental signal along with a hand gesture that caused Venideth to take to the skies and start flying back towards the Weyr as she said out loud to Tselitel, "I'm sure you can find your own way back, when you're done with your new friend."

Turning one last time to T'vis, she said, "Well, if you ever need to in order to keep your mind focused on Threadfighting, just let me know. It would be remiss of me to refuse such a request if it meant you would be distracted from your duties and ended up letting Thread through." If he said nothing else, she would turn smartly on her heel and begin walking back towards the Weyr proper.