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 Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:33 am
L'thor shook the hand gladly, but he refrained from spitting on his palm as his uncle had always insisted on doing; ew! L'thor was not a squeamish person by nature, but that didn't mean he liked the idea of getting some other person's spit on his hand, or that he wanted to inflict his own upon somebody he'd just struck a deal with.
"Oh yes, flights," L'thor glanced over at his lifemate, who contrived to look innocent. "She's due for one, a bit overdue actually," the lithe rider said with a grin. "I suppose the stress of moving has put her a bit off schedule. Still, you can expect to see her whizzing through the skies in a sevenday or so I expect. I suppose that'll give me a chance to make new friends," he observed with a chuckle, "a new friend at any rate. Well, provided whoever it is doesn't freak out about waking up with a man in any case." Flights were of course only flights, but some men and indeed some women still found it 'squicky' to know they'd had rather intimate relations with a member of the sex they weren't attracted to.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:48 am
Well, this was awkward. Daeluin had to retract her palm with a forced smile, pretending to casually wipe off her palm on her pants. She sighed. It really wasn't gross, especially not since it was close to second nature to seal a deal in such a way. She had her suspicions now, about L'thor being raised as a trader, if he was against closing out the deal traditionally. She shrugged. Oh well, no big deal really.
Daeluin turned her head back and looked over her shoulder to look at Raith, scrutinizing the green to see if she was vibrant or glowing. No offense to the green rider, but Daeluin didn't want to be anywhere close to him when Raith rose. She'd prefer to keep her pants on, thank you very much. She wasn't even sure if L'thor would be interested in her; were riders only attracted to the rider who caught their dragon? Or was it just a broadly-based affection that could be turned on anyone? Daeluin wasn't sure she wanted to know, so she didn't ask.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:16 am
Perhaps he should have reciprocated. Ah well, he was sure it wouldn't be a big deal to her. He hoped it wasn't in any case. Suddenly he was worried about that, and annoyed with himself for being worried; he was L'thor! Mister confidence!... But he didn't have many friends here yet, and that had been a bit of a glassy smile. He didn't want to lose Lulu's esteem so soon after acquiring it.
"Oh dear," Raith sighed and nudged her rider, "you are a silly beast. Let me fix it for you." Twisting her supple neck around, the green extended her head slowly towards Lulu so as not to seem threatening and once she was close enough she carefully extended her tongue and licked the back of the girl's hand.
"Don't mind him," she said privately to the young female, feeling that it was worthwhile speaking to her, "Mine is a fastidious beast, and a long time away from other Traders. He meant no offense to you, and now he's worrying but don't tell him I told you so!" It would probably be obvious to L'thor that she had spoken to Lulu, but he didn't need to know that she'd told the other human he'd been fretting like a silly beast.
Well, maybe a lick would substitute for some spit, he hoped so. Giving Lulu an abashed smile, he stroked his lifemate's shoulder in appreciation; there she went again, saving him from being too badly shown up by impulsive actions.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:06 am
Daeluin had forgotten all about it, really. It wasn't anything bad, that L'thor hadn't returned her gesture. She was over it! So, it came as a slight surprise when Raith reached around to lick her on the cheek. What was that for? WHOA. A dragon's tongue felt kind of.. scratchy, almost like a cat's! Daeluin was given another surprise, though, an even bigger one. Well, actually.. to say that she was surprised might be an understatement.
An awareness unlike anything she'd ever felt flooded her mind, reaching out to reassure her. Raith's words were soothing, like a friendly pat on the shoulder after a warm hug. She wanted to heed Raith's words, but she was sure she looked pretty awestruck. Eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.. Yeah, there was really no hiding that from a dragon rider. But, what did Raith expect? A dragon had never spoken to Daeluin before, so it was no surprise that she had been caught off guard.
But, the green was reassuring. "Don't worry about it," she said to L'thor, her voice quiet and a bit hoarse. She reached down to stroke Tiki's sleeping form, in an attempt to keep her focus off L'thor. Maybe he wouldn't notice how.. weird she was acting?
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:17 am
"...Raith dear?"
The sleek green tilted her head. "Yes L'thorMine?"
"What did you say to her?" There was no doubt that she had spoken to Lulu, but the blasted beast wasn't letting him know what she'd said.
"Oh, just that you hadn't meant offense," Raith assured him mildly, "You don't mind do you?"
"Well, no, of course not... Thanks." He wasn't quite sure he believed her, but he was willing to take his lifemate at her word all the same. "I hope she didn't shock you too much," he said to Lulu with an embarrassed grin, "she tends to jump in and smooth over my mistakes, but not all that often with humans. I hope she didn't say anything too embarrassing about me, she's not letting me know quite what it was, bust I suppose everyone is entitled to their little secrets... She must really like you to have spoken up," he added, his confident smile returning, "I'm pretty sure she's be happy to do you any favour now, and I would be too, so if you ever want a ride somewhere let us know, eh?" Raith's decision to speak to the girl was the final nudge he needed to properly relax; she was a good friend now, and he would feel happy sharing more about himself if personal topics came up.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:44 am
Daeluin missed the exchange between rider and dragon, so entranced was she by Tiki. She wore a small smile on her face; she hadn't been impacted negatively by Raith speaking to her. Oh, quite the contrary! Daeluin was quite pleased with herself, and a little proud. It was quite the judge of character when a dragon chose to spoke to you; they rarely spoke to anyone but their riders!
