[PRP] Sandwiches and Siblings (Shar, Ar'din, and dragons)

[SilverLutz]

Three days. It had only been three days since the early morning double hatching. To Shar it seemed like it had been an eternity ago and yet at the same time only the blink of an eye. A lot could happen in three days, and yet nothing could as well. Having to remain in the hospital ward for a day and a half to patch up her leg as best as the healers could had been boring and she had missed out on the feast and the festivities that had followed. She wasn't terribly put out about missing it - she had been to enough in her lifetime of living at the Weyr to know they were all like the others - but she was a bit miffed that Yulaniath hadn't gotten to experience it. The small green had reassured her that she wasn't upset and that she was much more worried about Shar's leg healing properly so they could get down to business as soon as possible.

Upon her release, Shar hit the ground running. Well, limping quickly. She got all her things moved from the Candidate barracks to the junior weyrlings dormitory, set up her space, started reading ahead on assignments that would surely pop up, and of course taking time to feed, oil, and get to know Yulan. Her green was happy to toddle along after Shar, curious and excited to see and learn everything there was to know about her new home. Shar did her best to explain things to Yulan whenever she had a question, but on occasion she found the little dragon paging through her mind to find the answers herself if Shar was taking too long. It was a bit strange to feel another mind in her head, but at the same time it was so incredibly empowering that she didn't mind the incredible invasion of privacy. Yulan had picked her, after all. There was nothing she needed to worry about the small green finding.

The third day was the first day of normality. Shar rose early with the others to begin the daily routine of taking care of Yulan, ensuring her small dragon was oiled to perfection until her dark hide gleamed in the rising sun and fed her until she was stated. Then she saw to it that she herself got fed before heading off to the first lecture as a junior weyrling. Then came training, spending more time with Yulan, and finally lunch. Shar was more than happy to grab some grub from the kitchen and bring it outside to enjoy in the last of the warmth for the year, the wind making it fairly chilly for those that had come from Western, but for her who had been born and raised here, it was a nice, refreshing breeze.

What is that? Yulan asked, her tiny, sharp claws pressing almost painfully against Shar's thigh as the little dragon peered at the sandwich Shar had slapped together for herself. Shar swallowed and opened up the top of the sandwich to show off what was inside to her dragon.

"Roasted meat, some vegetables, and a nice sauce that makes it taste a little spicy. And bread," she added, slapping the top back on the sandwich to take another bite. Yulan tilted her head as Shar chewed, experiencing the flavors through her rider as Shar tried to project what she was tasting to her. After a moment Yulan gave a mighty sneeze which prompted a bit of laughter from the new dragonrider.

"Guess you're not a fan of spicy stuff. Kind of ironic, considering you'll breathe fire some day," she said with a grin as Yulan scraped at her nose to try to remove the tingly sensation from it.  

[medigel]

Oiling, Ar'din had found, was a lot like gardening in that working with his hands in a repetitive motion was meditative. It was more rewarding, even, or so Alquemieth made it in his own way. Ar'din had never had a flit, or really took care of animals beyond occasionally making sure Gregor's troublesome trio had been fed, and while he could no longer begin to imagine the bronze as simply a pet, the act of caring for something--someone other than himself was new. Maybe not eye-opening, but his world had grown just a little bigger nonetheless; and given a bronze's usual size, the world had a lot more to go. He had almost not wanted to eat, so lost was he in the process of making sure Alquemieth was spotless and looked after.

Ar'din was used to eating on the fly, nibbles when he got a chance rather than sitting down and taking it in at once. His plate wasn't filled to the brim as a result. As they looked for a spot to settle, the pair caught sight of the familiar, abrasive candidate from before an her green. Ar'din had taken measures in class to avoid her specifically; the last thing he needed on his head was more bad press for starting a fight. Alquemieth certainly wasn't interested in such a rude human, even though one of his sisters had taken to her for whatever reason. But there weren't any other free spaces (of course there wasn't), and so with an inward sigh, Ar'din plopped himself opposite the woman and focused on his food.

Sister, mind what you eat, Alquemieth tutted as he took his place beside His, looking as stately as a dragonet could.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

It certainly is an odd sensation...but not bad, persay, Yulaniath insisted as the strange sensation faded. She lifted her head once more to eye the sandwich although her curiosity had been stated by this point. Sandwiches were...nice for humans, she supposed. A nice, fresh wherry was more her speed.

I like it, anyway, Shar said in response, finding it incredibly convenient to be able to speak to her dragon without having to talk with her mouth full. Her fairly decent mood quickly dropped as someone sat down opposite her, a familiar yet still mostly unknown face coming into view. Her chewing slowed until it stopped completely as the former Candidate who had Impressed to Bossuth's brother tucked into his food, completely ignoring her.

