|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:26 pm
Bachi had come under the knowledge of a rumor that Balin had quite the, uh, interesting dragon with a fondness for pretty ladies. That was interesting and all, but that wasn't actually the reason that he was now on his way to talk to him.
See, Bachi had this problem. It wasn't a mental problem, and it wasn't really a physical problem. It was more of a. . . well, a confusion problem. He supposed it didn't fall under the mental category because he wasn't crazy.
You see, he was used to seeing his brother everywhere all the time. When he didn't want to see his brother, he saw him. However, he'd gone a full four days without catching a wink of him since the hatching. It was creepy.
That was why he'd found out where the weyrling communal was and was now banging on the wall. Sort of like a "knock" only louder, and very much Bachi. B'lin would come out one way or another!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:57 pm
B'lin was busy staring at a book, looking for all the world as if he knew what the words said. The Weyr had given him many things. While none were more important than Xanthoth (not that he'd ever admit it), a short second was education. Reading wasn't something he had time to learn, or in his former lifestyle, a need to. Not only was the opportunity presented to him on a silver platter, it was expected of him to learn if he didn't know already.
Far be it by him to shame himself as a rider. He had heard once things were easy to learn when you were younger, and my oh my did he wish for his childhood a second time around with more free time. This wasn't as easy as it looked! Not that it looked easy, even. All these marks and shapes.
The banging hadn't gotten his attention. Not until it got Xanthoth's. The bronze was busy wordlessly flirting with a bunch of female riders (and their dragons, given they were of the feminine variety as well). He caught wind of the murmurs of those he did not recognize.
Standing out among the whispers, "I think it's the new bronze rider's brother..."
Runner up without a doubt went to, "Yeah, I think they were on the hatching grounds together. It must be him."
B'linmine, your brother is here.
The young man who was not feeling very young on this most damned of days grumbled into his hand and rose, tucking the small, sorry book in a big, baggy pocket and seeking out his kin before any damage could be done; be it in the literal sense or his reputation which did not need anymore bruising.
"What is it?" he asked the second his brother was in sight. The real, unspoken question: 'What did you do wrong now?'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:02 pm
To be thruthful, Bachi had absolutely no idea what it was.
However, he would absolutely not admit that he was 'checking' on his brother. That would be a horrible, horrible thing that would severely scar his ego for life.
Instead he eyed Balin's pocket warily and asked a question instead. "When did you learn how to read?"
Holding out his hand as if he expected something to be given, he added, "Let me see?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:12 pm
Xanthoth felt a surge of anger from his rider that piqued his interest just enough to sway him from the girls' company. Now, now. What in the world was this? B'lin had been mad before, there was no question there. But this felt different. More... offended? Strange! The dragonet came to sit beside his would-be rider, out of both curiosity and concern angling his head to get a look at the expression of the one who troubled him. Stone-faced as always. Figures. Then, he looked to Bachi, and slowly the pieces began to fit together.
Bachi had asked, not demanded, but it still frustrated B'lin that his brother would do that. Since when did he think it was his place to ask those kinds of questions? Was Miah not keeping him in line the past handful of days? --Who was keeping her in line?
"You don't need to see it," he told him. Told him like it was a fact, not an answer. "And don't worry about it." The idea of telling the truth (that he was only making time to learn because he had to) troubled B'lin, but he wasn't going to lie either. He'd always told them not to lie.
Taking pity on His, Xanthoth crooned loudly to Bachi as if saying hello. He sat, then lifted himself up an inch or two. Small for a bronze, but still a sight to behold. Who wouldn't want to pay attention to him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:21 pm
Bachi frowned when his brother denied him the book, but he quickly got over it. Balin was right. He didn't need to see it.
He was about to say something else, but there was a loud call off to his brothers side. Bachi looked surprised at first and eyed the dragon with the same skepticism as he had Balin's pocket.
"What's he saying?"
Bachi wasn't exactly an advanced literate when it came to dragon calls. It could have been anger, joy, or just something dragons did.
