The Touching -- Galactic Clutch

[Requiem]

She's certainly sure of herself, S'rei commented to his lifemate. Salenth's amusement washed over him. The bronzerider couldn't say he was overly pleased when his concerns were dismissed, but, frankly, it was his responsibility to figure out what was going on with his wing, not hers. Obviously it wasn't anything like the wing's having left for a few days on a training run. Shmee would have been sure to mention that. He hoped.

He waited as the Weyrwoman addressed the candidates flippantly. S'rei would have suggested he leave, as she obviously was busy with the touching here, but since she'd asked for him to begin with he figured she must not mind. His eyes flicked toward Aslath. She seemed to be watching over the eggs with extra intensity. If he hadn't looked over just then, he wouldn't have seen Kalierre slipping quietly away, a mischievous glint in her eye as she smirked at him. He waved her on, attempting to appear stern, but a slight smile couldn't be held back.

The feel of a smile directed his way drew S'rei's attention back to the Weyrwoman, and he shook his head mildly. "So, this is a personal request after all. I don't really want to ask what it is you'll be helping me find, do I?" One brow had risen with the question, though he didn't give her any time to answer it. That might have been unwise. "Salenth was under the impression that we'd known each other as tykes. I regret to say that I don't remember much of anything beyond nine turns ago, though I should think I wouldn't forget someone so memorable..."

He paused, regarding her closely. "Are you absolutely certain that we've met in the past? I haven't been to Selenitas in well over ten turns." The tall bronzerider shrugged, then. "Not that it really matters. I think I'll rather enjoy getting to know you - whether it's for the first time or the second." The knowing grin was back with that last statement. S'rei wasn't above flirting from time to time, though he never really did so unless he was genuinely interested in someone.

That was not to say he was entirely sure of what he thought about the Weyrwoman Shmee. The only thing he really could be certain of was that, if anything were to develop between them, she'd drive him up the wall with some of the mannerisms he'd seen here today. Then again, many said that if a woman couldn't drive you crazy, you really didn't care for her...Time would tell.

[Tashe]

Just as I thought... My name eludes her.

Sighing, Saraina straightened her back and stepped nimbley around the bronze rider and the Weyrwoman giving them not a glance. Carefully, the young up and coming Candidate approached the Queen and the small fragile Neptune egg. Bowning to Aslath, Sara gently brushed the tips of her fingers upon the dented shell of the egg. Striding away after a few seconds, the girl knew she had finished with the eggs that called to her.

[ravenmane]

A lone figure, a solitary candidate leaned against the stone wall, hazel eyes drifting aimlessly across the Hatching Grounds. It was Skyler, a candidate from the Herder's Hall. He reached up and scratched his neck, glancing at the glistening eggs. Sunlight poured into the Hatching Grounds, gently swirling around each oval egg. the young man sighed and pushed himself away from his wall. Sticking to the shadows, Skyler moved towards the Eclipse Egg. It was the one abandoned by its mother and it beckoned the boy to it. Sky kneeled down beside it, gently stroking its black spots. He felt loneliness beneath it, the feelings he always felt. He gave it one last brush of his fingers before moving on.

No matter what Skyler did, he was attracted to the solitary eggs, the ones that were not noticed in anyway. He glanced around, searching for the source of another calling. It was the Pluto Egg that Sky felt, and he obligued its call to come see what it was. Like the Eclipse Egg, this one felt somewhat shy and scared, unsure of how to act. Reaching away from the solitary egg, Sky touched another. It had not called him, but its colors intrigued the young man. It was the Saturn Egg. It may have been plain in the eyes of others, but not to Skyler. The boy moved away from the eggs, eyes cautious as he glanced at Aslath. She was a sight with her golden hide. How Skyler wondered if he could ever have one of her Hatchlings.

With that final thought, Sky returned to the shadows, content to watchthe preceedings.

[saberlin]

Rilliana moved through the eggs, tentatively looking at each of them with interest. She did not want to push her chances out by not touching one, or particularly favoring another. She did however, move over to the Queen Egg and slowly lean in towards it. The egg felt welcoming, and strong. She rested a hand on it, and then a second, and then a warm cheek. The egg, for all its pits, felt wonderful. Are you the one for me?

Did she fancy herself a gold rider? Well, she could hope at least. Not wanting to offend the queen or put to much prejudice on the egg she moved on through the crowd. The sands were hot on her feet, but she dared not mince step and make herself look weak, she would just soak her feet later that would do fine enough. She glanced around at some of the other candidates wondering what their own hopes and dreams for Impression were. She would have to ask them all later. After all, she was going to be here for a while, she wanted to get to know her friends... Well, what she hoped would be her friends. Another egg caught her attention and she went over to touch it, feeling a "I dare you" attitude coming from it. Well she dared alright, she was not frightened or put off by such a challenge. She laid her hand on the egg and felt something rush her arm. Almost like a charge of fire. She laughed strongly in reply to the challenge of the egg and slowly took her hand off of the egg not really wanting to. She hoped there was another touching. She wanted to touch the golden egg again, and come back to this challenge.

