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 Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:36 pm
I iiiiiitch, Mine. So itchy!
“I, I know, Rayth. Rayth? Rayth, you need to hold still, or-“
Too late! One swing of that mighty tail and B’hec’s jar of oil went tumbling over, its contents splattering across the ground and soaking into the dirt before the newly made rider could even come up with an appropriate swear. Clapping a slippery hand to his cheek, he just shut his eyes and shook his head, whining something unintelligible to himself as the blue dragon cried out in horror. The baker was barely able to hear himself think over Rayth’s incessant babbling, let alone figure out a quick solution to the unfolding trauma.
“Easy, easy. I know, Rayth. It’s not your fault. No, really.” He sighed, unable to help the sideways grin as Rayth attempted to scrap up some of the oily dirt. “It will be o-“
And down the blue dragon went, his wings tucked closely to his sides as he shut his eyes and rolled himself into the tiny patch of slimy mud. B’hec could do nothing but laugh helplessly, Rayth making a sorry attempt at oiling himself. “You’re just making a mess!” the rider complained, but the blue pretended to be unable to hear His. Mud felt better than nothing at all!
So itchy! Rayth insisted, squirming again. Miiiiine, this is probably my fault, but the iiiiiitch.
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:17 pm
Jada and Geminith were finding another place to oil the golden dragonet when they stumbled upon the blue and his rider just in time to see the oil fall over. Geminith made a small noise, watching her hatchmate scrabbling for the mud, flinging his body into it in an attempt to get himself oiled. Oh, don't do that! Geminith scampered in the direction of the blue and His. Jadamirei, bring the oil over here! We can share it, can't we?
The outsider followed her partner as the gold made herself known to them, if they hadn't noticed already. Geminith hadn't even waited for Jadamirei to agree; it was a given that Jada wouldn't let her brother roll around in the mud when they had plenty of oil to help out!
"Is there enough left in the jar to get him oiled down?" Jada spoke up at last, moving in the dragonet's steps. "If not, Geminith is right, we have enough to help out."
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:13 am
Rayth jumped as someone spoke to him, blue eyes flashing open as he quickly scrambled to his feet, mud dripping in large, fat chunks from his wings. The freckled dragon made some sort of strangled noise when he realized it was the Queen (of all the hatchlings, the Queen!?) who spoke with him. G-Geminith! he babbled, backpedaling towards his rider. The mud was dribbling off in streams, slick and oily instead of thick and sticky. It was just as messy, really, and when the blue backed right into his rider and sent him sprawling, B'hec made an impressive squeal and splash into the puddle anyways.
Mine! Rayth wailed, skittering away from his rider. That was supposed to be my puddle! The blue's wings flared and he glanced up, meeting Geminith's gaze before squeaking and glancing down at his rider again. Get uuuuup!
"What is it Ra-ay-ayth." B'hec's jaw snapped shut with a click. He saw Geminith, and where there was a gold dragon, there was a goldrider. Not to disappoint logic, Jadamirei appeared right behind her dragon, offering her oil, and, oh! He was covered in mud! Cheeks ablaze, the bluerider ducked his head and pushed himself out of the puddle. "Uh...uh...uh, I think just about all of it, uh. Spilled. So there's not much left..." he replied, seemingly having war as he tried to decide whether he ought to look at the goldrider or avert his eyes. "...you don't have to share, though."
B'hec tended to deserve what he got.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:13 pm
We don't have to, but we will. Geminith spoke first, peering at B'hec as though he were something curious. Why wouldn't we? Then she gave the rider a frown, and said, You should tell Yours if you need oiling rather than take his puddle.
"We don't need oiling, Geminith." Jada grinned at the dragonet and held out a hand to Belhec to try and help him up.
Oh. What about baths?
"You know we take baths, same as you." Someday, Geminith decided, she'd learn more about humans. Hers "Regardless, she's right. We don't mind sharing the oil, though I'm sure Rayth would like a bath first." Rayth was the name of the blue, from what she could guess of the 'Ra-ay-ayth' that had been squeaked out.