Stuffing his hands into his pocket, he rocked back on his feet for a moment and gave his brother a cold, hard stare. "Stop looking at me like I'm into trouble. I haven't done anything in at least a sevenday!" There were too many damn chores to deal with. There was no chance for any fun around this place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:37 pm
Far as B'lin knew, Xanthoth hadn't actually said anything. Not really. But the noise signified a greeting any other time he'd heard it used, so he didn't sound uncertain when he answered, "It's a hello." The intentions were appreciated even if B'lin didn't feel he needed a rescue from the tension. Things between them were never anything but and Bachi only proved it.
"It hasn't been a sevenday since I've seen you, only four," B'lin pointed out, letting his voice linger and trail off. Now he was more convinced dishonesty was rolling off Bachi's tongue. Again there was an unspoken yet obvious add on to what B'lin had mumbled: Surely you've done something, brother of mine! What he actually said was, "Alright. Why are you here if you're not in trouble?"
He didn't realize it and there was no way Xanthoth could have known, but B'lin had never spent four days away from either of his brothers before coming to the Weyr. Judgments about emotional issues based on emotional facts weren't really within his frame of mind to start making, so he never assumed his brother could just miss him. Only not really.
His glow is not too bright. Is he really your brother, B'lin?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:43 pm
Bachi shrugged. Fourday, sevenday, what was the difference?
However, now he needed to think of a very good reason to be here in this room. Unfortunately, he did not have Balin's wonderful creativity.
"Uh. . ." he began. His eyes started to wander the floor by his feet. He spied some golden dragon toes and nearly jumped on an idea.
"I came to see your dragon," he informed and patted the creature's head rather unconvincingly. "Because," he sniffed and shuffled, "it's special to have a bronze and all, and I wanted to see him up close."
His lie was flawless!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:53 pm
B'lin bought the lie like a man with too much money. Well, if that was the case, he wouldn't need to scold him in front of everyone in the Weyrling quarters after all. Alas, it was too bad, when he thought about it. That level of embarrassment might have been good for him; built some character, better yet, some shame. Bachi always fell short in that very important trait. If nothing else he could take comfort in knowing he'd do something wrong soon enough.
"Oh. I suppose." It was something B'lin had thought about a lot already. Having a bronze, that is. It was important depending on who you asked. Some were just the same as browns, though, weren't they? Xanthoth wasn't, with his determination to reach wingleader status, but no one else knew about that and he planned to keep it that way for now. If it were up to him (and it was), no one needed to know about their goal until they'd earned a small sum of respect from whom they'd need it. "His name is Xanthoth."
Tell him I said hello, B'linmine. If he is your brother then he is like my brother also.
"He says hello." And B'lin wasn't saying that other part. Forget it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:18 am
He supposed?
Bachi crossed his arms and looked up a bit haughtily at his brother. He couldn't just suppose! Had he any idea what kind of a power-monger got shoved into his lap with a bronze? He had a reputation to uphold.
"Hi Xanthoth. You're nice for a bronze; haven't got your head up your hind." Not that he had seen yet, anyway. He'd gotten both a croon and a semi-mental transference received through his brother. As bronzes went, it was a plus.
But, of course, he was matched with his brother. Egh.
"My brother is very uptight, Xanthoth. You should push him in the lake to lighten him up." It was said at a low whisper, although B'lin could probably here him.
And with that he had no more excuses to stay, so he straightened a bit, looked tough and important and said, "I should probably get back to my sleeping space now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:41 pm
Knowing well it was a silly thing to do, Xanthoth still attempted to shield his laughter from a rider. It didn't work, instead rising in the form of an amused, hissing sort of noise. A more hushed volume than a chuckle would have been, but plenty audible none the less. His didn't normally get so riled up this quickly! Bachi must have quite a gift. Not to mention quite the eye to recognize him for his much deserved status. Calm, Mine. Almost his motto these days! This brother of ours has come to you for no reason! Very strange! Think more into it?
