The Touching -- Galactic Clutch

[covera]

Verentinus entered the Hatching Cavern confidently, he had already got to know some people so he wasn't lonely and shyness wasn't a problem either.
Verentinus saw that many candidates had already arrived and concluded that maybe he was a little bit late, pushing that behind him, Verentinus first went to a strange egg that was completely flat on the top.
Touching the egg tentatively at first, Verentinus gently caressed the egg and was rewarded with a wave of calmness that swept over him. Verentinus stood for some time there with the Earth egg with a silly smile plastered across his face.
Eventually Verentinus moved on to a very, very, yellow egg. Verentinus began to feel very happy, stroking the warm egg, thinking that this was a one that he liked; friendly and happy.
Verentinus continued to stroke the Venus egg, never growing tired off it.

[Administrator]

Shmee stuck out a lower lip in a pout. "But you're the only bronzerider in the vicinity," she told him innocently. Shard him. Why was he trying to get the attention off of himself? Most bronzeriders would give anything to have her attention, she thought in irritation. And what did he mean by only the young and desperate would come after her?! Glaring at him, she said with plain irritation, "That was quite low of you, bronzerider. Desperate, you say? Well, I bet that is virginal boy talk there! Believe me, women do not like that," she informed him as she placed her hands on her hips in a haughty fashion, but also made her look like a preteen on the verge of a temper tantrum. Desperate?! The nerve of him!

Aslath watched Salenth irritably. It had been a while since she had eaten, she thought wistfully. But she simply could not risk these fragile eggs being harmed in any way. Already candidates had tried to touch the Neptune Egg! And she could not very well leave her adopted queen daughter. It was unthinkable. I have not eaten for a while, she replied, watching him carefully. I do not want the candidates to harm this clutch, so I haven't been able to leave much. I would ask ShMine to watch them, but she would forget about them and go off to do things as I hunted, she stated simply, thumping her tail against the sand lazily.

Shmee raised a dark eyebrow as S'rei mentioned that she was beautiful. He was on the way to redemption, she supposed. "I'm patient!" she protested. Not necessarily monogamous, but definitely patient. And persistent! What Shmee wanted, she got, she thought with pride. Perhaps she could use her Weyrwoman powers to get him to lighten up and have a fling. She dismissed the mind-games with candidates with a snort. "Well, she was gullible enough to believe it," she replied, pleased. "I can be quite convincing, you know, so I can hardly blame her."

[Requiem]

He was wholly unaffected by the pouting face. He'd caught the key word in her sentence. Bronzerider. As he'd thought. If she wished for anything meaningful, it wouldn't have mattered if he was a bronzerider or not, and in that moment S'rei decided that, though he would take advantage of her shallow interest in him, there would never be anything between them - whether deep or purely primal. In all likelihood her interest in him would simply increase due to the challenge he presented.

Just as the pout had been met with an unyielding, though soft, gaze, her anger broke against him barely noticed. It was not his problem if 'women did not like' his 'virginal boy talk.' True, he hadn't shared the furs of many outside of Flight, but then, he was also telling the truth when he'd said he didn't move fast. S'rei was always on the lookout for something meaningful. He was not the type to engage in a 'fling.' If women didn't like it, then so be it. He knew a few that were looking for the same things he was, and as long as those few remained, the rest didn't bother him.

Salenth cleaned the blood from his snout. Much as he could be rash in his arrogance, the bronze often considered well before replying to anything. Some would say it was his rider rubbing off on him. I can bring you something once the candidates clear out a bit more, if you wish, he offered sagely. Still, he knew that it might do her good to get out of the cave and stretch her wings. Hunt for herself. He knew the desire, at least, must be there. Or you might trust me to guard them for a time while you feed. After most of the people are gone, of course. I have fathered a clutch before. It was common for the bronze that mated with the gold to aid in the watching of the eggs. Salenth had been no exception with the one clutch he'd fathered off a junior gold. Of course, he hadn't Flown Aslath. But she hadn't laid this particular clutch, either. There was no real set pattern in this particular situation. Anyway, the offer was given.

