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 Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:00 am
(This takes place after meeting Narisa - since it's not finished yet I'mma be vague on it)
Too hot. Much too hot. Even then, a growing girl had to be taken care of. It meant bathing Iachixth - and oiling her. The bathing was easy enough, just scrub her down and Iachixth could roll about in the bubbles. Not so much with oiling: Natai decided to take her idea with Narisa to the next level of doing it and in the end clambered on top of her dragon with a large, clean mop, a bucket of oil, and a determine expression. Sweat clung already to her skin and caused her clothes to stick in awkward places. She wore pants this go around at least, dark blue and with a light, air friendly fabric, her shirt a tube and hanging down around her navel. Graceful and delicate goldrider she failed at being but at least the slamming heat wouldn't have her passing out.
This is the best thing! Iachixth piped, her tail lashing in excitement over this new idea of Hers. Natai laughed and grabbed the bucket from Iachixth's headknob. She poured a healthy amount down the length of her back and, with gritted teeth, hung it back up. The oil made the dragons hide slippery, enough so that when Natai settled on her, backwards, she could shimmy to the back of Iachixth and start mopping the oil onto her girl. Along the base of the tail, tops and middle of her back legs, base of the wings...
This would take a while. And, if the burning in her shoulders and back said, it would leave her quite worked out in the morning. The glitter rising from Iachixth's hide from the scented oil did a number on the shining sun, sending rays of golden light all over and especially into Natai's already squinted eyes. She longed for a hat. Even one decorated with flowers and bugs would do, provided it had a long floppy brim and kept the horrible backlash of her dragons hide from her eyes
"Would you like to sing, Iachixth?"
The one about the sky? Iachixth chirped. I like that one.
Natai cracked a grin, shoulders hunched to scrub harder. "Of course. I like that one too." She cleared her throat and tried to pitch it correctly. She never had the best of voices but Iachixth enjoyed it - it distracted the gold from her sitting still. "Fly me to the moons, let me swing among those stars. Let me see what spring is like on Rukbat and the - what's the next word?"
In other woooooords, hold my claw. In other woooooords, rider, hug me!
Iachixth, also, did not have the best voice.
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:39 pm
Too hot, indeed. Anali hated the blasted southern continent for its weather, which would have been good enough reason on its own for her to not be looking forward to visiting the Hold-hatched gold and her rider. Add in that the last time she'd been there was when said gold had decided to hatch while she and a wherhandler had been on the run with it, and...suffice to say she was not looking forward to this. At all. We're going to have to angle this, Banshi, she noted idly to her bonded, Carefully.
I know. It is the fourth time you have said as much, and that is only the times that I can remember. There was marked impatience in the Queen's response as they drew nearer to the cothold. They had agreed that popping out from between right overhead would have been rude at very best, and so they had chosen to come out a little ways away and fly the remaining short distance. You have thought this over enough, and now you are only doing it because you are anxious. Stop. You will do and say and adapt as you must. Reassurance replaced impatience, before being replaced in turn by cool calm. Though she cared for Hers, Banshidheth was far from the warmest and fuzziest of dragons, and any affection tended to come in small amounts here and there.
In the continued interest of avoiding causing a stir - or at least minimizing any they might create - the gold didn't do anything so dramatic as bugle or drop out of the sky, but broadcast out a wordless but unmistakable greeting as they approached, and after several moments followed it with words. More words than she normally liked to use when speaking to any but Anali, but sometimes it was necessary. Greetings, young Hold-Queen. I am Banshidheth, and I and Mine would like to meet you and Yours, if we may.
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:38 am
They never expected to hear other voices in Iachixth's head. Natai knew dragons communicated in that manner of course but even so it surprised them both. Usually they spoke alone (or at least when Iachixth was not very oily). The gil yelped in a most undignified manner, her hands tight on the mop handle.
One hand reached back to try and find a handhold on thedragon. All she managed to grab was smooth hide slick with oil making it all the harder to keep a grip. Even when she tightene her thighs, she slid, and squeaked much too like Iachixth for comfort. Her dragon chortled in amusement and flared out a wing to keep hr in place. Natai braced the soft head of the mop against the base of her wing and clung to the thing for dear life, eyes wide.