Yes, you can't be oiled right if you're all muddy. Geminith felt very downcast. Jadamirei told me this. She won't oil me if I am dirty. She was wavering about a foot away from her clutchmate now, her sense of propriety at war with her desire to be closer to her brother. How about you go have baths! Rayth can get clean, and His can get clean, and while they do that, Jadamirei and I can find a good place for oiling and sunning! It was a good idea, right? An excellent idea. Yep yep!
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:56 pm
"I didn't take his puddle," B'hec muttered, slightly aghast as the gold scolded him. "I just. I fell."
Have a bath? But I itch now," Rayth sighed, trying to fold his muddy wings against his body. And oh, the mud! It made him itch even more! Letting out a pitiful creel, the freckled blue threw himself against his rider, tail thrashing wildly as he tried to soothe the burning sensation. It was so overpowering, this itch, itch, itch!
"Rayth. Rayth, please, please. Stop," B'hec begged, trying to drag himself to his feet, trying to sling the mud of his own arms. He glanced up at the other rider, flashing her a shaky grin as he grabbed his blue's headknobs and pulled him away. "Rayth! Darling, Rayth. Please. Stop?"
Only if you make this itching stop, Mine! Rayth gasped, practically trotting after his rider as the brunette tried to lure him to the water. Sister! he piped up, suddenly remembering his mannters. Do you want to get clean, too?
B'hec nodded, waving for the pair to join them. "It would be rude of us to, you know...just leave you behind."
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:40 am
Jada was glad that Geminith wasn't that miserable when she itched. If she had to take a dragonet as large as the gold in the side when Gemi itched, she'd be black and blue. She grinned back at the rider, wryly.
The girls followed along behind, both averting their gaze once the two had started sloshing in. It wouldn't be proper! Geminith's voice was prim. Ladies can't bathe with boys. Jadamirei and I will find a place for sunning and oiling further down.
The dark-haired rider nodded, stroking Geminith's large head. "She's right. We're clean, anyways, why would we want to get all wet?" her grin was friendly.
By the time the boys would be done getting the mud off, Gemi and Jada would be near a nice rocky area, the gold on her side, lazily stretched, Jada oiling her carefully, not wanting to take the chance of running out of oil.
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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:42 am
Not proper? Rayth glanced up at B'hec and B'hec gave Rayth a puzzled grin. He hardly saw anything improper about it, but maybe that's just because he was a boy. His boots came off first, the baker unlacing them and kicked them aside while Rayth bounded right in, creating a large splash. Pulling his muddy shirt over his head and dropping it on the pool shore before wading into the cool river water. He could feel the question in his dragon's mind and reached out, latching on to his headknob to give him a gentle shake.
"If you say so," the bluerider replied, his smile bright before he turned back to Rayth. It wasn't easy, trying to wash a dragon who was too preoccupied with his itches to actually hold still long enough to allow his rider to clean the mud off. Before either blue or boy could drag themselves out, Rayth had accidentally dunked his rider at least three times, leaving B'hec wondering who, exactly, was getting the bath.
Rayth trotted out of the pool, the freckled blue the picture of grace as his rider stumbled behind him, hair plastered against his face as he chuckled gently. Rayth shook himself out before approaching the Queen. Remembering her earlier scolding, the blue tucked his wings neatly against his sides and halted suddenly, glancing back at his rider before addressing his clutchmate quietly. Am I allowed to sit with you? he asked, ducking his head as he glanced back at B'hec again. It's okay to say no. You are a Queen...and I am not.
B'hec snorted softly, grabbing Rayth by the headknob as he tugged the dragon over to where rider and gold sat. A gentle pink slowly crawly up his cheekbones, he extended a hand. "I don't think we've met," he said, "I'm B'hec, and this is- Rayth! Rayth, get back over here!" The baker sighed, Rayth having already scuttled a few paces back. "He's very...shy. I think. He's hard to explain."