The high color seemed to fade from Shmee's cheeks at his quiet complement. Well, she was certainly attractive. He'd give her that. And there was something to be said for spirit like hers. Even if he did find quite a bit of her manner downright childish. "Good, then," he responded to her claim, flashing a winning smile. He didn't bother attempting to correct his statement about young, desperate riders. It was simply good advice. If she wanted something swift and meaningless, they'd be far easier to sink her teeth into.

Nor was he fool enough to contest her claim. Kalierre was not an idiot, but she did tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, if for no other reason than she wanted to think that most were inherently trustworthy. That was one of the qualities he liked about her. "I have no doubt you can be...persuasive." The emphasis on the final word carried a subtle sensuosness. Oh, yes. S'rei could easily be the playboy stereotype that so many bronzeriders fit. His next question was decidedly pointed and personal. In truth, he asked it more to see how she reacted than for the actual answer. "How many of the bronzeriders in Selenitas have shared your furs, Weyrwoman?" His eyes narrowed. It was not a polite question at all. But S'rei figured that if she was going to accuse him of being a virgin, he might as well stick his nose in her personal affairs. Besides, she needed to know he wasn't a fool, and perhaps gain a sense of what she should and shouldn't say in public.

Learn by fire, after all.

[Administrator]

((Candidates, you can still wander around and touch the eggs, you know. ;D))

Aslath pondered this offer for a moment. She would have told him a flat-out 'no,' but if he had sired a clutch, then he must know a thing or two about eggs. And she -was- dying to get out an eat something, and feel the blood drip down her throat, followed by the delicious flesh of an unfortunate creature. She sweeped at the sand with her long, golden tail. Only this once, she finally announced. But only after the candidates leave, and only because I am very hungry.

She didn't want to risk the candidates running amok when she was gone, so she would wait till this Touching was concluded. She didn't want them to start touching the Neptune Egg or run their greedy paws over her queen without permission. When we do so, make sure no one sneaks in to touch this egg, she instructed, gesturing with her tail to the Neptune. It will break if anyone touches it, so keep your tail wrapped around it like this. Demonstrating, she snaked her golden tail around it in a loose coil, making sure not to touch it herself.

Shmee smirked slightly as S'rei acknowledged her persuasiveness. She also loved the way he said it- persuasive. Thinking there was hope yet, she replied in a low voice, "Why don't we test out how persuasive I can be?" To add to this, she crept slightly closer to them to the point where she could feel his body warmth in the air around him. This was where she needed to be and needed to stay if she was going to work her magic.

However, his next question threw Shmee off. Blinking in surprise, she flushed for a moment. How many had shared her furs? She could remember the first time, some older bronzerider, but that had not been fun- she could tell just from that one time that he hadn't been very experienced. She shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I only just got out of weyrlinghood," she stated defensively. Shards, there had to have been more than the awkward, sweaty guy. Ah, yes, now she remembered- there was that very attractive one who she had gone back to a few times. She could only go in when his weyrmate wasn't about, though, so her time with that one was limited. Besides, he treated her like a weyrbrat.

Shifting even more uncomfortably now as she was faced with her own few experiences, she announced loudly, enough for the closer candidates to hear her firm lie, "I've slept with most of the bronzers here, I think." Placing her hands on her hips firmly, she watched him defiantly, as if waiting for him to question her.

[Requiem]

Listening to the queen's reluctant acquiescence, Salenth couldn't help but be amused. Of course he took her worries seriously. He did, however, find it funny that she felt the need to tell him that it would only happen once. Almost cute. When he thought about it, she was less than a fourth his age, after all. Not that it made her any less intoxicating. The bronze turned his mind from that particular train of thought. He was all seriousness as he listened to her instructions, watching her tail and noting how it never touched the egg, though it created a substantial barrier to any child foolish enough to attempt touching it.

Salenth replied, Fair enough. She'd be in sight of the eggs, anyway, so nothing would happen. Between angering the strapping bronze and the weyr's queen, he doubted anyone would brave the grounds to attempt to get near the eggs once she took her brief respite anyway. He bespoke his Mine, After the touching I will watch the eggs to give Aslath a chance to feed. His thoughts turned sly. You seem to have an inordinate interest in the Weyrwoman, Mine. How interesting. S'rei's response was much as expected. Quiet, brute. Despite the thought, the undertones were affectionate, if somewhat annoyed at Salenth calling him out on it.

