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J'nes raised an eyebrow, but he looked amused nonetheless. "Well, if she's playing matchmaker, I may as well oblige her by giving this match a shot," he replied. "I'd suggest we go get something to eat while we wait for them to finish, but I doubt people would like us walking into the dining hall while this wet. Shall we find a sunny spot so sit down and dry off in, instead?"

When Hyweth moved in close and nuzzled him, Hatteth initially thought he was trying to push him over. But she didn't nudge him nearly hard enough for that. He was puzzled at the gesture, but decided it couldn't possibly mean what he thought it might. He was nothing special, and she must be teasing him. He splashed back, somewhat less enthusiastically now. He didn't like being teased.

J'nes smiled back at her, then realized he was still holding her hand. He considered the joined hands for a moment, then shrugged and didn't let go. Tugging on her hand, he led her away from the water to a grassy spot about half a dragonlength away, which had a clear view of most of the lake as well as plenty of sun. "Does this spot look good to you?" He asked J'len.

Hatteth half-heartedly flicked his tail at Hyweth, sprinkling her lightly with water drops. Tired? Not really. But also not quite having fun any more. Splashing is only fun for so long, he said after a moment. I'd rather swim now. Then he dove deep into the lake, far enough down that he kicked up clouds of silty mud along the bottom of the lake. That would require more scrubbing to get off, so he swam a little bit higher to stay above the worst of it, but not much.

J'nes looked over at the lake as well. In the few moments he'd been turned away, Hatteth had disappeared from view and Hyweth was just standing there. After a moment she came to shore and curled up, in a pose that was clearly not happy. There wasn't anything else to see, so J'nes sat down, tugging on J'len's hand lightly in case she would like to sit too. But he asked his dragon, Hatteth, what happened?

The brown was cruising along the bottom of the lake, wondering about Hwyeth's answer. She'd sounded unhappy. Why did she sound unhappy? Had he been wrong about her teasing him? Surely she didn't really mean it, but maybe she was just being friendly or something? At J'nes's question, he answered, She was teasing me and I didn't like it. Then after a pause he added in a quieter tone, At least I think she was teasing me.

"Ah," J'nes said. "Whatever Hyweth said or did, Hatteth thought she was teasing him. Sounds like he's not sure about that now, though."

J'nes didn't understand what exactly caused this reaction either. But he figured the best way to find out what happened was to ask. Hatteth, what exactly did Hyweth do that seemed like teasing?

Well...she nudged me, he replied, somewhat evasively. Though J'nes couldn't see it, he had a feeling (and rightly so) that Hatteth was doing the underwater equivalent of squirming uncomfortably.

Nudging doesn't sound like a tease to me, the rider said. Did she do something else as well? Or did she nudge you in a certain way? His tone was patient but insistent, the tone he had always used with his younger siblings to let them know he wasn't going to yell or make a fuss, but he would keep asking them until they told the truth.

...It might have been more of a nuzzle, Hatteth admitted slowly. But it couldn't have been. No green has ever even looked twice at me. I'm too plain.

J'nes started to chuckle. "It's an old issue," he explained to J'len before she could ask. "Hatteth doesn't think a female could ever like him. She nuzzled him," he added to make the situation more clear.

J'nes smiled at J'len with a slightly amused twist to his mouth. "Well in my case, I'm afraid there was a bit of coercion involved," he said in grave tone, which could not quite be taken seriously in light of the smile that lingered on his lips and in his eyes. "When a dragon makes it clear that she wants you with her rider, it would not be wise to disagree."

But to Hatteth he said, Haven't you considered that maybe she did mean it for what it usually means?

Hyweth paused for only a very short moment before saying, Why would she? I'm not--

Maybe she doesn't care what you look like, J'nes interrupted. Some women care more about who you are inside than outside. There was no immediate response from Hatteth, which J'nes took to mean his dragon was at least considering the idea.

A moment later Hatteth rose to the surface of the lake and looked over at Hyweth. He didn't say anything, but he didn't leave, either.

"Obedient I am," J'nes agreed. "I live to serve!" he declared, standing up and bowing elaborately to J'len. He looked over to the dragons, saw they seemed to be getting along again, and decided they would be at it for a while and didn't need their riders about. "And dinner sounds like a marvelous idea. Shall your humble servant escort you to the dining hall?" he offered, holding out a hand to help her up.

Hatteth watched her approach, still not entirely sure of what she was doing. When she reached out to nuzzle him again, he tucked his head down a little and pulled back very slightly in a kind of flinch, but he let her touch him. After a moment he said, Swimming would be nice. Then after a longer pause, he added ...Perhaps now? Then, very slowly, he reached out his head so this his snout just barely touched her. It wasn't much like a nuzzle, more of a tap or a poke, but the intention was clear. Then he flicked a wing to lightly splash her before diving back into the water, looking over to see if she followed.

J'nes smiled she she took his hand. "I think it's an old figure of speech, and doesn't necessarily involve anyone serving anyone. In any case, let's be off" he said, starting to walk with her to the dining hall. "It will be a pleasure having dinner with you."

Hatteth returned the splash with one of his own. Yes, splashing is fun again, he answered. The bath was long forgotten, and he barely noticed that His and Hyweth's had gone off somewhere. He was having too much fun.