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:02 pm
Jada smiled at the boys when they found Geminith and herself. "Have a nice bath?"
That's not a proper question, Jadamirei! You don't ask boys about their baths.
"Sorry." Jada patted the golden hide, motioning to the oil nearby.
And you can certainly come sit with me, Rayth. Geminith sounded bewildered. Privately, possibly for the first time, she spoke to Jada alone. Why do people go on about me being a Queen?
Because you are? Jadamirei suggested. Just an idea.
I'm your clutchmate. Geminith said, decisively, returning to her broadcasts. And we are young. You can treat me the same as any of our other siblings. It wasn't like she was in any position of power just yet. Logically, when they were split into wings, things would need to change, but... that was a sad thought, and one that the gold would not contemplate.
Jadamirei reached out a hand, grasping B'hec's. "I'm Jadamirei. A pleasure. And hello to you, Rayth." she glanced behind the rider, grinning at the blue. "I don't think anyone would expect you to explain him. I couldn't explain Geminith either."
Rayth, stop acting like a wherry and come get oiled. Geminith's voice was teasing. I don't bite.
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:36 am
…treat her the same as anyone else? Rayth cast Geminith a bewildered glance, blue eyes whirling with tinges of yellow as he tried to piece together this puzzle. Him? He was a just a little blue. A quiet, humble, underfoot little blue. And it wasn’t exactly like Rayth minded…okay, maybe he did mind. Just a little teeny, tiny bit, but that was besides the point. Blues did not socialize with bronzes, because bronzes were big and large and scary and every just loved them to little, teeny bits. (And then there was Bajenth, who absolutely insisted on wrecking any sense of logic Rayth thought he’d established.) Queens, then, were the ultimate of…well. The freckled blue wasn’t exactly sure what they were the ultimate of, but he knew that they were pretty ultimate. Also, they were girls, and he knew, even now, that he wasn’t exactly good at-
“Rayth! Stop, you’re giving me a headache.” B’hec gave his dragon a firm shake, effectively causing some sort of earthquake inside the blue’s panicked mind. His runaway train of thought derailed, he gazed up at his rider, eyes still whirling with hints on yellow. “Go sit with Geminith.”
But she’s-
“Rayth. Don’t be rude and go sit with her. And try to be pleasant, please.”
Rayth did as he was told, tail all but between his legs as he slunk to the Queen’s side and flopped down on his haunches awkwardly. Sorry, he mumbled, looking everywhere but at his clutchmate. I, um. Didn’t think you bit. It’s just. Rayth paused, looking confused with his own thoughts. I would like to be oiled, I guess. I am so very, very itchy. But you can tell me to go away. If you want to. I wouldn’t blame you.
B’hec barely resisted the urge to slap his palm against his face as his little blue dragon rambled on. Instead, he was left burning bright red as he exchanged pleasantries with the Queen’s rider. “Jadamerei? The pleasure is all mine.” He flashed his teeth once in what might have been a brilliant smile if he wasn’t too busy trying to figure out how to not make a complete idiot out of himself. “I, uh. Oh. I guess so. My grandmother wasn’t too pleased when Rayth took out a table, though. And he gets stepped on, sometimes. He’s sort of clumsy in the kitchen.” B’hec shrugged helplessly. “But so am I. There was a little celebration in the kitchen when I Impressed, and not all for my good fortune.” The baker chuckled and shook his head, trying to keep half an eye on his young dragon. “How do you like being a rider so far? Geminith seems very…pleasant. And proper.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:35 am
Why did he look so bewildered? Geminith looked at Rayth, her head tilting to the side. She was a dragon like any other. Yes, she was a gold, and yes, that meant one day she'd apparently... her eyes whirled a startled yellow at the thought and Jada soothed the sudden panic.
What on earth had just set the little girl off so?
Babies.
That meant inappropriate things, and oh, oh, oh!
