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 Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:59 am
It was possibly the least secretive expedition ever. Neither of the males really knew how to sneak. Oh, C’ym knew the basic idea of it: duck, hide, keep in the shadows. Unfortunately, against all common sense, when he furtively schlepped about, it only made him more obvious, like a Bronze dragon trying to fit into a very small space. With Hanumanth, the metaphor was more literal since he really was a Bronze dragon trying to fit into a small space. The point was, neither male really understood the thoughts needed to make one invisible.
Also, C’ym kept running into things and Hanumanth wasn’t much better. C’ym stopped briefly to rub a recently stubbed-toe, wondering how he could possibly manage to find the one rock to stub his toe on. Just bad luck there. Maybe it really was bad luck to look at the eggs before they hatched…
Peering through the crack, it was hard to believe that Hanumanth hadn’t hatched all that long ago. C’ym already felt like he had known the dragon all his life. There weren’t many eggs left on the Sands… he could only hope that one would go to Elae.
A head bumped into his knees. Hanumanth mewled and then headbutted him again. I wanna see! the little Bronze said plaintively. Part of the reason why the bronze was lousy at sneaking around was because he hadn’t quite gotten the idea of ‘rules’. Oh, he knew there were things that he ‘couldn’t’ do. He just hadn’t yet realized that he could, theoretically, do them. He just ‘shouldn’t’ do them. And, since he and C’ym COULD sneak peeks at the eggs, he figured that they were allowed to do so. So they weren’t breaking any rules.
And the end result was a mewl. Hanumanth rarely stopped making some sort of noise, whether it be a happy burble or a mewl of happiness. By far, his favorite noises were ‘mews’. His voice was deepening so, instead of sounding like a kitten, he sounded like a kitten at the bottom of a very deep well. He was about to make another noise when C’ym’s hand tightened around his snout. Instead of another mewl, it came out as ‘mrrmg…’ which wasn’t really recognizable.
“Shh, Han! Be quiet… I don’t want to get eaten up by an angry Gold…”
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:23 pm
"That certainly would be quite unfortunate," came a soft voice -- Kiriwar didn't dare speak much louder than just above a whisper, not wanting to bring the Gold's wrath down upon anyone near this area. He stood just behind the rider and his dragon, smiling crookedly at them with his hands on his hips. The Vintner was not at all surprised to find someone else here, but he was surprised to find a rider and a dragon here ... He marveled at the small dragon for a moment, still amazed by the sight of them.
"May I see, as well?" he asked, stepping forward a little and smiling a bit more. "I seem to be spending a lot of time here... I'm excited for the next Hatching."
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:15 pm
The effect of a voice was immediate: both dragon and rider immediately looked guilty, as if they had been caught in some woman’s room instead of merely peeking at a clutch of eggs. Absolutely everything about both of their features screamed, ‘I did it! It doesn’t matter what it was, but I did it!’. C’ym didn’t even begin to calm down until he was absolutely certain that the boy was another Candidate. He opened his mouth to point out that no one was supposed to be here and he would get in trouble but…
Shards, he was here too. “Umm… sure. Han, move back a little so… umm…” he didn’t know the other boy’s name, so ‘Umm’ would have to do. “Just let him past, alright?”
At first, Hanumanth bridled at the idea of letting someone past him. After all, he had been here first! But, his Mine was asking nicely and everything… very reluctantly, the striped Weyrling moved back a little so the boy could get past. It wasn’t a particularly graceful movement; Hanumanth continued to have a slightly ungainly look as his body rushed to catch up to his head. It was a sort of growth race, really.
Hey! Maybe the other boy had food? As soon as Kiriwar was close enough, Hanumanth pushed his nose against the boy, trying to sniff out any treats he might have.
“Han!” the name was hissed, both mentally and physically. “You can’t just rifle through someone else’s pockets… I’m sorry about him. Um. He’s just looking for treats. He’s harmless, really...”
