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Malina was breathless with excitement, a jumble of awkward, coltish limbs as she scampered after a much more collected Bonth. "We're going flying today, Bonth!" Yes, Malina. I know. I told you so, remember? the dragonet informed her rider patiently. They were senior Weyrlings now, and Bonth at least was quite proud of that fact. There had been no question of attending every single lesson available, and learning as much as possible. They had had to, because it was what the Green wanted. What she needed. "I know, I know. You told me. I remember." Mali felt a little sheepish, but no less excited.

This was something that she could become good at! Perhaps in the air, she would be far more graceful than on the ground? She knew that was true of the sea. In the water, Malina could be graceful. "I know you told me, but... it's still exciting, isn't it?" And of course, Bonth had to concede that it was an exciting occasion, though she herself did not seem terribly moved by it. Bonth had a certain... restraint where emotions were concerned. For reasons beyond Malina's comprehension, she didn't seem to like being seen to admit to liking much of anything, or having strong feelings in general.

Of course, it had never occurred to the girl that those "strong feelings" that she experienced were childish ones. Did the Green believe them to be beneath her? Perhaps? "Moira?" That blur had to be Moira, and Serlaith. Feeling suddenly shy, she lagged a little behind Bonth, until the Green abruptly pushed her forward, shoving her gently toward the others. "Is something wrong with Ofelia?" Oh no. From the sounds of things, something was wrong? Oh no! Not today! "Ofie, wake up, you can't miss this lesson." A little bit of her shyness was remedied by the pressing need to help.

Oh! Ofelia was awake. "You're okay?" she inquired anxiously, hovering a bit on the outskirts of the little gathering. They hadn't even made it to the lesson, and already there was trouble with falling! That did not bode well for the occasion, did it? Ofelia had said that her head hurt. "Is it... does it hurt a lot?" She had at least a little training as a healer, after all, as useless as she had been in practice. But then, they all knew a bit of first aid, or so she thought. What she needs, Bonth told her rider with exaggerated patience, is space. Dutifully, Mali backed away.

“There, good. Here, do something with her, Moria.” He was quick to leave Ofelia’s wobbly balance in the queenrider’s hands.

It was all people, V’al had to decide. He was often tempted to critique women’s tendency for hysteria, their absurd abundance of emotion they couldn’t seem to control, but S’kor’s attempt to draw the Candidatemaster over was just as vexing as the panicking from the women clustered around the scene. Ofelia was coming around just fine, and thankfully without the notice of O’rer, who would likely have kept her groundbound for at least several days. He imagined Ofelia would have likely broken that rule, and the following nonsense from just this one moment would have been the talk of the weyr for some weeks.

Foolishness. Once Ofelia was on her feet he gave the most exasperated, hopeless sigh a young man of fifteen could manage, and stepped back very quickly. Lerath, sensing his rider’s aggravated nerves, have a sedate rumble as V’al went to stand betwixt the blue’s heavy legs (where there was some safety from the angry crimson at least). Really, if he felt responsible for others, he would have chided the crimson directly for injuring her own rider that way. She’d caused her own problem, but V’al counseled himself to silence and pressed a palm against his forehead.

Lerath slowly lowered his wing and snaked his head around to eye the group with a whirling, curious eye. That was quite a bit of action.

“Completely unnecessary,” was V’al’s verbal comment, and he shook his head at the heavens.

V’al, still shaking his head, gave O’rer half an ear before gathering up his gear. He had tried this a few times with Lerath, but usually the blue was off in the air avoiding such exercises and he hoped the lack of practice wouldn’t affect his performance too much.

Lerath, however, was not a dragon to miss much of anything. That belt on my side it wrong. The cinch should not be dangling over my leg. he told His crisply, not even bothering to look back. He had a highly unusual memory for a dragon, especially for the youth of a ‘lower’ color, and he was proud of his distinguishing ability. He enjoyed remembering as much as flying, and while V’al corrected some slight error with the saddle, he remembered something else important. Serlaith has an idea… By the time Lerath had explained himself to V’al, his rider’s expression was a carefully blank mask. He stepped back from the saddle for O’rer’s inspection with a bit more smugness than he could have earned from a well-buckled strap however. While waiting for the Candidatemaster’s inspection, he passed a thoughtful look to Moria.

Ofie.

Not now.

