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Tarusen tried not to remember why he'd gotten into the habit of running. Reflecting on being the scrawny, picked on runt of the Weyr did no one good, least of all him. It was better to simply forget the past to set it aside and in doing so, encourage others to do the same. So, if he'd started running because he'd wanted to be fast enough to outrun pursuers, now he just ran for the pure rush of it. There were, of course, other benefits. Sprinting around Telgar kept him in shape, allowed him to keep an eye on everything, and it was a nice way to fight the biting chill of the air.

Having completed his duties for the day, with an evening of socializing ahead of him, he'd decided a run would do him good. He'd followed a meandering path, not sticking to any particular route so much as trying to stay out of everyone's way and in the end it dumped him, breathless but energized, by the food pens.

Spotting Jasrai and her green, he slowed to a jog, and from there to a sort of loping walk, approaching the two of them with all his usual friendly confidence. He hadn't met her yet, but the Weyr was full of talk about the greens, most of it negative. He had his own thoughts about any clutch that contained nothing but a few ill tempered greens, for that matter. Which, in the end, was why he did approach, smiling and seemingly at ease. Always best to try and be on the good side of trouble, because trouble wouldn't hesitate to take you down if you weren't.

"Afternoon." He called out, as he approached. "Am I disturbing a hunt?"

Not that the young green looked up to taking out a herdbeast. Best not to tell her that, though.

It would be nice, wouldn't it, to say that Tarusen was not one of 'those ones'? Nice to think that he was less hidebound, more willing to judge on acts and deeds than tradition. It would be great, in fact, if it could be said that Tarusen was simply an all around good guy.

And, for what it was worth, Tarusen didn't much care that Jasrai was a woman on a green. Unfortunately, he was equally unlikely to judge on acts deeds. Because, in the end, Tarusen simply wasn't interested in Jasrai, wasn't interested in anyone. But neverm ind, it didn't matter. She was important, in her own way, to him. She was a rider, and if his dreams were to be accomplished it was important that he know the riders. Especially the young riders. He'd need them at his side when he impressed his bronze.

But that was soon, and this was now. For now, he smiled his easy, almost lazy smile, and looked out at the small collection of herdbeasts. "Well, that's for the best. The Queens might not like it if she was after their beasts. The wherries are a bit further on. I can walk you, if you want."

He gestured in the correct direction, but waited to be invited before actually starting to walk again. But he laughed as he waited, giving a slight shake of my head. "Sorry. I haven't introduced myself, have I? I'm Tarusen. You or your lovely green ever need anything, I'm your man."

Tarusen accepted the implication that he might not be able to handle the view of a feeding dragon without comment. He did so with most things that weren't directly complimentary, filing them away or forgetting them. One could only hope that it was the latter, that he didn't have a little list of all the insults, real or perceived, he'd heard over the years. He wasn't that sort of person, surely. He would certainly claim not to be.

What he did do was begin to walk, his stride easy and confident as he led the way to the wherry pens. He was, now that the adreniline of the run had worn off, a bit tired, but his spine was straight and his shoulders square. As long as Jasrai didn't suggest they sprint, it was unlikely to affect him over much.

"Jasrai and Roseth, of course. I'll try to remember. I'm terrible with names." He was excellent with names. But sometimes it was as useful to pretend to forget someone as it was to remember. It all depended on the occasion. "You aren't from the Weyr, originally, are you?"

At the very least, her face did not call up memories of his own childhood in the lower caverns.

They were nearly to the wherry pens, already the beasts were beginning to make themselves known, by smell and sound if not by sight. Tarusen allowed his pace to slow a bit. He was tired, after all. And they were nearly to their destination.

"I shall not forget you, Lady." Tarusen directed the comment toward the green, with his usual practiced smile. Sure, it wasn't exactly effective on most dragons, but it never hurt to practice. It never hurt to try.

"Yes, I was born here. My father was a dragonrider." That was his story and he was sticking to it, dammit. Not just any dragonrider, either. But, he kept those particular secret thoughts quiet. For the best. Now was not the time to be thinking of such things. Few friends were made by a man babbling on about himself.

"A turn? I trust you've settled in at this point, then." He turned his attention back to Jasrai, offering a slightly more wry smile. "Though perhaps it has become more uncomfortable since you found your Roseth. There are some fools here who see gender and in so doing lose sight of more important things. Like, potential."

It was that potential that most concerned Tarusen. While he certainly agreed that there was something a bit odd about a woman on a green, it was the dragon that mattered. A green was a green. Jasrai was a dragonrider and therefore, a friend to be made.

"I'm sure the two of you will make such an impression they will soon forget such trivialities. She will clearly grow to be a fine dragon. Hunting already."

"You're your own line, now. There's reason enough to be proud for any family that has dragonriding in the blood." And that, was perhaps one of the few things that Tarusen had said so far that held nothing but his honest thoughts on the matter. Which was why his father was a dragonrider, whether or not he could prove the claim. He knew. He could feel it in his blood.

"It's an admirable instinct. Isn't a dragon that wishes to hunt for herself better than the one that placidly waits for food to be brought?" This too, cut close enough to his actual views. You bettered yourself, because people didn't look after the weak. They preyed on them. But that was the fault of the weak. If they didn't want to be victims, they'd learn to be stronger.

"Instincts like that and she's sure to bring honor to her Wing when she's old enough." He seemed to be making progress with Roseth, if not with Jasrai and Tarusen wasn't above pursuing the easy course.

"I am sure there is much about your family that deserves such pride." Tarusen replied, mildly, not wanting Jasrai to get the idea that he thought less of non-weyrfolk, which, of course, he did.

The wherry pens in sight, he allowed his casual saunter to slow to stillness. He eyed the beasts a moment, then glanced over his shoulder, back in the direction they'd come. He had, originally, had a destination planned after finishing his run.

Side trips, like this one, tended to make up a good percentage of his day. Helping out, or at least trying to, was a good way to learn names, make at least decent impressions on people. It was a way to gather, if not favors, then at least names. But, nonetheless, he did have duties of his own. And, if he hadn't won Jasrai over, he was fairly certain that he'd at least made a start at it.

"Well, Lady, I do hope you enjoy your meal." He directed the comment toward Roseth before turnng his gaze toward Jasrai. "I better get to my chores, though I'm sure the hunt will be.... exciting." If not, perhaps, successful. "Thanks for letting me walk with you."