Poor Choices [Kostya/Mentor Thread]

[Ruby]

Piden did not understand why anyone thought he should mentor... well, anyone. He spent a significant amount of time avoiding authority and shirking as much responsibility as possible (with the notable exception of creature care), and he thought he'd cultivated the kind of reputation that would get him immediately crossed off any list of potential mentor-ers on sight. Apparently not. He'd have to work on that, he decided; he'd have to make lots of trouble about this whole thing. Maybe sleeping with his mentee would do it. He knew who Kostya was, now, and Piden didn't object. The only problem, then, was spreading the rumor.

Red, whom Piden had come to regard as his personal conscience, stuck her head out of the Wherhandler's collar to shriek, BAD THOUGHT! in Piden's direction. Of course this set off Three, who hissed from his other shoulder and purposefully turned her back on Red and owner alike, and Shells (who had claimed Piden's head) who started chattering without cease: Should say Roiskteacher, Denden wish manatee, Denden want kiss, and mug, and do says things only big ufly want hear about! Denden gonna sesxing-

"Quiet, you idiot! " Piden shouted, grabbing the delighted lizard off his head. "Look, I'm calling Lust if you don't shut up, he said he'd straighten you out. Or Tira, and she'll be even worse. Now, are you going to be quiet while I -" ugh "- work?" Denden no call Lust, Denden inable call Lust, Shells sneered. "Can, and will. Get out of here, pest," Piden finished, dropping the Bronze from waist height so he had to flare his tiny wings to slow his fall. Widget, fat fugly widget... followed the creature down the hall. Piden sighed, tucking Red back out of sight and readjusting the pouting Three. How had he managed to impress three of these beasts?

This whole drama had happened just outside Kostya's door - luckily doors in the apartments were pretty thick and it was around 2 in the morning, so no one should be sleeping. Piden hadn't bothered to let Kostya know he was coming, but that drama should be warning enough for anyone if they weren't altogether decent. He was PRETTY sure he'd shouted Kostya's name at some point, or Shells had broadcasted enough that the Wherling could figure it out.... right? Either way, now was the time. The Bronzehandler knocked half-heartedly, shooting a quick question in Pidesk's direction: had Shells left the apartments? Pidesk, who had returned from hunting only a few minutes ago and told his Handler he'd wait at the entrance to the Wherhandler's complex confirmed that yes, the Bronze was elsewhere. Where was beyond him, however.

[rii]

He had only meant to stop by his room for a second or two to grab his belt knife when he had become distracted by.. his reflection. Without realizing it, Kostya became engrossed with trying to tease his hair to look it's best. Had even changed shirts to a more flattering long sleeved, collared shirt that went better when his frame. It was when the passing thought to find some black liner to make his eyes further stand out that Kostya's suddenly sneered at his reflection. His lids drooped in a lazy glare that he slide to the side onto his green wher perched on the end of his bed, intently watching. Spillover vanity from his beauty queen, how lovely. Kostya ran his fingers through his hair to pointedly give it a disheveled appearance.

How subtle of her. Kostya might have been amused that his wher was beginning to pick up on his more manipulative nature, but the fact that she was using it against him – working around the mental fences he put up to keep her separated from himself – irked him. Little vixen had figured how to open the gate and meld her mind to his without drawing immediate notice.

Voices outside his door. No, to be fair, the only voice outside his door belonged to Piden. Direction couldn't be determined when the other half of the conversation belonged to a nuisance worm. Seemed someone chose to have a little spat with their parasite right outside his door. Kostya paid it little mind, listening absently in the back of his mind while he paid more attention to the task of lacing up his boots.. until the knock interrupted his thoughts. Now that was curious, the lingering presence outside of the door was looking for.. ..must be Sayis. No one went actually looking for Kostya. The male made the habit of enjoying the company of those that didn't want him to be around – wouldn't make sense for one of them to be at his door knocking.

Mirage, gently prodded by her mindmate, lept off her perch on the corner of his dresser and disappeared between. She came back in to sight on the otherside of the door, awkwardly hovering with near translucent wings in front of Piden's face. She lighted on the end of the bronze handler's nose, cockeyed to blink clear lids up at the man. The image she sent to Kostya consisted of.. one green eye staring at her. ..A cyclops? Yes! The tiny white latched onto this description, plucking the information out of Kostya's mind to formulate a daring series of images consisting of a gigantic cyclops wedged in the hallway and looking to rip off their door and eat them all for snacks! Won't he eat you since you are out there? Silly hers, she was too small to eat. Their rather plump Konstask on the other hand..