Shush, you adorable little wherry. Jadamirei's voice in her mind made Geminith focus. Whatever you worry about, it will be fine. Look, you are going to scare Rayth if you keep fretting.
Scaring Rayth would be a Bad Thing. Geminith settled as the blue approached her, huffing a greeting and leaning out to try and touch her nose to his. Why would I send you away? I would very much like to be your friend. And it would be mean to send you away if you are itchy. Not to mention Jadamirei says that if I itch I need to tell her immediately. So I tell her every little itch. Speaking of itches... My nose itches. She rubbed her nose against the ground, and then beamed bright green eyes at the young woman who was starting to move for her. The itch is all gone!
Jada shook her dark head, sharing a smile with B'hec. "My name can be tough to say. Just call me Jada. All my friends do. I don't know what possessed my parents to choose such an exotic name, but it is everyone else suffering the repercussions." the goldrider laughed, looking over at her dragon craning her neck to try and meet her clutchmate's eyes. "And they are both still very young." The place where she was staying with was the home of an older couple, who had offered to take her and Geminith after the couple she was staying with had expressed displeasure at the dragonet knocking into things. "Not many people appreciate clumsiness. I'm assuming from the way you speak that you're Ghenza born?"
Wasn't it unusual that a High Reaches transfer didn't know all the other transfers? "I appreciate you being so kind to me and Geminith." her voice was low now. She didin't want her little dragonet hearing. "Not everyone is so kind about her choosing me. Other than that, I'm adapting well. I think. Just going with the flow and hoping someone will tell me what they expect of me before I have to go to Nalina and ask for the rundown. She is very intimidating." she wrinkled her nose, and lifted the oil jar.
"Now, let us go get these two oiled down." She shook the oil jar in her hands a little bit, hoping to warm it a bit inside its clay container, and moved do sit near her dragonet. "Rayth, it is a pleasure to actually meet you. When I saw you last, you looked like a mud-creature." she was teasing, and her voice reflected it. "It was very silly of B'hec here to push you into a mud pile."
He didn't do it. Teasing went over Geminith's head.
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:04 pm
It was probably a miracle Rayth didn't faint when Geminith nosed him. As it were, it as all the blue could do to keep still, fearing it would be terribly rude for him to deny the young Queen anything she wanted. No matter what the bigger dragon insisted, she was still and always would be more important than Rayth. He knew this and knew everyone else knew this, too. Geminith was probably just being nice to him.
Are you sure you want me for a friend? Why did all these bronzes and golds want to be his friend!? I wouldn't want to be my friend. You don't have to be nice, it's okay. I won't be mad, Rayth suggested as he gazed at the queen, tail twitching back and forth nervously. But, um. If you are really, really sure, uhm. Mine says I should make sure to be good company. So if, uh, I am not being good company, Rayth prattled on in that soft, somber voice of his, if you could please tell me? Oh, I'm not telling you wait to do, I just-
"Rayth!" Rayth's head whipped around as B'hec commanded his attention. "Let it be."
The dragon doing as he was told, the bluerider was free to focus on his new acquaintance. "Jada? I can do that." Adjusting his weight from one foot to the other as he folded his arms over his chest, B'hec listened to the young Queenrider with a rapt interest. (He'd later insist this was not only because she was a pretty woman, he did actually care. He wasn't that shallow.)
"Huh? Oh, yeah. My grandmother, Jali, she runs the kitchen, and the rest of my family works there. My grandfather's a bluerider, though! He's a member of the council!" B'hec added cheerfully. His grin faded a little as Jada's list of complaints went on, taking on a look of concern instead. Foreigners or not, he was fairly certain everyone deserved respect. They hadn't done anything wrong, not really!