He noted the sudden distress that came to her soft blues, the flush that overtook her pale features, and suddenly he was reminded of how young this woman really was. The six turns between them was further compounded by his early Impression, making S'rei seem positively aged in comparison, at least as far as carriage was concerned. At this distance he could smell the soap she washed with, could feel her breath stirring the air between them. That momentary flash of vulnerability disarmed him. It reminded him of a certain greenrider who'd shared his weyr for two turns before the war had taken her from him. S'rei blinked in momentary confusion, a flash of heat burning through him, and then realization and a bittersweet sorrow that softened his stern features.

Yes, she was barely more than a weyrling. That statement, and that momentary unveiling he'd witnessed, proved the lie that then escaped her lips. It might have bothered him, had he thought it had been for his benefit. S'rei's eyes followed her hands to her hips, taking his time as they moved slowly up the nymphly form to that defiant face that seemed to beg him not to reveal her lie for what it was. Strange that knowing how much of her posturing was an act changed his entire impression of her. She was still oh so close. Tall as she was, the top of her head came but to his chin. He moved the ebon strands away from one side of her face, hand lingering at her cheek as he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke in a soft, husky tone.

"Now this is a Shmee I could come to care for," he murmured, truthfully. "Why must you hide her?" He straightened, the warmth in his eyes echoed in his small smile. His fingers traced the contours of her cheek, the elegant length of her neck, before pausing at her clavicle. It remained there lingeringly. Almost teasingly. Then he let his arm fall. For the sake of the 'audience' the Weyrwoman seemed to feel the need to impress, he stepped back so that he could bend over her hand as he raised it to his lips. His voice was still soft, though it might be easily overheard should anyone be paying attention. "With so many conquests, how could I hope to escape your charm?" His eyes danced with amusement, knowing that she must be squirming inside while he played along.

[evendar]

Narna didn't want to leave the golden egg. Its warmth against her fingers seemed to sooth the young woman. For a moment she could almost forget what had happened to her mother, and how she and her brother were truly alone in the world now. It was almost as if this egg was sucking away all that negative energy. Though Narna knew that wasn't possible. The egg didn't feel like the type to care enough to take away pain. But she let her hands linger, reluctant to leave.

Nevis watched his sister longingly. He was happy for her, but a part of him felt torn at her apparent dotage to the golden shell. He wanted his sister to Impress, and yet he wanted to keep her for himself. To have her be there for him for all time. But that was unreasonable, wasn't it?

[saberlin]

Rilliana watched as other girls went to touch the Golden Egg. She really had not wanted to leave its side and went back over to it, looking at the girl who was still near it,

"Do you mind if I join you?"

She said in a strong but polite tone. Before touching the egg she turned once again to the Queen and bowed her thanks to the great Gold. She did not know that this Queen was not in fact the mother of all the eggs. If she had known that she would have been even more in question of why they looked....sickly... Oh well, the feeling from inside all of the eggs seemed quite opposite of the sickly looking side of them.

Her hand reached out to once again place gentle fingers on its golden surface. She could almost imagine the iridescence changing as her fingers moved, like how ripples in the water could follow the movement of one's hand. She loved the warm and strong feeling that came from the Golden Egg. It was so precious, so vital. All the teaching ballads and protection songs coming into her head at once as she looked at the egg. She felt herself being drawn into it, closer and closer, until her face was nearly right next to its hardening surface.

She knew she could not HARM the egg at this point in time, and there was something about this egg that almost screamed for its strength to be released out on the world.

Rilliana wanted to place the softest of kisses on the eggs shell but did not want to make the queen think that she was trying to over influence the eggs in any manner and decided against it. What ever she did, she knew that come hatch day, she would stand close to this egg, and try her luck with the Golden Queen in side of it.

"Could you be for me?" She whispered again.

[Administrator]

Relieved that she would be able to eat soon, Aslath shifted back into her protective position, and was regarding Salenth carefully. Did you sire a large clutch? she asked curiously, wanting to know if he was good with his eggs or if he was one of the dead-beat sires. Or did the dam not let you near them? I would let the sire near -my- eggs, she stated thoughtfully. But you can never tell with Benden. They might be different. She despised Benden with a fiery passion- they were just so strange, and the dragons that came from there seemed to be just so... different. However, Salenth was nice enough, so she could trust him with her eggs for a short moment.

