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E'lai managed to find some tubers to roast, and it was some time before the food was finally prepared and the two could sit down with heaping plates of food. "We may have made a bit too much," E'lai said, but he figured at least as far as the meat went Mossy would no doubt be grabbing bites from whomever she could get to feed her.

You like that little flitty creature more than me, don't you. Eltimioth's mournful mental voice was almost comical--honestly he'd expected her to protest long before now. She must have been preoccupied by something else, E'lai mused.

That's not true and you know it, silly, he told her, his eyes unfocusing as riders were wont to do when speaking with their dragons.

You want one of them though! She sounded affronted now.

I'm sure you could think of good uses to put a firelizard to, E'lai suggested practically. It could dart off for seashells at a moment's notice, find shiny bits for you...

Maybe, the green allowed grudgingly. E'lai could tell the idea intrigued her though.

"She could probably help," E'lai confirmed. Feel like a snack? he asked his dragon.

Certainly. I would also like to meet this Candidate as well.

You know you're not allowed to speak to any of them, he warned and he could feel Eltimioth's displeasure at the reminder of the orders imposed on her.

I can't disobey my Queen, she said grumpily. E'lai had to chuckle slightly at her tone.

"She'll be by when we're finished," the rider added aloud as he continued to eat.

Though Gabriel's efforts to play it cool were noted, E'lai could tell the girl must be excited--he remembered what it was like, after all. He ate quicker as well, because he knew Eltimioth wouldn't resist a chance to show off in a case like this and he knew she'd appreciate it if he didn't linger over food when she was waiting to make an entrance.

After they'd both eaten their fill, E'lai put the leftovers on his used plate. Ready? he asked.

Just outside the mess and looking fabulous, the green teased. He didn't doubt it. As they headed out the mess hall, he gestured Gabriel over and swung his arm out in presentation.

"Gabriel, meet Eltimioth," he said. The green was lounging while also carefully posed to present her best features, like her forelegs with their bracelet-markings and her ringed tail curled around the rest of her, eyes whirling a contented green.

Gabriel's praise of Eltimioth had E'lai breaking into a true grin for the first time this afternoon--he absolutely agreed with her. He was very lucky to have Eltimioth, and the green's presence in moments like this only served to remind him of that.

She better have heard only nice things, Eltimioth said pointedly.

I may have alluded you were an attention hog, and you're only proving me right, E'lai told her with a light chuckle.

At least she does not appear to remember your rudeness, Eltimioth said with a little affronted sniff, tail twitching. She craned her neck forward to get a better look at the little firelizard. I'm prettier than it, she concluded with a whuffing noise.

There was never a competition, E'lai returned, bemused. "You can get closer if you like," he added aloud. "Eltimioth's very friendly."

"About five years now--I Impressed at fourteen," E'lai said, moving to pat Eltimioth's side. "Most of the people in my wing Impressed older though, it doesn't really matter when you Impress." And it could be awkward, being younger--that first Flight had been something, as he was still young enough to be completely inexperienced before he Impressed and sexual activity wasn't encouraged until your dragon matured.

Eltimioth was a little bit charmed by the firelizard--she'd never "spoken" to one before (and for Eltimioth, that said something). Yes, little one, like them. But I am better looking. She felt that was something that needed to be established.

"I certainly will wish you luck," E'lai said with a smile. Even if she didn't Impress this Turn, he had the feeling she was perseverant enough to not give up. That wasn't a bad trait to have at all.

Eltimioth considered the flit closely once again. You are pretty as well. But I am two pretties. She was growing rather warmly fond of the idea of a little firelizard minion the more she conversed with this one.

"She doesn't mind at all," E'lai said with a chuckle. "She's very much a people sort of dragon." He was incredibly amused by Eltimioth's side of the conversation with the firelizard, and could guess where it was going. "It's actually caused some trouble in the past; she's had to be told she can't just talk to everyone."

No. You are pretty--I am prettypretty. Prettier. You understand? Eltimioth was almost stern as she attempted to reason this through with the flit.