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The brown shoved past him, and Okassis watched it go by bemusedly. For a second or two, when it had come so near, he'd almost hoped -- but obviously not.

This experience was growing increasingly surreal with every egg that cracked, dragonet that emerged, Candidate that Impressed. The first few flickers of doubt were setting in, the very real thought that perhaps he wouldn't be Impressing today. After all, many people he'd spoken to had stood through many Hatchings, without a dragon to show for it - and he didn't think himself to be necessarily more attractive to a dragon than any of them. It hadn't seemed to click with him, though, that he might not Impress in this Clutch--

But why did this worry him so? He'd come to the Weyr telling himself he'd need to be patient; he didn't know if he were playing odds or meeting with some intangible force beyond his comprehension which would determine if he Impressed, but it certainly meant he wasn't guaranteed to find a dragon just for showing up. The thoughts settled poorly with him, though - maybe because S'van had Impressed. He wanted so badly not to be left empty-handed while his friend went on.

But the brown had Impressed already, and Okassis was beginning to feel that pit in his stomach - that uninspiring premonition, that maybe, just maybe, the odds weren't in his favor....

Another brown, as well! Both dragonets had no difficulty it seemed in Impressing, and Jiriar was relieved that he'd yet to see any so-called maulings that he'd heard about. He'd have to congratulate the proud new riders later, watching them go with a curious longing. That brown looked like it'd been a handful, with the way Candidates had been shoved aside in its haste.

Taking a slow breath, he turned back to what eggs remained, resisting the urge to shift a little on the burning sands. Well... Shards, if he didn't Impress, he'd just have to see if Sovann would be willing to let him ogle over his new new companion, was all! His eyes slid across the Candidates that remained. To think so many would go disappointed... Well,no, he couldn't think about that right now. Staying positive never hurt anyone.

When Nandeli waved at him, Marko actually took a minute to gape at her. She was exceedingly cheerful for the danger she had put herself in. He took a moment to consider the crowd around him, then cupped his hands around his mouth and called down to her, and any other Candidates who happened to listen.

"Get out while you still can!"

The nasty looks from the crowdgoers around him were totally lost on him, and those who hadn't heard him no doubt assumed that he was simply shouting encouragement to some favourite candidate of his. ...and hopefully, those who assumed that thought it was his child, and not his...lover. Shudder.

Was watching enthralled as the blue made it’s way through the crowds to bond with his life mate, a pretty girl who looked a little shy and very startled to be chosen by the dragon, but then a look of such joy passed her expression that he felt a stab of jealousy but could not hold it against her. After all she was worthy, that the dragon had chosen her proved that much. Not much time to take the whole thing in though before the brown had shattered another egg around him, as soon as he was out of the egg he looked like the fire to singe thread was already bubbling up inside the small body. He looked ready to find his bonded and the thread score who ever got in his way.

And of course that would have to be Nehren wouldn’t it? Seemed he was in the way of whoever the brown wanted, even as the male pushed his was through he drew back a step but felt his limbs stiffen, hardly able to move as the brown stumbled towards him he felt hope and them unease, instantly knowing this dragon wasn’t for him and then he was sprawled out on the hot sands as the brown pushed past him and knocked him over.

His fingers curled into the sand as he panted softly for a minute regaining his composure, the dark hair falling into his face and blocking the hazel eyes as he school his expression to whipe away the shock and get back unsteadily to his feet. Robes now covered in dusty yellow he glanced to his side to see the brown had impressed someone he didn’t know, not that he knew all that many people here at the weyr.

Crimiel frowned, moving his hand to the shoulder of the young candidate who had bumped into him, steadying the boy. Really, you'd think those crammed so far back in the sands could at least stand relativly still. Eyes glanced around for what had caused the movement, before settling on a little brown before him, expression unamued, and for half a second Crimiel believed there would be a repeat of one of his earlier hatchings - The long scar near tingled in rebembrance - before the dragonets voice swirld in his head,
'C'miel, Lurenith was looking for you. You were going to let another dragon take you and you're mine and that's not right.'
Crimiel, no, C'miels brows rose to his hairline, unbelieving, before a rare smile lit his face. Bending to wipe some of the grime from Lurenith, he ran a hand soothingly over the little browns eyeridge. "No, that isnt right at all, I'm sorry."
'Good. I'm terribly hungry, my stomach hurts, fix it now.'
Still grinning C'miel half draged the grumpy dragonet from the sands to join the other Impressees at the table that had been set aside.

She was yelling back at him? What was she yelling at him? What was she trying to say? She was, OH SHARDS WHAT IN FARANTH'S NAME?

Marko looked at Nan for a moment, then very, very slowly dropped his hand from shading his eyes and thumped himself soundly between the eyes. Sighing heavily, he dragged his hand straight down his face, shaking his head and muttering to himself. And now, once again, he had had his reputation utterly ruined by Nandeli. He really needed to do something about this. It was starting to get ridiculous.

He barely noticed that someone burst out laughing at his words, but when Kypak waved to him he facepalmed again and waved back with the hand not on his face. Oh, shards, he had just made a complete moron of himself, hadn't he?

Govind had been working on a small craving by the dragons' bathing pool while the Queen's call came echoing across the Weyr. Dropping his tools into the hot sand, he didn't know what to do at first with all the lessons mashed into his head falling through his ears. It was only the mod of fellow candidates rushing towards the cots that poked the teenager into rushing after them.

AFter managing to steal a moment to wash up (a group of female candidates shoved him out of the way halfway through brushing some water on his face), Govind grabbed the white tunic and donned it along with some clean breeches before running a hand through his re-growing hair. (One of the foster mothers had seen signs of lice in his belongings and kidnapped the poor guy for a strict washing and haircut on his way back from the food hall) Now satisfied with his appearance, the former miner dashed out of the room and after a group of older candidates as they made way towards the Grounds.

Now standing on the hot sands before the Queen, the crowd on the walls around them, and the hatching eggs Govind secretly fanned himself with one hand as sweat started to trickle down the back of his neck. Shards....even after several sevendays in the Weyr, this cold-blooded candidate still had not gotten use to the heat! Even the cold of between sounded slightly more appealing than standing here but the thought of seeing everyone impress was the only thing that kept him from bolting to the bathing pools. Seeing the expression of "completion", as some of the riders and older Weyrlings as called it, warmed the brother's heart. Even if no dragon approached him, Govind was content to stand and watch from his spot near the back of the group.