Barking, Konstask slid off the side of the bed and approached the closed door in an elegant gait of her slender frame that resembled nothing of the bloated images Mirage shared. The green clawed impatiently at the wood. Open. Open it now. She would eat that little white pest. Mirage disappeared from the end of Piden's nose, appearing next to Kostya's shoulder to wiggle her way up his neck and face to claim her favored spot of half-curling around the side of his right eye to appear little more than a pale tattoo from afar. Her tale continued, adding in a brave Konstask eager to open the door to face the cyclops in battle. What fate would be in store for them all! To live, or to die gallantly in battle?

Konstask's head swiveled, growling up at her rider but being careful not to pounce on him to get at the salamandyr. Kostya grabbed the knob, swinging the door open – an action which prompted Mirage to share with all the dramatic apprehensive of possibly meeting a monster behind the door. Kostya lifted a brow at Piden, not addressing him at first and instead commenting to his white salamandyr. "Looks like he has two eyes to me." Mirage shared the image of one eye, then the other. One and One. She did not lie, the man did have one eye. She never said he didn't have two of them.

Now who was – Konstask supplied the answer; partially. He belonged to the bronze wher, her sire. "Denden," Kostya let the smile form on his lips, pale eyes brightening a touch with humor as the former conversation between man and salamandyr bubbled to the surface now that the wherling had a use for the information. "Kind of you to stop by," Quiet laughter danced behind the words. "Is your visit of the mentoring kind, or did you stop by looking for a kiss? I hate to disappoint you, but I'm afraid Marsayis is out for the latter.."

[Ruby]

Piden had gone to lean against the opposite wall after knocking, head cocked to one side. Sensibly, he was startled when something appeared in front of his nose, jerking backwards in self defense. He narrowly avoiding whacking his head against the wall of the corridor, but rubbed at it anyway while the tiny... bug? alighted on his nose and studied half of his extremely quizzical gaze. Momentarily it disappeared, and Piden shoved himself off the wall again, resigned to knocking one more time. That was it, though, if Kostya wasn't in the Wherling could find Piden on his own time. Maybe Piden would be conveniently busy.

But before he could make it, his knock was answered, and the door swung open to reveal Kostya and his Green, along with whatever little white bug the Wherling apparently insisted on keeping. Three nudged his chin, offering a cold Sibling as explanation. Oh, a tiny Salamandyr. Come to think of it, Red hadn't been much bigger than Mirage was now when she hatched. Made sense, then. "Nice doorbell," he commented, shoving his hands into his pockets as Three hissed gently, begrudging Mirage even sarcastic attention from Hers. "And yes, I generally assume that two eyes is a good look for me." No explanation was requested, or expected - as a fellow salamandyr owner, Piden knew it was often better not to ask. With worms, the explanation was generally worse than whatever you assumed they meant in the first place. Much better for the self-esteem to be left in the dark.

"Denden, yeah, whatever," Piden offered dismissively, hands still in pockets. You're an asshole, he sent silently to Shells, wherever the beast was. Sass-hall! Shells replied, obviously delighted with this new word. Piden could just feel him dancing off into the darkness, chanting SASS-HALL! SASS-HALLLLL!! at anyone who would listen. "You can also call me Piden, unless you plan to be hilariously ironic for the rest of our time together. I am, supposedly, mentoring you. I guess you've learned that I have two eyes. That's a good start, as far as I'm concerned," he added, glancing up through layers of stone to where Pidesk was waiting, more and more impatiently by the second. The information about Marsayis was ignored, for now, although Piden filed it away for future reference - the new Bluehandler could be an easy target. Always good to know.

Kostya, on the other hand, might take some work. At least he had a Green, so Piden could count on positive feelings from Pidesk that he could tap in to if necessary; so far, he wasn't sure if he and the Greenhandler would get along well, or not at all. All this thought about others was making Three restless, though, so Piden figured he'd better get on with it. "So come on, you look ready to go," Piden began, straightening up, his tone turning brisk and business-like. "Grab your arm band and we'll meet Pidesk at the upper entrance. I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing here, so if you have questions, shoot." With that, he turned towards Pidesk and lead Kostya up into the semi-darkness. It wasn't a long walk, and moments later Pidesk came into sight. Piden caressed his Bronze's head, scratching behind headknobs before Pidesk turned to Konstask, projecting happiness and greetings to his daughter, and offering his head for a nuzzle. Hello, little one.