None of these candidates are deserving of these eggs, she told him abruptly, watching the candidates suspiciously. She was certainly taking on the distrusting queen-mother role very well- in her eyes, no human alive could be worthy to bond with her adopted brood. Someone tried to touch this egg, you know, she told him, flicking the end of her tail that was situated around the Neptune Egg. I stopped her, though. I told the candidates touching it is forbidden, she added, faint pride in her tone suggesting that she like having the power to keep the candidates away if they had to.

Small flutters erupted in Shmee's stomach as S'rei gently pushed back her long dark tendrils of hair to creep down slowly to her ear, letting his lips almost carelessly brush her ear. Was this how to reel a man in? she thought in surprise, but it didn't stop a smile from gracing her features. Adding a hint of smugness to it for the benefit of any spectators, she was strangely aware of the proximity she was to him. Dismissing it, she pushed a smirk to replace the mere smile she had.

However, she puzzled over his words. What had she done that made him say something like that? A look of genuine confusion crossed her face for the briefest moment, before masking it with her usual smug expression. Her mind was still trying to wrap itself around his words. Was he being serious, or was he mocking her, or what? But as she pondered this, she felt tingling down her cheek to her collar bone- he was touching it slowly, so teasingly!

Becoming the strong-willed Weyrwoman in an instant, she smirked almost over-dramatically as he brought her hand to her lips. "Perhaps you shouldn't even try to fight the current," she replied, loudly and sagely. "I think, instead, you should rather just swim with it," she added with a firm nod. Winking, she added, "And you do know my quarters are near the Hatching Ground, of course." She almost chuckled, but resisted the urge. Perhaps he would come over for a visit sometime, she thought curiously and hopefully. Maybe then this act could become real.

[Requiem]

Her question caught Salenth just a bit off-guard, as she'd seemed to ignore his comment awhile back. He shifted his wings on his back. A mild flare of embarrassment lurked behind his reply. We were not supposed to catch her. They even tried to arrange it for our wing to be out, but she Rose early, and it was a long Flight. It was large, but not as large as some, the clutch. None of the dragonets in the last turns have been too healthy, though these were better than most. Pride tainted the last sentence. Salenth was unsure what the deal was, but his brood had certainly outshone the other recent weyrlings. He didn't mention the fact that, midway through the incubation period, both he and S'rei had been banned from the Hatching grounds by the weyrleaders. It was still a sore spot with him. He'd watched over the eggs nearly as much as their dam before then. Perhaps they were worried the subversive attitude of the dragonpair would rub off on the new hatchlings...

It amused him to listen to the young gold's pride as she spoke about her adopted clutch. A brief pang for another gold surfaced. Then it deserted him as quickly as it came. Tyeth would always have his ear, but she was a Benden gold, and even the best of Benden's dragons did not have the same feel as those in Selenitas or even Fort. There was a vague unsettledness in their minds. Perhaps it was Aslath's pride that had sparked that momentary nostalgia. Very wise of you. We can't let the egg shatter. He regarded it curiously. What manner of Flight could create such fragile, oddly formed eggs as these?

"Is that so?" he replied simply, as she pointed out how near her quarters were. A slight smirk turned up one corner of his mouth. Again, she certainly was bold about such things. Especially considering how inexperienced she must be. He was a little shocked to find his mind wandering to thoughts of how she might act if he actually took her up on her offer. Would all this smugness fade away? S'rei rather hoped it would, if only because the brief glimpse of her guileless blues had managed to stir him as he hadn't felt in turns. If they might gaze on him without that affected arrogance for more than just a few seconds, he would be lost in them.

Luckily, her mask was firmly back in place, and the bronzerider was in full control of himself. S'rei wasn't exactly sure if he would rather she shed that guise or not; was he ready to plunge back into the depth of feeling Sage had elicited? The pain, though not new, was still strong at times. He calmly pulled the gloves from his belt as he thought out his words carefully. "You'll have to forgive me, my Lady, but I have a somewhat perverse nature. The current may well prove too strong for me. Still, I must attempt to test my strength against it." A mischievous gleam had entered his gaze. S'rei finished drawing his gloves on, effectively declaring his determination to avoid touching the Weyrwoman so familiarly in the near future.