Well. This great day just took an interesting turn.

Yulan, however, peered over at her brother with green and blue eyes, swirling so quickly they looked teal. She had a deep love for all of her family no matter their temperament and although Alquemieth wasn't the most bubbly of brothers, he showed he cared in his own...special...Alquemieth way.

I didn't eat it, SharMine was showing me what it tasted like. Very strange, human food. I think I prefer ours, she said with a little laugh to her voice. The glaring from Shar didn't go unnoticed and after greeting her brother, the small green turned her attention back to Hers. There was irritation and mild anger rolling off Shar - which was understandable considering the situation Yulan had walked into when approaching the two bronze brothers, their riders, and Shar - but Hatchings were tumultuous times. Yulaniath knew Shar didn't harbor any hate or anger for her cousin that had killed one of the Candidates, nor the boy that he had Impressed to, and yet she was feeling like this for a Candidate and dragon that she had known for a few moments. R'iz was her best friend and that alone was enough reason for emotion to be put into something like this, but really...it was all a bit much. She was sure things could be smoothed over.

Come on, say hello. You two will be fighting together some day, being upset over things that happened in the egg is rather silly.

Shar glared down at Yulan for a moment but the little dragon only stared up at her intently, still mentally pushing her to be cordial. Shar swallowed her mouthful of soggy food, grimacing at the texture, before turning to stare across the table at the other rider. She didn't even know his name - he was fairly new to the Weyr and she hadn't had many classes with him - but she supposed she should at least learn it. Yulaniath was right in that some day, even if they didn't care for one another, they would be fighting side by side and depending on each other to watch their back. Ugh.

"Hi," she managed to get out, her tone anything but friendly which earned her a little slap from Yulan's tail against her good leg. The short woman hissed at the sting and looked down at her dragon who was once again gazing at her brother, ignoring Shar completely even if she had a mischievous glint to her eyes.

How have you been enjoying classes, Alquemieth? Today was our first day since Shar's been in the hospital wing for her leg. It's very exciting, isn't it? I can't wait until we're old enough to start flying! It was clear the little green was eager to get up in the sky and start fighting even if she was just a few days old.

medigel

 

[medigel]

Indeed.

Alquemieth supposed he could commend his sister's attempts to make peace since it came from a good place in her hearts, but she really had chosen someone rough and tumble for niceties--and this coming from the bronze that had picked a pit fighter. Ar'din certainly didn't care for the forced politeness, inwardly bristling at a simple word. People could work together without having to like each other. He loathed the idea of having to pretend to be nice outside of the job when it was clear this weyrling wouldn't like him even if he stopped Thread itself forever.

Then don't pretend, Alquemieth said. Adapt. It's just for lunch right now. Consider it practice for the future.

Joy of joys, Ar'din replied. He broke his loaf of bread in half, wrapped it in a napkin, and tucked it into his pocket for later. "How's the leg?" he asked, finally looking at her. Simple enough, business oriented, a field he was knowledgeable in.

They can be somewhat chaotic, Alquemieth replied to Yulan. Especially given the recent staffing shake up. But like you, I eagerly await the day we can fight the silvery menace. "Eagerly" didn't seem to cut it for someone as intense as him.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Shar waited for some type of a reply - a glare, a grunt, anything - from the man across from her but it was a while in coming. Given the fact that he too was a junior weyrling she had a feeling he was speaking with his dragon just as she had been, trying to figure out what to say, perhaps, or if he should say anything at all. Rather than a greeting, he finally questioned her about her leg, and to say it threw her for a loop was an understatement. She sat in quiet surprise for a few moments before a little mental nudge from Yulan got her speaking again.

"Fine."

Well. Kind of speaking. His question had tempered her irritation at least a bit, though, and she returned to her sandwich for the time being. Yulan gave a little sigh beside her and rested her head on her thigh, deciding to let it be for now. Humans could be such strange creatures.

We haven't seen the chaotic side yet, but we've only been to one round of classes. Hopefully they get everything worked out soon...I'd hate for our lessons to suffer because of everything that's happened. A slight tinge of red lined the otherwise teal eyes of the little green, the memory of that dragon from Western insulting not only her siblings and cousins, but the queens of High Reaches as well. Now everything was all out of alignment, unbalanced, and that alone was enough reason to be irritated.

Shaking her head to clear her mild anger, Yulan nudged Shar's thigh again as she addressed her rider.

Perhaps ask for his name and give him yours? she suggested, hoping to continue smoothing things over. Shar swallowed her mouthful but didn't take another bite right away. Deep down within her she knew that it would be better to at least be civil with the other rider, but she couldn't help but remember how that bronze and the man had tried to whisk a very injured R'iz and a very fearful Bossuth off the sands. He had some work to do if he ever wanted her respect simply because of the wrong foot they'd gotten off on. But, as Yulan reminded her, there would be no peace between them if they didn't try.