[rii]

Kostya's eyes narrowed – a very faint motion of calculation as he intently observed Piden's reaction. Brisk, sharp words that sounded borderline hostile to the green handler's ears. The man's stance, of the hand shoved deep into pockets, translated to being uncomfortable. Kostya was quick to make the assumption that the last place Piden wanted to be was on the other side of his door. How. Delightful. The light haired wherling smiled at his mentor – a man that looked no older than himself, and barely a touch taller at that. If Piden was loathed to be there tonight.. then Kostya was more than content to prolong the suffering.

Fetching the armband, Kostya could only make guesses at why, Kostya stepped out into the hallway while shutting the door behind him. He followed along obediently enough, Konstask leading the way up front so that she would know their eyes would see her. Might as well play along – for now. Kostya didn't want to give Piden any form of excuse to duck out on the mentoring task so soon..

Konstask went along ahead, seeing and scenting Pidesk well before his brush of mind. Her graceful giant quicken to greet the bronze. Taking him up on the offer, Konstask rubbed the top of her head against the bottom of his jaw in passing. Her tail, a mind of it's own, curled along the bronze's flank before she moved to venture into the darkness. A lovely night – what would her sire be teaching her?

"Certainly, are you always going to be this charming?" Kostya mused lightly to his mentor. "Use your imagination. I'm sure in your turns of experience you can think of something of use to someone born in a hold." Such as how to block out his wher. Kostya didn't care to ask; convinced that he would have better luck figuring it out himself. The wherling stuck closer to his mentor, more out of need to know where they were doing in the growing dark. Trying to keep Konstask at bay, mentally, meant he didn't rely on her senses to guide him.

"Or," Kostya chimed in a feigned cheerful note. "if wher handlers are really worthless as the people say, then please let's not waste time pretending otherwise. Are you a native here?" Mirage, ever one to produce a story out of nothing, teased the two men with images of a green eye cyclops coming from the far mountains – ones that looked strangely like the ones Kostya remembered from his years traveling around the north. The little white presented her own question to Piden – in the image of a heard beast, wherry, then a fat-looking Konstasks – with this she tagged on the feeling of hungry. Which one did green eyed cyclops, such as himself, eat?

[Ruby]

Piden ignored Kostya's smile (he knew that look), breathing in through his nose as the Wherling went back for his arm band. Sharding Shells, putting him in a bad mood when all he wanted to do was get the mentoring over with as soon as possible, so he and Kostya could move on to other, more worthy pursuits. He had to relax, and Three's jealousy and Red's anxiety weren't helping. Three salamandyrs. Good Faranth. Someday, maybe, he could have fun again. It was looking like tonight was not the night - in Kostya's shoes, Piden would have spent the next few hours making life as miserable as possible for his mentor. Should be a fun night.

Konstask and Pidesk made him smile, though. The bronze returned her nuzzle enthusiastically, tail curling up at the end like a pleased feline's. Without even a glance at his handler, Pidesk followed his daughter out into the night, ambling along to one side of Konstask. There was nothing specific to learn, tonight, he assured the Green at his side, just exploring the Weyr, learning where good hunting was, where wild Whers' territory began and ended. Theirs would be talking, mostly, so they would be free to lead the way, and Pidesk would defer to Konstask. He would show her anything she wanted to know about.

Slipping his own red eye-marked band over his bicep, Piden ambled after the Whers, tapping in to Pidesk's memories of the terrain to avoid tripping. Luckily for Kostya the moon was full tonight, dappling the jungle floor and making at least some of the way visible to those who weren't used to seeing at night. Glancing at Kostya to see if the Wherling was doing alright, Piden grumbled, "I'm always charming," his tone sarcastically rough. Returning to a more normal pattern of speaking, he started answering Kostya's questions. "I was born in a hold, too, and I never had a mentor, so..." he let it trail off, trying to think of things he wished someone had told him, way back when. Probably that it was likely that all his friends would die, but that didn't seem like a good way to start a conversation.