...you're bleeding on me. Nose blood

As if ya can see the blood on yer hide. Jus' shut up, I'mma finish this quickly.

There was a pause as Ofelia felt herself sway, supported only by the bulk of her lifemate against her shoulder. As hard as it was for Ofelia to stand she was having no problems at all when it came to putting the leathers on, her hands working without her brain even having to tell her what to do.

Ofelia knew leather, more specifically these riding leathers that she'd made herself, so her hands knew every inch of them. Every crease from where a buckle had sat to be pulled tight called to her, alerting her to the correct place that they needed to be set, and without so much as blinking or even opening her eyes the tanner managed to get much of her dragon done.

Your nose is still bleeding.

Your face is a nose bleed.

. . . That was horribly sad.

Is he always like this? Daroth asked N'ymi quietly. The blue held still as she moved about him, placing the leathers on what she hoped was the right way. He ducked his head and watched as Lerath and the others started work on theirs riding straps.

N'ymi merely shrugged, taking the Candidate Master's tongue lashing without batting an eye. As a former creche worker, his foul mood and tongue was not the worst she had to deal with but he was the man in charge. And if they ever wanted to fly, they would have to do as he said. "Who kno's? 'e culd be puttin' a sho'. 'is green seems 'appy enuf."

Climbing down, she tightened the straps under his arms and then waited to see if it was right.

Edit for roll: Daroth looked down and her and stretched out. He tried to look underneath himself. Something is sticking me.

Growling to herself, N'ymi went back to her dragon to see what she had missed or messed up. "I gotcha, Dar."

At least they were not the only ones having trouble though Daroth did not like not getting it right the first time and N'ymi quietly agreed with him. The blue spread himself out so she could find what was poking or pinching his underside. The rest seemed to be okay. Hurry Nasuymi before Hitath's comes and yells some more.

Daroth may not want to get yelled at but Nymi went through each motion again, checking to see what she might have missed. Ah ha! A buckle and one loop done the wrong way. Undoing her mess, she worked on it again. "Howzit feel now?"

EDIT FOR ROLL: Still not right. Now my other side pinches. Take it all off and try again? Daroth suggested, bending down low. The blue spread his wings slightly, showing off their bright pattern.

Cursing a little louder now but still nothing that could be heard, N'ymi completely took the straps off to try again. She had paid very close attention when they talked about straps and when the Weyrling Master had shown them on his dragon. Okay. Over and under, loop deh loop. "'nother try, then."

N'ymi looked over to see her bunk mate, Malina getting frustrated. She wasn't too happy with the straps either but if a scene was made, O'rer would be on them like flies on dung. Actually making conversation, she moved towards Daroth's backside and hissed over to Malina. "Dun worry. Take it slow an' try teh follow wot I do. I a'most got it. Tis teh las' strap actin' screwy."

Never hurt to look good for the ladies or someone smaller than him, Daroth carefully moved so that the pair could see what he and Nasuymi were doing. Don't worry Bonth. We will help you.

Giving a slight smile, N'ymi went through the motions again, this time hoping for the right result.

EDIT FOR ROLL: See Bonth, move your wing and leg so the straps can go under and around. Nasuymi, you got it! No pinching this time. Daroth puffed up a little bit.

Laughing, she gave the blue a slap on the leg. Turning, she ran her hand through her short hair and moved back so Malina could see what she did. "Ya thin' ya got it?"

Ofelia couldn't help but notice how piss-poor some of the others were doing, more specifically Malina. Now, Ofelia wasn't that close to the Greenrider since they hadn't spent much time together, but that didn't mean she didn't like the girl plenty well enough to try and give her a hand in rigging her leathers. It was important to know the motions since eventually new leathers were needed, but for now getting the feel of the creases would work too.

Stay 'ere, I'mma go an' help out Mali.

Do as you please. You're still bleeding though.

'ush yer beak.

With the certainty that O'rer wasn't watching Ofelia walked (read: stumbled) her way over to where Malina struggled with N'ymi at her side. Quietly ushering the Bluerider to the side the Crimsonrider took Malina's hands in her own and placed them on the cinkles in the leather, showing her what she needed to feel for. She'd have been more than glad to actually leather up the Green for her friend but that was defeating the purpose.

"Now ya give it a try an' if ya can feel the crinkles ya did it wrong. The buckles should be sittin' on them, not yer hands."