I suppose... B'lin couldn't remember a time he had to be told to think. If anything, he was scolded for thinking too much! What was that mother always said? Something about going senile by time he was her age if he didn't give his mind a rest once in a while. Psh... But Bachi did always irritate him like no one else could. Discouraging M'rik from being added on that list; some days he just wasn't up for the cheerful, chatterbox persona his roommate, past and present, brought along with him.
Speaking of people who didn't know when to shut up...
"How is Miah? Is she watching you like I told her? You should thank her for keeping you out of trouble this long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:48 pm
Bachi's pleasant, 'I'm leaving now' attitude suddenly vanished when Miah was mentioned. It wasn't like he lived with her. They knew each other well was all. It was a sort of family thing.
"Miah knows I can take care of myself." It was a blatant lie, actually. One that Balin would probably figure out quite quickly. They both knew that she would probably have followed Bachi to the end of the earth if Balin so wonderfully convinced her. It was really kind of annoying.
Miah, in some sense, was really kind of annoying. But she wasn't annoying enough not to tolerate, and he'd rather not be de-eared by his brother for not being nice to her, so he tolerated.
"And she's fine. I came to see Xanthoth, not get a lecture." Bachi wrinkled his nose and debated sticking out his tongue, but he didn't want to look that foolish in front of all these people.
"If you need to know that badly, I'll bring her with me next time." Another lie. Sort of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:28 am
"No." The speed of light couldn't have rivaled how quickly B'lin answered that. It didn't matter to him if Bachi meant it or not. No. Just no. Miah being here was a taboo subject even in jest! The thought of what trouble she could get him almost made B'lin shudder. He didn't, and he knew how ridiculous it would be. A grown, toned, intimidating guy like him shaking like a small dog over a little girl with a big mouth. Shameful, really! "No, don't bring Miah here."
He knew Miah. He knew how Miah worked. Since he knew all that, he was positive she had stayed true to her word and was keeping a close eye on Bachi. For as much as that girl yapped (a lot, really, a lot), she was good for every word of it. A good quirk, one Bachi would hopefully pick up when they both went back to the Hold and got together. 'Together'.
Them Impressing was the only thing in the world he did not want to think about; it was just easier to believe Miah was too reckless and Bachi too ignorant for any dragon to want. If he kept stressing Xanthoth, F'sey was going to have his hide on display in the hall. Come to think of it, beyond the death of his brother (and honestly B'lin didn't want a dragon that didn't effect), Xanthoth never seemed to venture out of 'calm and collected' mode. It was still hard to believe, given the givens, his own emotional turmoil had no effect on the welfare of his bonded.
"I don't care what you want, you need a lecture. Stay out of trouble, and make sure Miah does too. You should be looking out for each other until Xanthoth is older." And then I can watch you myself, B'lin didn't say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:50 am
Bachi frowned all the harder at his brother's tone.
He didn't need a lecture! He didn't! "I have stayed out of trouble!" he snapped back. It was stupid to think that a dragon would change his brother any. He was still just as controlling as ever if not more so.
"I'll keep an eye on her, okay? I'm not eight anymore and I don't eat dirt." Stupid brothers.
Casting him another glare, he turned to go. Maybe he'd go do something reckless to feel better. He'd heard that cliff diving was really fun.
Maybe he'd go do that. Yeah.
"I'll see you around B'lin."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:05 am
"Stay out of trouble," echoed B'lin. Loudly. Not quite yelling, just speaking very uproariously. Which was sort of the same thing, only not, and it was the 'only not' part B'lin would use in his defense later when Xanthoth gave him the third degree. Ah, loophole shields. Sometimes they were the best kind. The stars were thanked every time he saw them that Bachi had never learned how to use it.
There were things to be said before his brother was too far to hear them, and those things could be summarized into one single, compressed sentence: "I mean it, Bachi." Oho. Name usage. That meant he was serious. (When wasn't B'lin serious?) That boy was going to be the death of him. By default, he'd be the death of Xanthoth too, the one he'd been so eager to come see.
How would he like that, hmm? Making a bronze go between!
Psh, dumb boy.
Calm, Mine! chirped Xanthoth.
"Let's just go back to reading. I don't need a lecture."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