Shmee had managed to show him a side of herself that intrigued the bronzerider. Attracted him. It remained to be seen if she would open that part of herself to him. If not - well, there were plenty of other women, with far less complications tied to his courting them. Courting? Why, Mine, I think you're breaking your vow. What happened to not getting involved with goldriders. I have not yet decided to get involved, Salenth. The equivalent of a draconic snort filtered back over their bond.

"You may, of course, seek me out if you wish my company. Or command me to attend you." S'rei was careful to keep just the right amount of respectful distance in his voice. "As I hope you'll extend me the same courtesy should I seek your companionship."

[evendar]

Narna looked over at the girl who asked to join her in touching the golden egg. "Sure, its a free weyr." she said with a shrug, knowing full well the girl couldn't be stopped. She reduced her touching ot just the tips of one hand, content to feel teh warmth beneath her fingers as she watched the other girl.

"Could you be for me?" she heard the girl whisper. A bit cocky much? Narna thought to herself as she quirked one eyebrow at the girls questioning of the egg. And yet, Narna herself couldn't deny the sense of complete and utter longing she felt as she touched the golden shell. Longing for the goldne beast inside it. But she would never voice her longings where others could hear her. That would be inconsiderate of the other candidates.

Nevis grew bored of his side sitting, and wandered over to his sister, wondering when she would be ready to go, after of course bowing to the golden queen.

"You finished yet?" he asked her quietly. Narna looked at him, and he swore her eyes seemed brighter, more complete. A look he hadn't seen in them since they found their mothers mangled body. She didn't even answer him, but took his hand in hers.

"Go ahead and touch it. I know you haven't touched a single egg yet." she said, placing his hand on the golden shell. It was warm, and tough under his fingers, like a mix between suede and... well, and egg. As his fingers rubbbed against it, he felt the warmth begin to increase. Until it was almost as hot as kettle held over a fire. he snatched his hand back as if burned.

"Ow!" he sais, noticing his sisters and the other girls hands still touched the egg. "It doesn't like me." he said in conclusion. Narna simply smiled.

"Well of course it doesn't like you. You're a boy." she said with a laugh in her voice. Nevis had to smile at that logic.

[neeuqtar]

Uuvaenan had wanted desperately to touch the Neptune Egg, but knew better. Instead, he hung to the fringes, not really sure what to do. Yes, they were dragon eggs--and he had been Searched. Shouldn't he be glad to be here, on the Sands? Shouldn't he be glad to get away from the mine, where he was little more than a slave? He shook his head violently and hissed through his teeth, angry at himself. The young man kicked some sand and sighed, glancing at the nearby Pluto Egg. Lonely thing, he felt bad for it. Patting it on the top almost timidly, Uuvaenan walked over to the other egg he had been watching, timidly touching the cool surface of the Mercury Egg.

"Poor thing," he murmured, lips hardly moving. "You're like me, arncha? Dead walkin', or dead lyin' as it is," Uuvee continued, fingers finding the pits and bumps in the ugly egg. "Nothin' to nobody. I'll watch for yahs, little one," he finished, rubbing his callused fingertips once more on the top. Pausing, he looked out across the Sands, at the other Candidates he never talked to, and back to his pale hand, the black-painted nails stark against his creamy skin but seeming right at home atop the dark, rock-like egg. With a sigh, he looked back up, the heat shimmers making the vision sway and dance, ethereal figures caught in the rising gases. Beautiful, worthy of memory. Uuvaenan could almost feel himself hypnotized. Beauty and dance I've been denied so long... I swear I'll win it... he promised himself, and, perhaps, the egg his hand still rested upon.

Rapt, as if in a memory, he moved forward, fingers slipping from the egg, and brushed against the Setna Egg. With a glare at the freezing egg--hadn't he been frozen enough in his life, stuck in damp and frigid tunnels?--he moved on, immediately dismissing some of the more popular, "friendly" eggs. No, he was not one to seek a pleasant and cheerful sort. Instead, Uuvee moved towards the distant Comet Egg, resolutely touching the silvery surface. It felt like the vein of electrum he had once had the joy to work with, smooth and resilient, and Uuvee felt a tiny smile touch his face. Yes, that had been a flash of beauty in his life... he moved on, feeling no particular attraction to the egg.