"It's nothing," he replied honestly, waiting politely for the goldrider to oil her dragon before dipping his own hand into the pot, slapping some oil on his blue's itchiest spots. "I don't think they have any right to be unkind. Geminith is a very nice dragon, and I like you very much. I am sure she knows what she was doing." A sage nod as he began to rub his dragon's hide a little harder. "Maybe they're just jealous. Lots of workers have daughters they were hoping to Impress, I imagine. I mean, I know I'm happy to have Impressed at all! So it must be hard to have been looking forward to something, only to be let down all together." He shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Sorry. You probably don't want a lecture."
B'hec half-expected a scolding from his young dragon, but the blue was too busy staring at Jada with wide blue eyes. The pleasure is mine! the freckled dragon replied, mimicking his rider's reply earlier. Mine did not mean it, I think. He is a very silly Mine, but he is Mine, so I forgive him. Please don't be too angry with him, he doesn't mean to be like that.
Apparently, humiliation went both ways.
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:18 pm
Geminith tilted her golden head at Rayth. Boys were silly. You're my clutchmate, she explained slowly, Why wouldn't I want you to be my friend? Do you not want to be my friend? Why else would he keep asking her if she was sure? It was getting almost vexing to the young dragon. but as he prattled, she softened. Oh, so he must just really be that insecure. Poor Rayth! Of course you're not telling me what to do. The gold blew air at her brother's face, giving an impish mental chuckle. But I will tell you if you start being poor company. The realization of her clutchmate's insecurity made Geminith all the more determined to boost his ego.
Jada ran her hands slowly over the golden hide of the dragonet, making Gemi produce a happy noise, low in her throat. "Don't you roll over." she chided the gold, when Geminith's body gave a threatening lurch. "You've squished me once, I'll not have it again."
It wasn't on purpose, Jadamirei. Geminith sounded reproachful. You know I would never squash you on purpose.
"Do I?" Jada gave the other rider a smile, a small wink that said she was enjoying teasing the gold. "I promise not to be angry with Yours, Rayth. He is a very good Yours." she smiled at the blue dragon. "So everyone in your family works in the kitchens except your grandfather?" She couldn't imagine. "Doesn't that ever give the feeling of not being able to escape?" The thought of doing the same thing as everyone else in your family... "My mother is a Healer. My father was a Harper." she paused, realizing that she may be admitting too much. Well... "I was going to be a Harper, then I went to the Weyr. And now..." she gestured. "I'm uprooted from everything. And it is an adventure. I can't imagine growing up knowing from day one what you are going to be when you get older. And having an entire family there... nerve-wracking, isn't it?"
The young woman wasn't trying to be impolite, she was trying to understand. "As for the attitudes..." she finally gave a shrug. "I'll manage. I just like to complain a little, sometimes." Abruptly, she realized that she would have someone to complain to. Someone to share her thoughts with, until the day they died. This was not a temporary bond. This was forever, deeper and more binding than marriage. Geminith looked up at Hers, eyes whirling blue and green. "And thank you for saying that, B'hec." Jada pulled her mind to the present.
"As for all those people who wanted to Impress," Jada pressed her face to the golden hide, "I'm sorry I took away their hope, but I'd be even sorrier if I hadn't met my Gemi." The gold dragonet under her rumbled, eyes whirling happiness.
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:39 am
Placated by Geminith's approval, the freckled blue allowed some of the tension to drain from his body. His wings relaxed and he lowered his head, shifting now and then to allow his rider to reach the really itchy spots. When B'hec found the patch of skin beneath his wing, the young dragon kicked out with a small squawk, leaning into the baker's fingers as his back leg continued to pedal.
It took him a moment to realize Geminith's rider was speaking with him, but he did, glancing back over as the yellow began to vanish from his eyes. He is a very good Mine... he replied shyly, unsure what to think with this other rider agreeing with him. As I am sure you are a very good Mine, too. For Geminith's. You and Geminith are very good. Rayth creeled quietly, shuffling to get a better look at the young gold. I didn't get any sand on you, did I? he asked meekly. I didn't mean to! I was just so itchy and Mine was itching me just so good and I'm so sorry, I didn't mean too, I really-
B'hec jerked on his headknob, effectively cutting off the dragon's tither. Clearing his throat, he redirected his attention to his new acquaintance. "I...uh..." The bluerider clearly looked uncomfortable with the question. "It was my duty, to carry on the family trade. I mean, I know I wasn't very good at it...but I love my family. A lot. And I just wanted to make them proud, but," and B'hec paused to glance around the premise before leaning in, "if you promise not to tell anyone, I'm really, really glad that I am going to be a dragonrider. I was so bad at baking. I'm really happy Rayth is Mine, even if he is a bit...worried."