Hello! She called back to Banshidheth with typical cheer. I am Iachixth and this is Natai. We are playing a game called 'Do Not Fall Off The Dragon'. I think we are losing. But we are outside the hold and you can land and hello, welcome!
"We are not losing," Natai grumbled from where she valiantly attempted to keep herself from, indeed, falling off the dragon and onto the much too solid surface of the dirt below. She suddenly loved mops as much as she did large floppy hats with feathers on them. "Do they seem nice?"
Iachixth kept her words to Natai only, a cheerful whisper of mental bond if there ever was one. She sounds polite? But called me Queen, but she is polite so that is good.
"Bereck said it's just what people call you. No getting a fat head, you tube."
I am a pretty tube, though! And look, look, I am less tubelike.
"Thank goodness for that, otherwise I'd have fallen off already."
I can roll if you like. That way you can get down fast.
Despite herself, Natai laughed.
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 12:47 pm
That is not a game that I am familiar with, but that is true of most games. They had no time for such things, and though she couldn't remember specifically, she was quite certain that they never had. She and Anali had always had much more important things to do than have 'fun.'
Now that they had been cleared for landing, the large gold alighted with grace and great care not to damage any surroundings - younger gold and rider included. Banshidheth allowed Hers to dismount before folding her wings and dipping her head, faceted eyes holding a steady blue. Thank you for the gracious welcome. I hope it is not too much of an intrusion on our part.
"I see she's grown quite a bit," Anali noted once she was on her own two feet, beginning with something carefully inane and neutral...not that she thought it was likely to make much difference.
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Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 11:36 am
What we do is see how much oil we can put on my back and see how long she can stay on me. Iachixth chortled in amusement. True to her word, she held stock still as to not jostle Natai further. The young gold stared at the adult gold when she landed, her eyes a brilliant sky blue and emerald. Nope! You're polite and that's good.
Natai patted her hide and very slowly Iachixth lowered herself completely. Natai used wing, leg, and mop to maneuver herself down. The oil stuck fast. She frowned down at herself and plucked at her shirt in an attempt to detach it. Resigned, Natai propped the mop on Iachixth before she turned to Anali with her polite smile.
"She can't fit into cakes anymore," Natai agreed, the corners of her lips quirking a bit higher. It faded slightly when something in her clicked. Natai studied the other gold rider curiously, a faint line of thought appearing between her eyebrows. "Have we met before?"
Ooooh, have we? Iachixth picked up the mop with her teeth, as gentle as a lizard could be, and tried to start mopping at her leg. I can't remember.
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Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:35 pm
That would require impressive coordination, Banshidheth observed. Weyrling 'games' were not something she had any real interest in, but if that was what Iachixth wanted to talk about, then so be it. She could chat for an afternoon, given their rather nebulous goal of being friendly, or at least non-threatening and possibly sympathetic.
"That is probably for the best." A dragonet in a cake was, admittedly, an amusing thought, but silliness was worth little. "Not properly, no," Anali admitted, spreading her hands in a gesture of helplessness. "Circumstances being what they were, it was not an option that was open to us."
You and I have not, but our riders...it is quite complicated, in my understanding, but I was not present, and would not remember, anyway. Bemused, she watched the smaller metallic attempt to mop herself with oil. It was rather industrious of her, really, which was something Banshi could approve of.
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:04 am
She balances with the mop and I stand very still. Iachixth nodded. She kept at the mop. Even with being only half grown and doing her best to be gentle, her teeth indented on the wood. She rumbled cheerfully at any rate, attention still on Banshidheth. human things are always so complicated. They're very silly creatures, I think it's why they have us. We make sure they aren't so very ...silly.
Words were never her strong suit, even with being mentally connected to Natai and her vocabulary.
"It was quite a wedding cake." Natai nodded. Her expression cleared once anali agreed; she had a soft spot for those who did not lie about questionable things they may or may not have done. She surveyed the other woman and nodded, smiling again, softer than before. "I'm glad to see our baker and my parents didn't rough you up too badly."
She stepped forward, hand going out to offer for a shake. It dropped after she looked at her oil covered hand and Natai pulled a face. "I keep forgetting I'm soaked in this stuff. Right then, proper greeting. I'm Natai. I don't believe we caught your real name?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:35 pm
Yes. That is an apt description of one of our many duties as dragons. Overly simplified, perhaps, but true enough. Ours often require guidance whether they think so or not.
