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 Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:37 pm
Allia had taken to spending most of what little free time she got people-watching, in an effort to better understand what went on around her in the Weyr. There was a lot to take in, and it often felt like it was just another chore; so today, she'd decided to take a break from people and watch dragons instead. She'd found what seemed like a nice, unobtrusive spot from which to watch dragons get their baths, and hoped that no one would mind.
She wasn't in the way, after all, or otherwise being a bother, unless watching counted. But dragons were used to being admired, right?
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:04 pm
L'iormine, came Dioth's wistful voice as the rider stood waist-deep in water, with a brush and soapsand, I have an itch. If you would be so kind...? The lazy blue stretched out one wing, dipping it down and offering the leading edge to his rider, who obligingly reached out to scrub it with the brush, careful around the flight-membranes so he would not make a mess of the delicate wing. It was a slow day, so L'ior and Dioth had plenty of space in which to stretch out, to work soapsand into a fine lather against the subtly-patterned blue hide, and to take their sweet time. And then, when you have oiled me, mine, can we nap?
Dioth, you are a lazy wherry, chided L'ior with a smile as he bent his bare back into scrubbing. The sun was bright overhead, and was currently burning the spattering of freckles across his back more deeply brown against the fairer background of his skin. If we slept as much as you liked, we would be forever missing drills.
But mine, wheedled Dioth, eyes half-lidded and whirling lazy, contented blue, we already know all of the drills...
We do, conceded L'ior, but that does not mean the younger ones in our wing do as well.
Audibly, Dioth gave a soft, agreeable rumble after a moment. If they need us, then I suppose we should be there. The blue was quiet for a few more moments, enjoying the pleasant rasp of the brush against his hide. His neck craned a bit, turning to offer his headknobs and neck when prompted, and that brought his eyes to rest upon the candidate where she stood, off to one side. Mine... there is someone watching us... Dioth, though he would never admit it, seemed to enjoy being admired a bit, for all he was not the most graceful blue in the Weyr.
"Where?" replied L'ior aloud, lifting his head to look around after a moment, wiping at an itchy drop of sweat on his temple and depositing a streak of wet soapsand across his cheek.
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:21 pm
Graceful or no (not that she could really tell), the handsome blue had all her attention as he enjoyed his bath. He was an absolutely beautiful color, and she was glad she'd switched from people-watching today. This was turning out to be a very good spot.
...wait. W-was the dragon looking at her? More importantly, was that a good thing or a bad thing? She knew better than to be scared of dragons, of course, but she certainly didn't want to bother one! She'd feel terrible if she was disturbing his bath; she was sure he worked hard and deserved a good scrubbing - without being stared at by some nosy Candidate if he didn't want to be.
She didn't much care if his rider minded, but the blue? Allia fussed with her gray bandana, waiting with a sheepish look to see whether or not she was in trouble.
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:26 pm
"Hallo," called L'ior with a smile, when he'd caught sight of her -- he waved one hand, covered in soapsand, at the girl. She was just a little wisp of a thing, wasn't she? "Dioth noticed you watching from all the way over there." Unfailingly pleasant, if smudged and wet and covered in sand, L'ior waved the other over. "We thought you were watching him, but we weren't certain, you see."
And I bet, said Dioth, innocently, that she would be good at helping wash me.
Unable to help a chuckle, L'ior snorted. "And Dioth says that if you'd like to come help wash him, he would be grateful," he amended.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:36 am
When the blue's rider greeted her, Allia's expression brightened immediately from guilty to beaming. She wasn't in trouble at all! In fact, it seemed she'd lucked out and been caught at watching a friendly pair. Then, just as she began to move closer, a greeting on the tip of her tongue, he invited her to help.
Dioth - it was a nice name, she noted - wanted her to help wash him? She got to touch him? 'Hello' never made it out of her mouth, usurped by a just slightly squeaky, "Really?"
She would have been embarrassed, if she'd noticed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:03 am
"Well, and why not? Dioth suggested it, and I can always use help," said L'ior with a smile. "If you'd like to, that is... and assuming you're a candidate, you'll probably have one of your own to scrub someday. Practice makes perfect, after all."
This one is small, L'iormine, said Dioth with the strange mental smile that he so often wore. I am glad we found her. The blue turned a bit, and after a moment, he stretched out his neck, peering at Allia with whirling blue eyes, as if he would speak to her if he could. I do not bite, he said plaintively.
"He said that he does not bite, especially tiny things such as yourself," chirped L'ior blithely. "Might you have a name?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:26 am
"I'd love to!" Allia answered, quickly recovering from the earlier squeak in her voice. She was perfectly capable of sounding like a normal adult. Really. Acting like one, too, but that would take a little longer, what with a dragon right in front of her.
She peered back at Dioth with a smile and an awed "Hello."