Worried was probably an understatement.
The grin made its way back to the youth's face and he shook his head, blush settling high on his cheeks. "N'aw, don't mention it. I meant every word of it. You're a real nice person, Jada! I'm sure everyone else will come to see it, with some time. And you can always come to me to complain." B'hec chuckled. "I mean, even I gotta complain about the kitchen sometimes."
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 3:50 pm
Geminith avoided the sand. Jada was not so lucky. Quietly, she tried to wipe sand off her face. Jadamirei is perfect for me. Geminith agreed, rolling over onto her side, back to the blue so that Jada could rub oil over her plump belly. I didn't get any sand at all. Did I? She looked up at Jada, and gave an odd, loud huffing chuckle.
"No sand on you, no dear." Jada said cheerfully. Face cleaned off with the back of her arm, she turned her attention back to B'hec. "Ghenza seems very duty-bound." she observed, almost dryly. "In some ways, that is wise." And it was the way that generations had been raised. "And in others, isn't it limiting? From my observation everything is carried in the family, is this correct?" She paused for a moment. "While that means that overall you may have a select group of very talented... bakers, or farmers... doesn't it stifle the creativity?" she looked thoughtful. "I mean, if someone has an idea for a dish, or a way to do things differently? How do they approach the people affected by it?"
Did Jada have an idea? Well, no. "And it is odd I didn't meet you before now." she said, smiled; "I've been in the kitchens since I got to Ghenza. Mostly in charge of doing dishes. I think everyone thinks I'd accidentally poison someone." she reached out, gave her fellow rider a friendly pat. "My ear is always open too. We can complain about kitchens together, and then it won't be so bad."
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:27 pm
While Rayth missed the way he sprayed Jada, too concerned with the Queen sitting right in front of him. B'hec, on the other hand, watched with look of absolute horror. "Oh, oh shards, are you okay?" he muttered, a bright rosy red blossoming across the bridge of his nose and spreading to his cheeks and lighting up his ears.
What made it worse was the goldrider was trying to get all philosophical on him. B'hec cleared his throat, staring down at Rayth as he began to wrap up his oiling. "I, uh. I dunno. Girls can marry into other crafts, you know. But boys gotta carry on the family line. It's either that or get horribly maimed and be useless. I didn't want to be useless." There was a good chance he was going to seriously injure someone in that kitchen, though.
What Jada said next, however, stopped the bluerider dead in his tracks. "R-really? We...we must have been working together, then! They won't let me do anything but dishes! I mean, sometimes Grandmother allows me to go out and wipe down tables, but...they don't let me bake! They're afraid I might kill someone!" B'hec grinned brightly, unable to contain an excited squirm. "The next time you work, make sure you look for Rayth. He is always in the corner, and he can tell you where I am."
Yes, I can, Rayth confirmed, his freckled head bobbing as he glanced at the pair. He never allowed his attention to stray for long, shuffling his stubby legs as he struggled for a more comfortable position. Making a soft whuffling noise, he tried to catch Geminith's attention the most subtle way possible. After all, it would be rude to interrupt the gold if she were doing something important.
Ahhh, ahhhh. Geminith? If Yours works in the kitchens with Mine...I can show you were it is safe to hide. They step on my tail all the time because no one ever sees me, because I am... He crooned and tried to regain his train of thought. I will show you where it is safe to hide.
B'hec rewarded the dragon with a gentle pat to the head.
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