"There was no permanent damage done. It is regrettable that it came to that, but understandable." Anali shrugged it off, though it had in fact been the nearest thing to a fight she'd ever been involved in. She had not been pleased, to say the least, but ultimately it was Keller and his terrible timing that were to blame.
"Please. I've spent my fair share of time all but bathed in oil." The woman offered her hand and a small smile. "I'm Anali, and I'm glad to finally have the opportunity to speak with you."
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:35 am
Iachixth churred. She liked it when other dragons agreed with her; she enjoyed being correct and smart like the others. Humans knew things for their species, their two legged and hide-less sorts. Dragons knew draconic things. What else are our duties?
"To be honest, I think everyone assumed you'd stolen actual gold from a Lord Holder or something." Natai shook her hand, her grip firm though slick with the oil. "I have plenty of time to talk. Usually I'd invite you inside for tea but... well, situations being what they are. How may I help you, anali?"
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 7:12 pm
Our duties are many. We must tend not only to our riders, but to each other, and to any others who need it. We must fight Thread, although as golds you and I cannot flame, so our riders must do that for us. And, of course, we must give life to and aid further generations. It will be sometime before the last is required of you, however. Banshidheth accompanied her words with a soft thrum. This was a subject worthy of her words, and it pleased her to speak to the young Queen about it.
"I'm not sure whether that would have been easier or harder," Anali mused, her own grip firm as they shook hands. "Understandable. Remaining out here is perfectly fine."
"Officially, we're here to convince you to join the Glorious Cause." There was an undertone of sarcasm in the goldrider's voice, and she shrugged. "Personally, Banshi and I just wanted to check on you and see if you needed anything."
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Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 10:25 am
Oh. Iachixth said after a pause, translating Banshidheth's rather adult explanation first through Natai and then herself. She cocked her wee gold head (although not so tiny anymore) and crooned when Banshidheth appeared to be happy to talk to her about this. Iachixth wriggled again. How do we fight Thread if it's our riders? I like helping people! When the small humans are sad they hug me and everything is okay. Natai gets sad sometimes too but it gets better. Also babies are nice. I've only met human babies but I was a little hatchling once so it can't be that hard. Right? Maybe?
She hoped not. Iachixth didn't like to fail Natai and Natai didn't like to fail much of anything.
The goldrider in question smiled brightly with Anali's candor, relaxing a bit more. The other woman reminded her somewhat of Mother, though not in appearance or volume. A frankness resided in them both, the sort that made her feel more comfortable in talking or, at the very least, made the smiles somewhat more genuine.
"Officially, I am sorry to say you will be unsuccessful. Nothing against the ideals, I am very for color equality. It is simply how everything... occurred," Natai winced, her head shaking. "Unfortunately that was another factor in your treatment before. My hold was rather worried that the Wherholds would storm our Hold eventually, looking for supplies or Candidates or merely because we tithe to Trine. It was fear." Natai shook her head again, holding back a sigh. Mass fear was understandable; she herself ran out to face the possible threat with nothing but a small handheld weapon and curlers in her hair in a shift. It didn't make things right. "We're doing alright. Things are getting more complicated the larger she gets, though I think we've worked out the oiling bit but... You take what you're given and run with it. How are you faring at the Wherholds? I had thought they weren't all that accepting of metallics."
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 7:20 pm
We do the flying, while they take care of the flaming, Banshidheth explained, flicking her spaded tail. Raising hatchlings is...not hard, precisely, but it is very important that it be done well. It cannot be done over again, so there must be no mistakes.
"I had thought as much. The methods through which the Wherholds' independence was gained are regrettable, but I doubt it could have happened any other way. Most with power will not give it up simply because they are asked politely." Anali paused for a moment, watching the dragons, before she answered Natai's question. "We fare well enough. We were not a part of the revolution, but came to the Wherholds when we heard what had taken place. Banshidheth and I found their ideals...appealing. We were considered rather eccentric at Telgar, for believing in equality. Not only for all colors, but for all Weyrfolk."
"I digress, however. The truth is that our new allies don't trust us yet, for understandable reasons, but we will prove ourselves in time."
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