But... what was that? A movement in the shadows immediately focused Uuvaenan's attention to a back corner, where none trod. It was his slasher, Visk. The mottled gray creature sniffed something--was that an egg, lost in the shadows?--then raised his crimson crest threateningly. Uuvee moved over, unobtrusively but quickly. "No. Bad Visk," he said, sharply, pulling the vicious creature's attention away from the egg and to his master. Snarling silently, the slasher lowered his crest and backed away, massive talons leaving gouges in the sand which filled in slowly, a landslide of golden and quartz grains drifting lazily into the hole. "Go away," he hissed, and the creature snorted, before turning and trotting out of the nearly invisible hole he had entered through. Uuvee let out the breath he'd been holding out slowly, relieved. It was always a mystery whether Visk would obey him or choose to do whatever he wanted.

Curiously, the young man turned to the nearly-dismembered egg. It was dark, shadowed even, a pale color showing through in places--it reminded him of nothing so much as the mangled bodies of the miners he had once pulled from a collapsed shaft, their bodies stained from the black dust that claimed so many lives. The only difference, was... this egg was alive. Without thinking, Uuvaenan knelt in the Sands, the burning heat not even penetrating his thoughts, and splayed his hands across the egg, gently touching forehead and nose to the shell. Tears blurred his eyes--not for him, he was sure. For the egg, perhaps, as the sense of overwhelming lonliness seeped into him.

A drop of saltwater fell from his dark lashes, touching the shell before evaporating with a hiss on the hot sand. "You're like me," he whispered, the sentiment echoing mentally. "Yahs alone and forgot. I'll remember," he promised, his voice quiet, almost inaudible, though his thoughts echoed and echoed into eternity, repeating over and over and over. The heat from the sand hurt, but he didn't notice, too caught up in the Eclipse Egg.

[paryal]

The sudden tide of females, each more disgustingly besotted with the Queen egg than the rest, took Paryal off her appetite for touching the eggs any longer. She had been long enough at it anyhow, and now it was time to leave. She felt almost as if the eggs were dismissing her, telling her that she had done a fine job, but had to give up her position to those Candidates who had not been at it as long as she had. What time was it? Time seemed wholly irrelevant in the Hatching Grounds. It could have been a few minutes, or it could have been hours. Paryal was surprised to find herself slightly confused by that. There was no marker or indication to tell her until she moved back outside and looked up at the sun. She didn't like this not knowing- it was unusual for her, and quite annoying. It wasn't as if she could tell the eggs off though. Instead, the young woman just thinned her lips, turning on one boot heel, preparing to exit.

But wait. Why leave when a much better, a much more interesting, prospect caught her eye? The Weyrwoman and the bronzerider were still talking, both apparently nonchalant but poised. It would be interesting to get to know the woman who ran the Weyr better. It was already clear that she hadn't picked up on Paryal's mockery of her earlier (it was all a bit of fun, no harm meant), but there was something of the woman that said that would likely never happen again. You had to be intelligent to Impress a gold dragon, didn't you? You had to have something for the dragon to see you as its lifemate, especially the dragon that would one day lead the Weyr. Other girls would have been present for the Impression, girls who may have looked better suited. But Aslath had chosen Shmee, which meant that there was something beyond the appearance and flamboyant mannerisms of the young woman. It was all too intriguing. As for the bronze rider- well, he was rather handsome, wasn't he? Never one for casual flings, Paryal was none the less intrigued by his character. He was tolerating the Weyrwoman remarkably well, or at least it appeared so. He had patience then. Did he want into her bed? Was he just the typical bronze rider?