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:28 pm
Kiriwar had to lift a hand to hide his smile at the reaction of the man and his dragon, chuckling quietly and shaking his head a little. "Thank you," he murmured when the dragon began to move, scooting back a little to give him room to move back. What he didn't expect was to have the dragon -- Han? -- suddenly pushed his head against him. This was first he had a dragon touch him. His eyes widened and he stared for a long moment, before quickly offering a smile to the rider, waving a hand a little.
"It's all right, really," he said, before fishing into his pockets to retrieve an apple he had been carrying with him. He wasn't sure if the dragon would want it, but he offered it anyway with a soft smile. "Do you want this?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:54 pm
At least it looked like the other male was taking this well. Most of the people C’ym knew----actual real-life people, not Weyr-people, mind you----would’ve backed away from little Han, despite the fact that the dragon clearly didn’t mean any harm. Couldn’t even cause any harm, really, either. But, then again… C’ym clicked his mouth shut, reminding himself that Weyrfolk were used to dragons. Although the other boy hadn’t said anything, C’ym was pretty certain he was a Candidate. He looked about the right age and all.
“Are you a Candidate? If you don’t mind my asking,” he added the second part on quickly, as if someone might actually take offense at such an innocuous question.
The apple was subjected to a deep inspection by the little bronze. His eyes swirled green with curiosity and he prodded it from all sides with his nose. It looked red. Like blood. But it didn’t smell anything like it. His green tongue briefly flicked out to taste the skin, apparently intrigued by it.
What is it? he asked C’ym excitedly. He vaguely recalled seeing His eat one before, or something similar. So clearly it was edible. He briefly rose up on his hind legs to inspect it more carefully but he went back down on all fours again. Tell him ‘no thank you’. I think he needs it more than I do. Again he poked the other male with his nose.
“He says ‘no thank you’,” C’ym relayed obediently, although he didn’t add on the last part. It seemed a bit rude to say so. Also it felt odd to comment on another male’s appearance. It just wasn’t the right thing to say.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:20 pm
Kiriwar glanced up when he was asked if he was a Candidate, a proud smile blossoming as he nodded. "Yeah. I was just searched recently," he said, watching the dragon explore the apple, before his eyebrows lifted in surprise at what he was told the dragon had said. "All right. I'm sure it's not his usual."
He chuckled and tucked the apple away again, moving closer so he could crouch beside C'ym and peer through the wall at the eggs, sighing softly. "I'm excited for the next Hatching. I want to see who Impresses and what they look like... It should definitely be interesting," he said, glancing over at the other man after a moment, then at the bronze, then back at C'ym again. "What was it like, when you Impressed?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:34 pm
“So am I…” he stopped there, suddenly remembering Hanumanth. Looking distinctly sheepish, he chuckled a little. “You’d think that a small dragon would constantly remind me that I’m not a Candidate any more. But it doesn’t. I was a Candidate for a couple of Turns and I haven’t quite gotten used to not being one.” Speaking of Hanumanth, he took a step back now, both so he could have some personal space between himself and the stranger and so the little bronze could step up and take a peek through the crack.
His expression changed at the mention of Impression, turning from something eager-to-please to something more… wistful and thoughtful. A smile crossed C’ym’s face as he tried to untangle the complexities of Impression. “It was like… at first it was just confusing. All I really knew was that suddenly I had two very different emotions going on. And then everything clicked. It just fit. And I keep trying to wonder how I actually worked before I met Hanumanth here and it’s impossible to really imagine. Although I’m fairly sure I found slightly fewer dead things in my room before he came along. My name is C’ym, by the way. And this is Hanumanth.”
Hanumanth let out a deep thrum at the words, recognizing them. While he no longer remembered the Impression, he liked to hear C’ym think about it. It let him pretend that he could recall it. He headbutted his rider briefly, affectionately, before settling down next to Kiriwar so he could look out at the eggs.