At his observation of her size, she blushed a little. It would have made her indignant if it had been a person pointing it out, but it was forgivable coming from a dragon. "I'm Allia."
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:24 pm
"Pleasant to meet you, Allia," said L'ior with a warm smile, offering one large, long-fingered hand to her for shaking purposes. "I'm L'ior, and as I've said, this great beast is Dioth."
The blue head leaned in a bit closer, confronting the girl with a blue snout which, while it was not quite as colossal as a bronze's, was still more than enough to be considered fairly massive.
"I assume that you are a Candidate, then?" There was always much scorn surrounding female Candidates unless there was a queen egg on the sands, but L'ior, who had always been rather permissive about the rules, seemed not to bother much with the usual prejudices.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:05 pm
"Pleased to meet you both," she said, returning his smile and shaking the offered hand. It was quite large, compared to hers, but she was used to that.
Then, presented with Dioth's impressive snout, Allia hesitated for a moment before offering a gentle scritch. She hadn't been this close to a dragon since being Searched, and that had been a blue as well. It was hard to imagine being close to an 'important' dragon like a bronze; with the way everyone seemed to obsess over them, she honestly wondered if she'd be allowed this close. She was just some girl who wanted a dragon - any dragon, although she was rapidly developing a fondness for blues.
"I am," the girl confirmed with a nod. She knew not everyone approved, but L'ior had been awfully friendly so far.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:35 pm
"I'm glad," said L'ior with a smile, shaking her hand with surprising gentleness and bowing his head over it before letting it go, gently. "There are not too many female candidates," he said, "which seems a bit silly to me. But I'm glad to meet you nevertheless. And you don't seem like a frightened wherry, which is good..."
Dioth, for his part, when Allia's hand came up to scritch his nose, rumbled with pleasure, butting his head forward for more attention. His eyes sank shut. I like her, mine, said the dragon, contentedly. She has gentle hands.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:16 pm
"I'm glad someone thinks that," Allia said, truly glad of it. Maybe it was because she hadn't grown up in a Weyr, but some of these things really did seem silly. "I don't know what's so wrong with it, if a dragon wants a girl."
The Candidate obliged Dioth's request by bringing her other hand up to scritch and rub as well. She didn't have much in the way of nails, since they were always bending or breaking, but she did well enough with what she had. "There's no reason to be frightened. Not with such a gentleman."
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:54 pm
"That is what they say," said L'ior, "though I don't think they mean it sometimes. They do say the dragon chooses, and the rider follows. The saying never includes the gender of the rider." He shrugged eloquently, grinning as she watched Allia rub at his lifemate's head. "Yes, he is a gentleman..."
Pleased, the blue lazily nuzzled against the girl's hands, thrumming contentedly. "He likes everyone, though he can be picky about whom he lets touch him," said L'ior, and turned his attention back toward scrubbing the blue hide.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:55 pm
"Exactly," Allia agreed. Where was the harm in a woman riding a blue or green? It wasn't like a dragon would pick someone bad for it! On the contrary, they picked who they thought was best.
"And a handsome gentleman, too," she added, gently exploring other spots on Dioth's great head. Some were better than others, she was sure, but which ones? This would be easy to get used to, the comfort found in the company of a dragon...and he wasn't even hers! What would it be like to have every day, for the rest of her life? She could only imagine, and hope, and savor this in the meantime. And be flattered that the apparently picky dragon was not only accepting of her touch, but had invited her to give it. "Then I'm honored."
As L'ior went back to scrubbing, Allia asked, "So how can I help?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:07 am
A low, appreciative croon seemed to come from deep in Dioth's chest as the girl found spots on his head he previously had not known itched, but were in fact quite itchy and did need what he considered immediate attention. Beneath the lids, the blue's faceted eyes whirled with deep, rich blues and soft greens in delight. Dioth did love attention, admittedly, when it was positive. L'iormine, came the pleased voice in his rider's head, Hers will be a very lucky dragon. I did not know that spot itched until she scratched it. Though, I think I am still the luckiest one in the Weyr.
Unable to stop the flash of bright teeth, L'ior chuckled, deeply amused. "While this one," he thumped Dioth's side, "would have you stand there petting him like a favorite runnerbeast all day, it would be much more productive if you'd like to help me scrub his hide. He's a few ticklish spots on his belly, but with two of us working, we could get either side done in half the time it would normally take me." The rider's smile turned wheedling. "I do have an extra brush here..."
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:09 am
A favorite runnerbeast indeed! Allia lingered over the spot that seemed most satisfying, drinking in the sound of his croon and and watching the happy whirl of color in his eyes with fascination. How wonderful he was! The urge to plant a quick kiss on the dragon's snout rose in her, but she resisted. That might be getting a little too familiar with the blue, who was certainly not a runnerbeast.
The girl grinned, giving Dioth one more good rub under his chin before moving eagerly to assist. "I'd love to learn."
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