"Haven't seen you around the Weyr much. You're pretty green, right?" Shar finally said, setting her sandwich down. Having been born and raised here she knew everyone's face that had grown up here and just about all of the names. The Searched Candidates she got to know through classes and chores, and yet she still didn't know his name.

"I'm Shar. This is Yulaniath," she finally said, giving her name first to prompt him to give her his. At her name, Yulan lifted her head from Shar's leg to give a warm little trill, sending a welcoming but not overbearing wave of greeting to both her brother and his rider.

medigel

 

[medigel]

Alquemieth bristled at the memory, eyes gaining a tinge of fiery color. High Reaches will not be undone by one mouthy bronze, he said stiffly. Perhaps it was necessary to find new staff. Some of the candidates were horrors to look upon. Sleeping, punching an egg, insulting the dragonets...His jaw tightened, but he remained composed.

Ar'din responded without thinking. "You're the one with the green." As if being new was somehow an insult. Maybe his annoyance and the bronze's had mixed a little too much. He paused, took a deep breath, exhaled through his nose, and ate a little more before trying again. It was hard to fight the impulse to be antagonistic. "Arcadin. Ar'din, now. And Alquemieth."

Alquemieth merely nodded, formal.

"And yeah. Got here a little over a month ago." He was surprised Shar would notice, given the size of the weyr, and also not surprised, because he sort of stuck out like a sore thumb when he wanted to. And sometimes when he didn't. "You?"

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Yulan shivered just a bit, recalling some of the Candidates that had presented themselves to her. It hadn't been a hard time in finding Hers even though she had taken her time to hatch, but her brother was right - some of those that were standing weren't fit for a dragon of any caliber in her opinion.

Ar'din's knee-jerk reply made Shar stiffen for a moment, eyes narrowed at his rebuttal. Was there something wrong with having a green, hm? At High Reaches she knew that it would be a struggle to reach any sort of leadership position due to the color of Yulan's hide, but to Shar that didn't matter. Yes, she preferred to be in charge when she felt more confident in her abilities than someone else's, but she didn't mind following if someone else was more knowledgeable. So long as she was able to fight Thread and defend her home she didn't care about the color of the dragon that had chosen her, but if this rider-

Mine, calm yourself, Yulan cooed quietly, rubbing her head against Shar's good leg. That's not what he meant. Perhaps he didn't understand what you meant or doesn't care to be called out for his new status here.

He didn't need to say it like that, Shar argued, but she let it die as Ar'din moved on to answer her question. She let her gaze flick to the bronze as he nodded his head, finding it strange that he was so opposite from the much more kind if cowering bronze that had shared his egg with him.

"Born and raised here," she said, turning her gaze back to the large rider across from her. "Which is why I knew you were new. Hadn't seen you in classes which means you were beginning courses, only seen your face in the dining hall or doing chores. It wasn't hard to put together." She took another bite of her sandwich, chewing quietly as she tried to figure out something else to say.

Yulan, pleased with how things were going even if they were a bit forced, gave a little trill and turned her head to gaze at her brother once again.

I'm glad you two decided to sit with us, Alquemieth. Sharmine and Ar'din seem similar in ways that they might not see, but perhaps we could show them that friends can be found in the most unlikely of places.

medigel

 

[medigel]

Alquemieth gave her a look. The same? Hardly. His sister clearly had her work cut out for her, but HisAr'din? He simply needed a little polish to shine. But even in his distaste, he knew it was important to establish a bond between future wingriders, however...annoying they may be. We will see, he said. If they truly share similarities? Then you and I are in for a difficult road.

Fantastic job figuring that one out. At least Ar'din managed to keep that comment to himself this time as he picked at his food. "Came in about a month before," he provided instead. "Nice place here, I guess. When you aren't at the bottom of the totem pole."

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Yulan caught the look from her brother but chose to let it slide off her back. Surely they all thought their own riders were the best - why would they have chosen them otherwise? - and she couldn't fault Alquemieth for standing by his chosen even if he seemed a little rough around the edges. Still, even for a dragon so young she knew that Alquemieth needed a bit of humbleness instilled in him. Perhaps it would have to wait until it came time to actually begin training. Surely her own rider was far more experienced in the ways of dragon riding than Ar'din and perhaps then he would see her worth.

The difficult road is the one with the biggest reward at the end, brother, she replied with a confident tone brimming with energy. The easy road is for the lazy and the unwilling. I can't see either of us taking that path. There was a bit of a friendly challenge to her tone as she gave another little trill of delight, egging the larger dragon on just a bit to try to get some sort of emotion out of him.