She was stolen away from being absorbed with Tiki; L'thor asked her something. Oh, right! what had Raith said? "She didn't say anything bad about you, my word on that," she reassured the green rider with a small smile. "She was very nice, and very sweet," Daeluin reached up to pat the green on her flank. she felt comfortable enough to do that, now. If Raith could show some faith and trust, then so could she! "It wasn't a shock, not in a bad way at least. I mean, I've never been spoken to by a dragon before, so it was a bit of a surprise, but.. yeah," Daeluin's words failed her and she shrugged, laughing at herself.
"Really? You wouldn't mind?" Daeluin was a bit taken aback at their offer, it did seem a bit much. To be a chauffeur, Lulu couldn't imagine that it was all that exciting or pleasant. Well, maybe the traveling part.. but not carting people around. "Thank you," she said quietly, but didn't plan on taking them up on the offer. "If there's anything I can do for you, too, let me know!"
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:07 am
"I certainly shall," L'thor replied with a broad grin, "we of Trader stock know how to exchange favours according to our needs and resources! In any case, Raith and I love to see new places." Going new places of course involved going to the nearest spot they knew and then flying the rest of the way, but they didn't mind that; they loved to fly! Raith liked to show off too, but L'thor discouraged her from being too adventurous when they had passengers; it was nigh on impossible to ride a zig-zagging green comfortably unless you were bonded to her and knew which way she was going to dive next.
"I was shocked the first time a dragon spoke to me too," L'thor chuckled as he returned to the previous topic of conversation. "My best friend back at Ista Impressed in the clutch before me, his Xerrineth is chatty as far as dragons go, very sweet, but quite annoying after a while; always asking questions." He missed V'kain and his chatty dragon greatly, he had the afternoon off the next day so he would find the time to go and catch up with them. Maybe he could yet persuade V'kain to move here; anything was possible.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:34 am
Daeluin's expression brightened with a wide grin that is what traders knew how to do best, exchange favors according to resources and needs! Now she would definitely have to make sure that L'thor got some eggs from Tiki's first clutch. It should be relatively soon, as far as the big picture went at least. It was the least she could do for him, and quite frankly, one of the only things she could think to do to return the favor.
"I don't think I could ever call Raith annoying," Daeluin responded after L'thor explained his encounters with his old friend's dragon. But, to put things in perspective, Daeluin had only been spoken to once by the green dragon, and never another- so she had nothing for comparison. But, still. She couldn't call this sweet, friendly green annoying. She would certainly enjoy talking with her again, anytime.
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:46 am
L'thor chuckled and shook his head. "No, Raith's a gem, good at not being annoying to make up for me probably! Mind you, I like to think I'm only annoying when I'm intending to be, so usually to people with higher rank than myself who think they're more important. Mouthing off at the does get me into trouble but it is fun... Not that I've started trying my luck here yet," he gave a lopsided grin, "don't know the place well enough to push it, I might end up shoveling dung for a turn if I annoy the wrong person for all I know." And shoveling dung was just about the last thing he wanted to be stuck doing; the stench was most displeasing.
"I'm not sure what to make of my wingleader," L'thor went on with a frown. "I've not started drills yet but I've met the man, apparently he doesn't think too much of female riders unless they're on a gold. Most peculiar if you ask me, I can hardly remember anyone at Ista being that way." There had been the odd one, as there always was and would be, but they hadn't been wingleaders. He just hoped that K'ban wasn't too hard on K'lan or T'kar; if he was, words would be had whether it was sensible or not.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:45 am
The dirk-skinned young woman scoffed at L'thor's remark; he hardly needed Raith to make up for him! He was enjoyable company on his own.. but yeah, maybe Raith enhanced that a little. She certainly did nothing to take away from it! The green rider's explained tendency of mouthing off and being annoying to those of higher rank somewhat confused Daeluin. Even raised in such a loose, carefree society, she was taught that honor and respect were the most important things to live by. She could never imagine herself being intentionally annoying to someone superior in rank; it was unheard of, and very disrespectful! But, she kept her mouth shut. Maybe L'thor knew his superiors well enough that that sort of behavior was tolerated.