[Administrator]

((This will eventually be a post. xD

I'd also just like to clarify: The Eclipse Egg is UNNOTICABLE. NO ONE sees it. *spazztwitch* In all seriousness, if Aslath doesn't notice it, what is the likelihood of a candidate noticing it?))

[ravenmane]

((Sorry!!!!!!! ))

[yakura]

Ah. People were here. Quell plastered a winning smile on his face, one that wasn't too brave but had enough oomph to be considered solitary. He shuffled around a few, intent on at least paying the radiant queen his respects first. It wasn't so much sucking up as he wanted to see the gold and actually speak to her. He was also interested in knowing more about the eggs, which ones he should touch, anything. He knew that touching the queen egg was out of the question, that was obvious. Only girls could touch the queen egg.

With a self-satisfying bob of his head he padded forward, doing a quick yet deep bow before the shining gold. "I hope you are well, my queen," he said respectfully in a surprisingly deep and refined voice for a boy so small.

[evendar]

((Dang it. And Nevis fit it so well. He didn't SEE it, more stumbled onto it. He likes the shadows and found it by accident. But I'll leave him out of this post so you can tell me how wrong I am after.))

Narna thanked the Weyrwoman, and with a final bow to the golden queen, approached the egg. She tried not to push at the other girls vying for the queen egg, and with gentle care laid her finger tips to the golden surface. The egg was warm to the touch and seemed to enjoy her gentle caressing. It was almost directing her where to pat it, which only encouraged the young woman.

She put her other hand to the egg, amazed at its warmth and might. It would be a queen alright, a fine one with a demanding powerful presence if Narna was any judge. Which she wasn't. But it didn't matter, this was only a moment. She breathed lightly on the egg in her awe, her breath condensing and obscuring her reflection on the bright shell.

"Its beautiful," she whispered. How could something so fragile looking bring forth one of Perns most amazing and powerful beings? Narna couldn't tell, but it didn't matter. This was just a moment.

[Administrator]

Shmee smiled sweetly and innocently. "Well, we'll never know what I'll help you find if we don't look for it, hm?" she asked pleasantly, flicking a speck of sand from her shirt. She certainly knew where to start looking, she thought in amusement. She liked this kind of rider- handsome, bronzer... All seemed well. And playing hard-to-get, too! She liked that. Shmee needed a challenge every now and then. The way he moved straight from that question into something else, it amused her. However, she was obliged to answer that question.

Then he went back to the story she had given to that other candidate. How curious. "Whatever do you mean?" she asked, feigning a puzzled expression. "I don't recall us ever meeting. I was born in a hold, after all," she added with a shrug. That much was true- but what did that other candidate know? She very well could have been weyrborn!

His last statement was encouraging. Taking a bold step closer, she purred, "I do think it will be very enjoyable getting to know you." This was exciting for the Weyrwoman- just how enjoyable was S'rei finding their meeting? Perhaps they could get to know each other further...

Aslath hissed at the girl who touched the Neptune Egg. You must not touch that egg! she hissed, rearing back and swinging her golden head to Saraina. You will break it, and I will break you, she said fiercely. She was not going to risk any deaths of her adoptive children. Who did she think she was, openly bowing to her in an attempt to let her touch it? No- this egg was too weak. Stupid girl. No candidate may touch this egg! she hissed, inserting that into the minds of every candidate present. Curling around it protectively, she glared at the candidates with whirling red eyes, ignoring even Quell, the happy looking boy that had wished her well. No- she was not going to risk this egg for pleasantries.

((At first, I would have said it was all right for him to do so since he was the only one, but since more people are showing interest, I'm gonna put my foot down. Sorreh! D:))

[agdragoon]

Korli was a bit to the egg touching. She came in right as the gold was roaring. She was rather stunned but then a smirk crossed her. The eggs were weak... well some people said so. She didn't know what to think really but from the reaction of the queen someone touched an egg that wasn't supposed to be touched.

She had no idea on what really to do. She sort of snuck into the place when no one was watching. She hoped no one really noticed her tardiness as she wanted to finish her chores before anything. She was still a bit dirty from cleaning a few of the runner beasts but she wasn't to filthy.