Questions crowding her mind, Paryal moved forward with her easy confidence, bowing once more to the Weyrwoman and bronzerider. "Thank you, and thank Aslath, for letting me touch the eggs. It was a wonderful experience." Unaware that there was subtle courtship going on, Paryal turned her impish grin on the bronzerider. "Hopefully I will see you again." Why not? She didn't truly want this man, and couldn't say if she ever would. Getting to know him seemed like a remote possibility, at least until her position in the Weyr was solidified with a full grown dragon, a female capable of Flight. Then it would be time for her to choose carefully who she wanted her life mate to be. Casual flings with men could be avoided easily. Paryal could influence her dragon as to what dragon to let catch her, and hope for the best. Whatever man she chose to let in her bed, however, would be one of her choice, not the Flight choice and lust that some brought upon themselves. Of course, neither of the pair that stood before her new Paryal's monogamous heart, and the game was all too tempting not to play.

"Where have you come from, bronzerider? As much as our Weyrwoman claims to know you, I do not think she does." Had they discussed this before? Turning her head to one side, Paryal watched them as curiously and with as much innocence as a little bird. There was a sharp mind beneath that blond head of hair, no matter how much people might try and deny it. Those who underestimated her would do well to watch out, for there was a hellion resting under the visage of a young Candidate.

"I feel as if I should get to know everyone I might be riding with in the future." Again there was that dazzling grin, almost completely lighting up a face that couldn't be called beautiful. Too much of her seemed slightly irregular- a crooked grin, a bumped nose, wide eyes, all set in a round face. Paryal had to rely heavily on her personality to make up for the lack of beauty, though she was the first to admit that she wasn't completely hideous either. That was besides the point, however. What mattered now was the Weyrwoman and the bronzerider, both representing a lifestyle that Paryal yearned for. Dragonriding!

[Administrator]

((Sorreh, Neeuq- I've already yelled at people for crowding the Eclipse Egg, and though your way of finding it is innocent, it would be unfair to let only you find it. xD I originally intended for nobody to notice that little cutie-patootie. xD))

It is reassuring to know, then, that you can produce healthy children in an age of failure, Aslath replied, not mocking, but more thoughtful. She was already beginning to look at bronzes, and it certainly helped to know that there was a good sire available- yet she was still going to look into different ones. She was not going to risk making herself choose a male before her Flight.

Shmee smiled wickedly, dazzlingly. "You don't need to waste your energy fighting the current," she purred, watching as S'rei pulled his gloves on. "Though I admit it would make the reward more worthwhile, I find that you are probably too impatient for such nonsense." She winked at him, and she heard a rumble come from Aslath. Irritation or amusement, Aslath wasn't sure, but Shmee pointedly ignored it.

At his statement, she grinned even more boldly. Perhaps her skill was working! she thought happily. "I will certainly strongly suggest times for you to come," she told him with a half-smile, "but I will not force you. I know you will be unable to resist it yourself. Besides-" She paused, and added airily, "I will not give up. I'm no quitter!"

It was true- this man was infuriating her in the way he wouldn't just succumb to her. Whereas she was usually the one to tease the men, it was now him who was playing hard-to-get. Roles had been reversed, it seemed. No matter- Shmee would get him in the end. But the way he was treating her with such indifference... it made Shmee feel rather indignant. Since when did people treat her in such a way?

Relax, mine, Aslath reassured, but Shmee's mind was already buzzing. Relax? How could she relax? She had to run a Hatching, watch out for all these weak eggs, make sure that the candidates didn't chew each other up, and get ready for Threadfall... Threadfall. While it excited Shmee, it also made her nervous. Soon, the Weyr would have another queen, and they could risk a queen's wing, meaning she would soon Fly against Thread. It was a frightening prospect, but Shmee dared not show it. After all, these riders fought it all the time, right?

It wasn't Aslath that snapped Shmee out of these thoughts- it was the candidate addressing her. Nodding absently, she shooed her with a hand. Then, more words hit her ears- was this candidate trying to take her bronzerider!? Furious, Shmee turned her cold eyes to Paryal.

"Candidate," she told her, emphasizing her rank, "We are currently talking. To interrupt a conversation- particularly between a Werywoman and a bronzerider- is unwise. Please exit the sands- isn't that what you were doing before?" Giving Paryal an angry look, she hinted with her eyes that this bronzerider was not to be messed with. Stupid girl! How dare she flirt with him right under her own nose? "And need I remind you, flirting as candidates- particularly so close to the Hatching- is strictly prohibited?" She narrowed her eyes, unaware how possessive she was being. No one just waltzed in here and took her bronzers!