Daeluin shrugged when he went on to detail his wingleader's opinions. It wasn't unheard of, a male rider thinking less of female riders. Daeluin, of course, did not hold the same opinion but nor did it phase her. She had encountered it before. "Maybe we need more female candidates, that way there's a chance more girls and young women. Desensitization is the only sort of solution to a problem such as your wingleader's opinion," she said quietly, but shrugged. There didn't seem to be a lack of female candidates, so her suggestion was not entirely valid- unless the searchriders scoured every Hold and Hall for suitable young girls.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:04 am
"Mmm," L'thor chuckled and nodded, "he'll certainly be desensitized by my two friends. T'kar's lifemate is not one to tolerate any crap, she'll put him in his place!" The image of K'ban cowering in front of that spotted angry beast made him smirk; it would take a bold dragon to shove that one into line. It could be done by a self-assured bronze in all probability, but nobody could doubt her strength. "Still," L'thor shrugged, "even if he's going to be an arse over it, they'll survive. The good opinion of one's wingleader isn't everything after all."
Wasn't anything much at all really, you needed it if you were going to get promoted to wingsecond or something but that happened for green riders so seldom anyway that it didn't matter. He supposed a wingleader who disliked you could affect your chances of being chosen as a searchrider too, but from what he knew wingleders had a lot less to do with that than the section of their seconds.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:22 am
Daeluin's eyebrows quirked upwards the the green rider's name, the other one, the woman in his wing. Daeluin was pretty good with names, and she knew of a T'ka on green Haath- but she had never heard of T'kar. She shrugged and lent it to a slip of her own memory. It happened! "I can imagine that your wingleader will not be too pleased with that," Daeluin said solemnly with pursed lips and drawn together brows, a frown touching the very corners of her mouth. "I mean, he is in charge. He was put in charge fora reason. She may not like being treated differently, but that's the way it's done. I can see him changing his mind if she keeps her mouth shut, puts up with all his crap- he may come to respect her over time for dealing with it all. But if she, or her dragon, lashes out.. I only see that as furthering your wingleader's poor opinion of female riders," Lulu said quietly, her strong, dark brown eyes meeting L'thor's to drive home her point.
The Weyr needed some strong, assertive female riders- not angry, flighty ones. If the view of women on dragons was ever going to change, they needed some good women riders! They needed to prove that they were strong and stable enough to ride.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:08 am
"Maybe," L'thor grinned and shrugged, "I suppose we'll just have to see. At least most other people in the Weyr aren't stupid about it, he's a hidebound fool who'd be better suited to life at Telgar in my opinion, but never mind. What's life without challenges, eh?" It would be interesting to see the contrast in his friends' coping methods, perhaps K'ban would come to an epiphany over the matter; female riders are just like male ones! All different, some relaxed, some belligerent, but all worthy of being judged on their own merits. Some hope. Ah well, if things got bad enough the pair of them could always ask to transfer to a different wing.
"So, what are your hopes for Impression?" L'thor asked after a moment with a curious tilt of his head. "Any dragon at all, or do you have hopes for one in particular? I remember not being too fussed when I was standing, but as soon as Raith spoke to me the idea of any dragon but a green became one I couldn't get my head around. Mind you, I couldn't really get my head around being with any other green, either." He still felt that greens were the greatest though, prejudiced perhaps but somebody needed to think the small females were superior. Blues of course came a close second in his mind followed by browns, then golds, and bronzes sat in contempt right at the bottom of his list. Prejudiced perhaps, but somebody needed to tell the big males and their riders that they weren't all that special.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:16 am
Daeluin quickly let the subject fall. She wasn't much in the mood for a debate or argument; she regretted even speaking her mind. She really did not want to get into it, especially not with her new friend! There was a slight chance that by doing so, continuing on that topic, she might say something to offend the green rider, especially since he was so intent on defending his female wingmates. Daeluin didn't have anything against female riders; oh no! Quite the contrary, actually! She just had different ideas than most about how to change a hidebound old fool's mind.
So, needless to say Lulu was grateful when the green rider changed the subject. She latched onto it eagerly, but refrained from vocalizing her thoughts too quickly. She was one of those girls who picture herself astride a queen; really, what girl didn't fancy herself a Weyrwoman? But, in all likelihood, Daeluin wouldn't care what she Impressed if she did. It was that opinion she voiced. "Well, to be honest, I don't really have a preference. To me, the color of my dragon's hide doesn't matter. I envy you and Raith, I want to know what it feels like to have the bond the two of you do; whether my dragon is green ,gold, purple for Faranth's sake, doesn't change how I'll feel once I Impress," Daeluin went on to wisely explain, suddenly sounding older than she really was. "If I Impress," she corrected herself quietly, with a small smile.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:55 am
L'thor grinned, approving of her even-handedness. Some people said they didn't mind just for appearances, but he didn't believe that of Lulu. Perhaps she has, as he had, various dreams of what she might do and being depending on the colour she Impressed. Perhaps it all seemed too distant to her to dream at all. "You've got time yet," L'thor said, and Raith rumbled her agreement to that. "She likes you," the rider went on with a chuckle, "so I'm sure another dragon will too! Hopefully soon, waiting is horrible." Not that he really had much experience; he'd Impressed on his second standing after all.
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