He tapped his left index finger with his right fingertip, counting. "Well, we're not worthless, to start with. Don't get me wrong, if I had my way we'd be just as useless as everyone says, but Pidesk and some other pairs are dead-set against it. People just don't see us, so they assume we do nothing. Number two" he absently tapped a second finger, "You'll cover in Wherling lessons, but Roi probably won't do it justice - Wher runs are just as all-consuming as Dragon flights, which is disturbing to some people, but was never a problem for me. Get used to the idea that you could end up in bed with your least favorite person ever, or someone three times your age. I often find it hilarious," he added. A third finger, "If you're having trouble with your bond, for Faranth's sake, tell someone, or you'll end up in a world of trouble. Pidesk doesn't have a nasty bone in his body, but if I'm not careful I end up saying stupid things that get me in to trouble, and that's the least of your possible bond-issues." Considering for a moment, the Bronzehandler picked up the pace, catching up to the faster-moving Whers. "I think that's all the mentoring I've got in me, unless you have something specific. And no, I'm a native Southerner, but not a Weyr native. Sometimes I eat salamandyrs for breakfast," he added, off-hand. "'s why I keep so many around."

[rii]

Oh but she wanted to learn something, Konstask appealed herself to Pidesk – dwarfed in sized along side his full-grown length – as she trotted along. Knowing Pidesk attention was on her, Konstask increased her pace a few strides to turn and pounce on movement in the grass. When she lifted her paws, though, nothing was there to reward her actions. Not that it mattered. Tail curling expressively above her, Konstask looked back at her sire for his reaction. Perhaps, she ventured to the bronze, he could teach her something that none of her other siblings would know.

Kostya tied the band over his own bicep, wondering the purpose but finding the question meaningless and a waste of thought to voice out loud. The only stupid question was the one not asked – mm, right, that didn't erase the fact that little persistent questions were annoying. On second though, Kostya toyed with the idea that annoying Piden was part of the whole point of playing along. The wherling's head tilted to the other side in his internal debate. Alas, he fancied himself having more tact in irritating people than stringing together pointless questions.

The smile he gave the red-head was pleasant, if the look in his eyes was a touch challenging. Always charming? Prove it. Patiently he listened to Piden's form of lesson – mentally taking little notes that had absolutely nothing to do with what Piden was saying. It was in Kostya's analyzing nature to pick apart a person's tone and choice in words – the paralanguage. To say the least, it fascinated Kostya to study other people.

An eyebrow arched, "Perhaps not uncomfortable from bronze's perspective. What about from a green's.." The question was asked with a directed look at the green salamandyr that lingered with Piden. The only thing that truly bothered Kostya about having his little vixen was the little detail that one day she would run, taking him with her. The blond was doing well to appeal her to the whers that had female handlers just for that particular reason. Privately he'd admit that waking up in a bed with someone that hated him.. made him smile.

"And elaborate what defines as problems," Kostya made a rolling motion with his hand to suggest there was a hidden list somewhere in Piden's words. "The whole issue of having multiple minds inside my own is a problem of it's own." Mirage changed her mental images accordingly: A red-headed green-eyed Cyclops sitting amongst the much shorter trees of the Jungle and munching on a salmandyr that looked suspiciously (and purposely) like Three. Kostya flicked his fingers in emphasis at his white salamandyr 'tattoo'. "Case in point."

[Ruby]

She was so young, she must be learning things every day! Pidesk touched that thought with gentle humor, dipping his head in approval when she pounced. Good start, but it was easier if you stalked, first. Crouching low in the grass, the Bronze held perfectly still, heat-gaze on the mouse Konstask had startled. He counted down with flicks of his tail tip: Three, two, one... and pounced. With a tiny squeal, the mouse flailed under his paw, tail thrashing. Just like that, Pidesk offered to Konstask. Sneaky and slow. And now it was her turn! He let the creature go, tracking it off across the field but making no move to catch it again, as much as the crunch of it's bones seemed appealing. He could catch another one, that one was Konstask's.

Piden stopped when Pidesk did, lounging against a tree. Now that he felt like he'd done something he was a little more comfortable, and was relaxing accordingly. Three hissed venomously at Kostya when he looked at her - She knew what he was insinuating. Piden knew, too. "Three's still too young to run, but Red has." The tiny green poked her head out at her name, then immediately panicked and pulled it back inside Piden's collar. "She picked a Firelizard but I still ended up with a partner. Good all around, as far as I'm concerned." Pausing to re-align his bangs, Piden went on, "I suppose it is different when you've got a male attached to you, though. A lot less satisfying, I would imagine... at least a Green means you'll have someone in your bed at the end of it, and you usually get at least a little bit of a choice. Even if it will be Konstask choosing for you. I didn't have a preference, with Red, but I feel like she would have paid attention if I had any strong feelings. Lots of pent-up sexual frustration with a male, though. It's hard to find a Flightmoth this late at night." A slight grimace accompanied that statement.