Utterly irritated now, Shmee's thoughts flickered back and forth between her duties as a Weyrwoman. Couldn't she even enjoy men anymore without being bothered? She was trying to work out all these affairs, yet look at what she got for it! Soon, probably all the candidates would be taking her bronzeriders- and did they have to deal with sickly clutches and Threadfall? No, they did not! So who were they to take what she wanted?

((UGH I had such a better one written before my computer took it with it to its grave, but I figured a quick post is better than nothing at all. ><))

[neeuqtar]

((Oh. Oops...))

[Requiem]

No, he didn't doubt at all that Shmee wasn't a quitter. Neither, however, was S'rei, and he was a man who seldom changed his mind, either. Aside from Salenth's conquests, S'rei had chosen only two women, one of which turned out to be a mistake and the other dead. Neither was a flippant relationship. Neither was a matter of politics. One was yet recent enough to have kept him from even considering another, as he'd thought to spend many more turns with her in his arms. Sometimes he still awoke with the feeling that she lay beside him...The bronzerider shook off that train of thought stoically. It would take quite a woman - doubly so if she were one of the goldriders he so meticulously avoided getting close to - to break S'rei out of his self-enforced chastity.

There was really no substance to Shmee's claim that he was an impatient man. S'rei was sublimely patient. Particularly considering he would be content to accept that Sage was the only woman for him, and that he'd been doomed to solitude with her passing. He watched the approaching candidate, a small, polite smile on his features. She reminded him a bit of Kalierre, though not quite as pretty as the healer was. Amusement trickled into his gaze at her words, the playful tone awakening his own sense of mischief. He offered the girl a dazzling smile, as if to say that he would find himself looking forward to said meeting. As he most likely would, if she were typically so cheerful.

S'rei was not the sort to care about titles. If he had been, the demotion he'd suffered upon his return to Selenitas would have brought on complaint piled upon complaint. As it was, S'rei was secure in the knowledge that he would regain his position as Wingleader as soon as Salenth and his aptitudes were discovered. They were, after all, the secondmost senior bronzepair in the weyr, even if S'rei was about in the middle as far as age went amongst the bronzeriders. He wore the knots of a wingrider with the same pride as he'd worn a wingleader's knots, and the fact that this girl was a candidate did not perturb him. It was not in his nature to notice such things.

The bronzerider affected not to notice Shmee's outrage, throwing a wink at the candidate as he stated, in a tone that seemed to lend toward secrecy though it was obvious he fully intended the Weyrwoman to hear - "You must have misunderstood her, miss. I'm quite sure the Weyrwoman meant to say that she dearly wished to get to know me." His eyes skirted to the woman, grinning impishly at her. "It is not everyday that you meet a dragonpair that's spent time in all three weyrs." Thus the answer to her question.

His gaze then darkened, though it might have been a little bit of the acting that he'd seemed to have taken up in the last few minutes. One could never tell. "You insult me, my Lady. To think that a child could bewitch me with a few words..." The grays widened, as if struck by a sudden thought. "Surely you do not believe her wiles to be greater than your own?"

There was a certain pleasantness about his features, the bronzerider turning his attention back to the candidate. "Now you can't continue to call me bronzerider. Salenth's will do, as will Rei." The deliberate use of his personal moniker was a casual stab at the Weyrwoman. "And I certainly can't continue to call you miss." He cocked a brow at her inquiringly. "Truthfully, though, as I recall bronzeriders often claim female candidates when a gold egg lies on the sands. It is not at all unusual. In fact, were I a political man, I might just place my bets on you."

Oh, how he enjoyed riling up the goldrider at his side! Then, with what seemed a reluctant sigh, the bronzerider shrugged dismissively. "Alas, I have no interest in future goldriders. No candidate will share my furs tonight." It was a comment that could be interpreted two ways, and he let its ambiguity hang in the air. How wise is it, Mine, to play with the Weyrwoman so? Perhaps not much. I suspect it is about time that she feels what it's like to be on the other end of things, however. Maybe that will sober her in the future.

Humans, Salenth snorted. You never change, and yet you always try to change each other. What a waste of time.