Oh, wow! And we all came from those?
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:56 am
Kiriwar had been confused for the briefest moment when the other began to say that he was a Candidate, before smiling and chuckling with him. "I can imagine that would be difficult to get used to. He's a lovely thing," he murmured, resisting the urge to stroke a hand over the dragon's back as he peered through the crack a little.
"That sounds wonderful," Kiriwar said wistfully. He had becoming more and more enamoured with the idea of Impressing a dragon, even though it had been something sort of unreachable not even a Turn before. He sighed quietly, looking over the eggs again, then up at C'ym, smiling broadly. "I'm Kiriwar." The thrum that came from the Bronze made him shiver and he glanced over at Hanumanth, blinking slowly. "He's still quite little..."
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:36 pm
“He’s less wonderful in the middle of the night when he decides he’s hungry or needs oiling or is itchy,” C’ym said drily. No one warned Candidates about that. Oh, sure, they said that the dragons would need a lot of care. But, all the same, C’ym had always imagined that dragonets had some sort of internal alarm clock, one that would keep them from waking up at some Faranth-forsaken time. Hanumanth apparently didn’t. He added quickly, “Not that it’s not worth it. It really is.”
Although it did upset Lytah at first. The Green firelizard was still shunning C’ym for his ‘crime’ of Impressing little Hanumanth. But the new weyrling was fairly certain she’d get over it soon. Eventually, anyway. “It’s nice to meet you, Kiriwar. He was born at the last Hatching so he’s still very young. He wanted to come here to see the eggs; he’s very curious about the whole thing.”
Hanumanth nodded and emitted a small chirrup, agreeing with his rider. And that Gold! It was amazing to think that something so huge had come from such little eggs… he let out a small squawk at being called ‘little’, however, apparently taking offense at it. I’m not little! he complained to C’ym. I’m bigger than my brothers and sisters already! Even Yansanth! And… and I’m bigger than Lytah too. Tell him this, please?
C’ym sighed. It was clear that Han could just tell Kiriwar himself, but apparently the little dragon just didn’t want to. And if the blonde didn’t transfer the message, poor Han would be simply unmanageable for as long as he remembered the slight. “He’s bigger than his siblings, he says. Also bigger than a small firelizard.” He smirked a bit at that, slightly amused that the Bronze dragon was comparing himself to a Green firelizard. It just seemed so backwards.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:34 pm
Kiriwar blinked slowly at the mention of the cares that C'ym had to give to his dragon, glancing at the bronze curiously -- that would make sense. It seemed that having a dragon and caring for it was just like caring for a child and preparing them for being an adult. What a strange, yet... interesting concept. He smiled crookedly, reaching out to stroke his fingertips along the dragon's back, unable to resist anymore. "I imagine that it's hard, but definitely worth it, as you say... I'm excited."
He paused in surprise when he was scolded through C'ym, glancing a tthe dragon in surprise, before grinning slowly, lifting a hand to cover his mouth. "Of course, of course. I do apologize," he said, speaking directly to the dragon. "I meant that you were still young."
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:43 pm
C’ym stiffened a little as Kiriwar’s fingers drifted down the Bronze’s back, unsure of what to do. It wasn’t like there were any rules against touching someone else’s dragon, but it still felt sort of personal. A few Turns ago, he would have thought nothing of patting a dragon (actually, he would have thought something, most likely along the lines of ‘Oh Faranth, Faranth, Faranth… it’s an actual dragon! A real live dragon! Right here!’). But, the point was, he knew better now. That and he was in a slightly overprotective stage at the moment, and he didn’t know whether or not Hanumanth would mind the unfamiliar hand.
“Good luck on Impressing. If you don’t mind my asking, what were you, before becoming a Candidate?”