Pidesk snorted in His' direction, sending feelings that translated loosely to 'As if you don't get enough action' and not bothering to shield his thoughts from anyone but Konstask. She was far too young for that sort of explicit talk, and she was also his daughter. Most Whers probably would have forgotten that by now, and Pidesk certainly would before his babies were mature, but for now his strong parental instincts remained. Crouching low again, he pounced - this time on Konstask, although he was as gentle as he could be. She could learn to wrestle, if she wanted!

Three obviously ignored Mirage, turning on Piden's shoulder so her behind faced the White's direction. Piden ignored the Salamandyrs after shooting Childish in the Green's direction. "Problems. Well, first of all, what's your full name? Can't be Kostya if her name is Konst-. How close you are to your Wher has a lot to do with it. Me and Pidesk are about as close as can be - our bond would only be stronger if he'd named himself Pidensk. As a result, he's got a lot more access to my mind, mostly on a kind of unconcious plane. He affects me without my even knowing it. You've got to learn to recognize that if you want to stop it, although for me it isn't usually a problem. I am, for instance, not even remotely attracted to you right now because you are half Konstask, and Konstask is Pidesk's daughter. Pidesk's thoughts leaking over make me associate you with family, and that is just so creepy. If Yoalla and Yosk were in this position, though, I doubt Yoalla would notice any difference at all. Since I know it is from him, though, I can identify the feeling and suppress it... like... so." He blinked once at Kostya, then let a slow, faintly predatory smile come over his face. "It's mainly a question of mental force of will, and of being aware of what comes from your Wher, and what comes from you. It's easiest if you can find the 'place' where Konstask exists in your mind - once you know where it is, it's easier to identify what is hers and what is yours. Everyone has their own methods for figuring it out, though."

[rii]

Stalking, hm. Konstask forked tail waved behind her, ticking back and forth against the grass as she studied her sire's movements. Her earnest approach to learning may have been spurred on her sense of pride, desiring to be the best, but even having less than pure motives didn't diminish her ability to take in something fully to learn from it. Pulling back on the urge to chase the small movement darting through the grass, Konstask sank her lithe frame against the ground.

Clawed feet even with the ground she edged forward. What she couldn't stop was the constant flicking her long tail. Built up excitement expressed itself in the way the limb-like extremity slashed through the tall grass. This alerted the mouse enough to run before she got close enough for a pouce. This time darting down it's hole. Konstask let out a irritable huff, resting her weight against the ground as she glared at the vanishing heat trail left in the creature's wake..

She was just turning to question Pidesk about what she had done wrong when the bronze tackled her. Growling (playfully), Konstask rolled over onto her back with the motion. Back legs kicking lightly at Pidesk's underbelly as she wrapped her front legs around his one. She gnawed harmlessly at the limb in her grasp. Anything he had to teach, she would learn. She often wrestled with Tekivisk – was there a better way to wrestle and win?

Tomaytoe, tomahtoe. Kostya narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully in relaxed demeanor as he listened to Piden's words. It wasn't the answer he was looking for, but interesting none the less. "In short, you don't really care as long as someone's in your bed." The wherling effected a playful hum. It would seem he would just have to wait for Konstask to mature and actually run to get an idea of what it would be like bonded to a green. The notion of wanting people to pursue him was entirely foreign. He was too much of a hunter to ever reverse the role.

"Konstantin," A simple reply. It sounded ridiculous that the strength of a bond between a person and a wher was determined by how much of name they adopted. Kosk would have been so much easier to work his tongue around. "I do try to block her out, but she's proved able to sneak around mental barriers with subtle influences."

Kostya might have commented more, if not turning his eyes off the whers and onto Piden in response to the trailing words. The smile was easily recognized for what it was worth paired with the former line of conversation. Kostya let the corner of his lips brieftly pull in a smirk. Felt vaguely aggressive in response to the simple, border line flirtatious facial expression. A wolf meeting another predator that contested for the same territory. Still, he was suppose to be the little greenie, wasn't he.

"A good thing, I suppose. Konstask is much too young to be dealing with such possible attractions." He had the disgusting urge to bat his eyes, instead settling with a challenging smile. There also existed in him the urge to flick Three's little behind to see her go splat – but that thought was tacked on to the laughter he felt coming from Mirage. "How about.. you just go ahead and teach me all these basics because classes are much too slow for my liking. Such as this walking around in the dark bit.."