[Requiem]

Salenth shifted uneasily. It was nice that S'rei seemed to actually be interested in bantering with the Weyrwoman - the Benden goldriders had received little more than the cold shoulder, which had annoyed the bronze - but he was beginning to get bored. Sitting out here, watching the candidates wander by with hardly a glance at him. He snorted in annoyance. Since when had candidates passed a looming bronze without just a little bit of fear and awe. It almost made him want to roar at the next one that passed him, just to show these candidates that, eggs or no, a bronze should be respected.

"You should talk to Aslath, or go sleep somewhere." Ah, Kali. His Mine's healer friend. He pushed her lightly with a foreleg. I'm hungry. This actually made the woman laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "Then eat, silly. Surely you don't need S'rei for that." He blinked. Of course not. Kalierre patted his foreleg, before continuing on in the direction of the candidate barracks. She certainly had a point. Salenth threw himself into the air, powerful wingstrokes bringing him closer to his goal.

She decided to answer his question anyway. S'rei smiled wryly, shaking his head more at himself than at her. Coquettish. Interesting. Most likely, she'd greet any bronzerider this way. At least that seemed to be the nature of the goldriders he'd known. He allowed her to draw closer. His hand raised, lingering near her neck without touching her, eyes narrowing slightly. He may have only been twenty-five turns, but he'd been a bronzerider for thirteen of those. A goldrider's wiles weren't as likely to work on him. "You might want to take a close look at the others in the weyr before you get to know me too well, my Lady. I'm not a quick mover, so, unless you want to invest a lot of time and effort, you might want to concentrate on some of the younger ones. Or the more desperate ones." His smile wasn't unfriendly. He just wasn't interested in becoming a pawn in any Weyrwoman's games.

The wherries had served him well. Salenth crooned to himself, thinking that food certainly did improve a dragon's mood. Speaking of which...Lady Aslath, Salenth was certain to convey the proper respect without sounding too humble as a bronze, Were you hungry at all? I don't imagine you've gotten much of a chance to hunt lately.

S'rei's intense grays suddenly lightened again. "I certainly wouldn't protest if such a beauty showed interest in me, though I thought you only deserved fair warning. I see you've been playing with the minds of these poor candidates today. Kali isn't one to make up stories." He chuckled mildly.

[Administrator]

((Korli hasn't been officially approved yet... @.@))

[agdragoon]

((ooc i had a brain fart though she was you just wanted me to explain more >.< bah my bad!))

[evendar]

((*Waves fist at those who copied him* Curse you other people! CURSE YOUUUUUUUU!!!!! I jest, but that really is a bummer. Ok then, lest just say he was moping in a corner, all by himself waiting for his sister. And cue plot!))

Nevis watched as his sister touched the gold egg with gentle care. She so deserved a gold, he thought to himself. She was so smart, and so brave, and his rock. Without her Nevis would be on his own, and he didn't think he could handle that. She was the one who had helped him figure out his thoughts when he was flustered. Had been there when he'd been rejected by that Holder Girl at the Gather. The time when the stable boys ganged up on him. She needed this queen so she had someone else to confide in. He wasn't a very good rock for her at all, being as scared and quiet as he was. She needed someone she could turn to with her problems. He knew she had them, she was just so good at pulling a brave face.

He sighed as he watched his twin. She really did deserve it, at least in his eyes.

((Mwaa brotherly love.))

[yakura]

Looking slightly ruffled and hurt, Quell shuffled backwards with a final bow, turning to face the eggs. Someone had gotten told off for touching an egg. He felt inclined to go up to it, but decided better almost immediately. He circled quietly for a moment, watching the others. His gaze flicked almost absently to the Mercury Egg. What a sad, dead looking egg. Casting a wary glance at the golden queen, he walked quickly over to it, squatting down to see it better. He ran a finger over it's cold surface, feeling the gentle arch of it's shape. It almost chilled him, but he still felt strangely drawn to it.

Slowly he stood, sliding over towards the next ones he saw, a pair apparently. He ran a quick hand over the Earth Egg, and then the Mars Egg sitting beside it. Such strange eggs, he thought. Best not to tell that to the queen, though. He glanced at the gold dragon again, then sidled onward, feeling it best not to linger. For yet another moment he was drawn to a lonely looking egg, the metallic gray one sitting by itself. He moved towards it, then decided better, veering off towards the Saturn Egg. Again he crouched, running a finger along it's length, tracing one of the lines before moving on.

He ignored the egg that seemed to seek glory. He wasn't one for theatrics or brash moves, nothing of that sort. Almost as if to dare himself, he went over to touch the Sedna Egg quickly before retreating. He wondered how many the others had touched. Had he touched too many, too few? He didn't dare entreat on the queen's wrath, deciding it best to shuffle off to the side and pay his respects to her. Yes, best to do so. He made sure to stand a distance away from the fragile egg, bowing low before and mumbling about her continued health and his thanks for producing such a beautiful clutch.