Oh! Hanumanth’s eyes went wide at the slight touch and then glanced at C’ym, hoping to get some sort of instruction. Was this ok? Was this proper? The little Bronze didn’t really mind the pats; it wasn’t like they hurt or anything. But it was a little strange. Sensing no disproval---only anxiety---from his rider, Han decided that it was probably ok.
Well… I suppose I can forgive him… he said grudgingly. The message was fairly clear, even without a translator. Han pushed his head under Kiriwar’s hand, practically begging for eyeridge rubs.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:55 pm
Kiriwar did not touch for long, drawing his hand back and just looking at the dragon, amazed at the chance to sit so close. This was a real point in his life at the Weyr... dragons were real, more than the creatures he saw through broken walls or flying away to take care of some plight. This was a real being, right there beside him, and he might have one like that of his own someday...
"I was a Vintner Apprentice," said Kiriwar with a smile, looking up at C'ym with a kind gaze. "I worked under my father, and he taught me everything I know." A moment later, he was surprised when the dragon shoved his head against his hand, a startled sound escaping him, before he smiled crookedly and gave what Han wanted.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:07 pm
Oh a Vintner. In all honesty, C’ym was a bit disappointed since he didn’t know very much about wines aside from that they were made of grapes. His father----and, later, his uncle----had never allowed him to drink growing up. It was one of the Rules of Society: no drinking. Of course, it was perfectly ok for the adults to drink, but that’s because they were adults. Just as it hadn’t really sunk in that he was a dragonrider now, C’ym still hadn’t quite gotten the hang of considering himself a ‘young adult’. He still felt like a kid in so many ways. He relaxed slightly, once he realized that the Bronze didn’t mind the other male’s attention. Well… good.
“My knowledge on wine is fairly limited,” he admitted with a slight shrug. “My family has always discouraged drinking.”
Oh, now that was the spot… Hanumanth leaned heavily against Kiriwar’s legs and let out a peaceful thrum once more, a purr-like noise that came from deep in his chest. I like him, he said C’ym, completely forgiving----or perhaps forgetting---Kiriwar’s earlier crime.
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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:36 pm
Kiriwar looked surprised at C'ym's words, blinking a few times, before chuckling. How strange -- drinking had never been limited with his family, but his family always functioned in moderation. It was unspoken than no one would over-drink unless it was in celebration, and always with supervision. He shrugged a little, turning his gaze back to the dragon's attention when he was leaned against, clearly doing the right thing. "Lovely sound," he murmured, continuing to rub gently at the dragon, a warm smile on his lips.
"We grew up around wine, so we knew what was good and what wasn't," he said, glancing up at C'ym with a smile. "I don't drink a lot. A sip of wine is good for you."
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:03 pm
C’ym looked every bit as surprised as Kiriwar did, perhaps even a little confused. Well, he supposed it made some sense for the adult Vintners to drink. Someone had to taste-test the wines, right? But the kids? Kiriwar looked about his own age, perhaps a Turn or two younger. It was a relief when the conversation turned back towards dragons, a topic that C’ym gratefully leapt on. “Oh. Yes. He was born making noise. You said you were Searched only recently? I guess that means you missed the last Hatching… it was amazing. Little Han here was pretty scared; his momma had to give him a little nudge to get him started.” And the mewls! How absurdly adorable was that? C’ym smiled then, looking down at the little Bronze; it was a nice smile, one of those little expressions that could probably light up the world.
Hopefully in a non-explosive way, but you never know.
Unfortunately, things went back to drinks soon enough and the smile faded a little. “I’m just… not comfortable with drinking, I guess.”
Han opened one eye to look over at C’ym as the rider told Kiriwar about the Hatching. The memories had long since vanished from the dragonet’s mind but it was nice to hear about them. Freshly-oiled, Han’s hide smelled of something spicy. Not like a meal of good stew or anything. Certainly clean, anyway, and warm. The eye closed once more and Han went back to snuggling himself up against Kiriwar, enjoying the attention and warmth.
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