Blackbird (I'nos)

[Tashe]

Midday meal was always the busiest time for the dinning hall and E'rro normally tried to avoid eating amidst the hubbub and noise, but for now he made an exception. Yesterday had been long and exhausting but he was able to abuse his powers and gave himself the day off. Unfortunately he couldn't also give his Weyrmate the day off so he was as alone as a person with mindmates could be. Which, all said and done, wasn't very alone at all. As he eased through the isles, the Brownrider skillfully managed to get into line without bumping or jostling anyone. A feat to be sure, but one that he had long since mastered. But as he stood there in line petting his firelizard, the Dragonhealer watched the faces around him. So many young riders, so many new faces. He recognized the faces of a few who were only 5 months into their new lives as bondeds. Faranath he felt old. Dragonwise at least. How long had he been at new Selenitas now? Six or seven turns? Five at old Selenitas before that? Not to mention the turns he had been at Benden. Twelve turns as a wartime dragonrider made it feel twice as long. E'rro cracked a smile as he moved forward in line. If he felt like this, he could only just imagine what Iski and Els felt like.

The line was faster than anticipated and without much todo it was soon his turn for food. He conferred with Feather about what she'd like to have as they walked down the spread, filling his plate up with much of the basics before thanking the kitchenmaids and setting out to find a place to sit. And he found a welcoming seat next to a familiar Bluerider. Although the rider to his other side immediately scooted as far away from him as possible, eyes wary. He raised an eyebrow at the man but said nothing of it. There weren't very many people who hadn't at least heard of him, he was the Weyr Dragonhealer after all. If it wasn't that, it was his ex-black ops background. He lead a very active life, in the present and in the past. Turning to the Bluerider to engage him in conversation, E'rro placed Feather on the table and began feeding her. Being blind, she could no longer just eat from his plate like she used to.

[Chey]

I'nos leaned away from the Dragonhealer that sat down next to him. It wasn't like he creeped him out or anything; quite the opposite. The Dragonhealer was famous and truth be told, a tad intimidating, to say the least. Especially to a young Brownrider like I'nos. He picked at his food, knowing that E'rro had seen his lean. He might as well make a decent table conversation. Tirneth would think poorly of His if I'nos didn't at least attempt to be polite.

That's what he got for having one of the most social dragons around, he guessed.

He turned to E'rro, smiling tenetively. "Um.....how are you today?"

I'nos wanted to mentally slap himself up and down the entire dining hall. That had to be one of the stupidest things he'd ever said. What happened to all of the confidence he boasted or the easy going nature he'd attained as a child? Where was it when he needed it most? Playing a child's game of hide and seek, apparently. Tirneth prodded His mentally to continue speaking, to not give up. Just because he had finally come face-to-face with E'rro was no reason to clam up.

"I thought you didn't come to midday meals with the rest of us?" I'nos hesitated. "That is to say, I've never seen you around the hall during midday meals."

Well aware that he was interrupting the Brownrider's conversation, he paused dutifully, as his mother had always chastened him for interrupting other people in his lively over eagerness to talk.

[Tashe]

There was a natural lull in his conversation when the rider to his left addressed him, albeit with a certain hesitancy. "I don't usually bite..." This was a response to the rider's present attitude. Shifting so that his body was angled slightly at the other man, he proffered a smile. "But I am fine, thank you. And yours?" A demanding squeak from Feather earned her more food. "The rest of us?" He continued. The Brownrider would be lying if he said he wasn't amused. "I certainly hope I am still considered a regular Dragonrider. I would assume someone would tell me otherwise." A day off meant high spirits and high spirits meant that E'rro was a rather amiable person. An opposite direction from the grumpy DragonHealer that stalked the Infirmary like a dragon himself. He turned his gaze away from the Rider to assist Feather with cleaning off the mashed tubers she had fallen into. "I generally do not come to the dining hall until later in the day, unless I take my food in the Infirmary or eat privately with my Weyrmate or friends." He offered a quick look before returning to his firelizard. "Being the Weyr DragonHealer has its perks."

Scrunching his nose as he shredded a little pile of fowl meat in front of the Green to keep her busy, the Brownrider tapped the toe of his boot in thought. Although the man himself wasn't familiar, his voice was. And then it came to him. "Aha. That is right. You are Tirneth's rider." Pause. "You will have to forgive me, I do not remember your name. I have gotten lax in memorizing non-dragon patients. My better half takes care of that." A bonus for being Weyrmates with the WeyrHealer. She dealt with the humans and he dealt with the draconids and together he was almost certain they could name most of the Weyr's inhabitants.

"You two came in a while ago for, hmm, something minor I believe." The memory was vague enough for him to not remember the what or how, but the who and when. "He is the large dark Brown with the tan colored spots and the single tipped tail, correct? I remember because he was larger than Ismaroth, who is no small Brown himself." The thought back to that day between bites of food. "Yes. And they are quite opposite colors as well."

[Chey]

I'nos smiled back at the Dragonhealer to further engage him in conversation. "Of course you're still a Dragonrider, I just meant, like, you never join the rest of us Dragonriders in general. And I am as well as could be expected, thank you."

E'rro seemed to be in high spirits and with a sociable dragon poking at his mental wellbeing, it didn't take long for it to become contagious. I'nos waited patiently as E'rro cleaned his Green firelizard, who apparently couldn't eat or fend for herself and had fallen into E'rro's plate. He was certain that being a Dragonhealer had perks, and E'rro's reputation had to have some pull, though E'rro wasn't conceited enough to pull rank on people, surely.

"Uh, yes, I am Tirneth's rider. No offense taken; I'm I'nos." he replied and Tirneth all but jumped like an excited puppy as the rider described him.

He remembers me!

Hush. Of course he remembers you. You're a dragon, and a huge one at that. You're a little unforgettable, silly. I'nos hushed Tirneth before giving E'rro another, more confident smile. "Tirneth is beyond excited that you remember him." His voice was dry, as if he was used to this from his dragon and now he was just the messenger. "Excuse him, he's usually not this excitable. And I do remember that, I think it was like a small maim from training or something that I needed to be patched up for."

Only because you were silly enough to let someone with a blade near you, Mine. Tirneth teased His relentlessly, even if it was harmless. Now I'nos sort of just heard it as background noise unless Tirneth was doing something else rather than poking fun at I'nos when he was bored.

Quiet, you. I'nos told him, albeit lovingly. It wasn't the first time Tirneth brought it up; he spoke of it anytime someone mentioned it.

"Speaking of, how is your dear Ismaroth?"