Shar ignored Yulan for the most part, letting her speak with her brother. It was a wonder the little green was so fond of all of her family despite how Alquemieth had treated Bossuth both in and out of the egg. Normally Shar would brush it off - dragons before Impression were fickle things and they changed quite a bit once they found Theirs - but considering who Bossuth had Impressed to...well. Shar would need to see some serious improvement from the darker twin before she gave him a pass.

"Isn't that the case with any place?" Shar asked, assuming that other Weyrs and Holds were similar. She had a pretty good life here all things considered growing up as a Weyrbrat and stepping into Candidacy on her fourteenth Turn. She'd never been stuck doing drudge work or anything awful like that, for to be a Candidate was the highest honor anyone could have. The chance to be a dragon rider - the highest on any totem pole anywhere in her opinion - was one she had happily spent almost four years working hard for.

"I assume you'd know since you arrived so recently. Where are you from?"

See? She could play nice.

medigel

 

[medigel]

It wasn't always the case, he wanted to argue. There was--But Ar'din stopped himself. No use following hypothetical threads of conversation. Not like Shar would care anyway. Still just idle chit chat.

"Not here, obviously," he replied, again without thinking. No, wait, that wasn't a witty retort. Damn it. He was not good with idle chit chat. One more time. "Got pulled from Crom Hold."

It was clear that Shar would have to get used to asking a lot of questions, as prying answers out of the scarred, tall man was like pulling teeth.

Alquemieth's look turned cool as he regarded Yulaniath. Not one for being playful, he could only parse at the silent challenge until it was left awkwardly sitting in a room of active crickets. She wasn't so bad, compared to other less than desirable clutchmates, and so that was the worst of it. But inwardly, he found it amusing that a green thought she could challenge him in any regard, game or not. Naturally, Alque said, somehow both serious and dry at the same time. Consider instilling that work ethic into others, sister. We've enough tragedies attached to our names without adding dimwitted students to the list.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Crom Hold. Shar wrinkled her nose just a bit at the name. It wasn't the worst Hold when all was said and done but there were rumors of things starting to go south there and quickly. She wasn't well versed in the politics on Pern, but judging by how scarred up the man before her was it wasn't the nicest place to grow up in.

"Well, you obviously were Searched at the perfect time," she said, pointing what remained of her sandwich at Alque. It wasn't unheard of for freshly Searched Candidates to find Theirs the first Touching they stood for, but to be here for only a month and to be selected was fairly rare. Obviously the two were made for each other but judging by Alque's response - or lack thereof - to Yulan's repeated attempts at getting him to do more than simply sit there, they were both pretty stoic and withdrawn.

"Some people never Impress, you know. Stand for Turns and Turns and nothing ever comes of it. I'd be thanking your lucky stars you were picked so soon and not be sitting there looking like you've got a rod shoved up your a-"

She was cut off as Yulan stood on her hind legs, reaching as high as she could with her head to knock Shar's hand that was still brandishing her sandwich. It was enough of a distraction for Shar to have to focus on not dropping her food and she shot a little glare down at her dragon who re-seated herself with a pleased look on her face.

Nicely, Sharmine. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Letting out a slow, deliberate breath through her nose, Shar set the few bites of sandwich down so Yulan couldn't try to knock it out of her hand again. She turned her gaze slowly back to Ar'din, trying to pick up where she left off.

"What I was trying to say was, you seem to have gone from a pretty awful situation to a good one, yet you're acting like it's a chore to be here."

Satisfied that Shar was on the right track once more, Yulan gazed back at her brother as she considered his words. As far as she was concerned there was only one tragedy, and that was the loss of their sister and her rider. One more team to fight Thread, gone before it even had a chance to grow. She had promised herself and Shar that day that they'd fight hard enough to fill in for their beloved sister, but it still hurt to know that she never got the chance to love life as much as Yulan knew she could have.

I'm sure none of our siblings or cousins would pick dimwitted riders, Alquemeith. Each pair will bring something with them that the others lack and we'll be an unstoppable force! I'm sure you and your Ar'din could become a great Wingleader team if he works on his people skills and you loosen up a bit. While everyone had their strengths, everyone also had their weaknesses. The pair before her were strong, there was no doubt about that, but to be good leaders they had a lot of work to do. Yulan knew that she and Shar would never rise very high here, if at all, simply because of the color of her hide, but it didn't bother her much. She was ready to be the soldier, the one to put in all of the hard work and expect nothing in return. Her mind was sharp as her claws, though, and she was more than willing to help any of her siblings rise to their full potential in any way she could, even if it was a gentle wake-up call to remind them of their shortcomings.

medigel

Insert 'we gotta work on your people skills' gif here

 

[medigel]

Ar'din didn't say anything for a stretch of time. Though he showed faint amusement at her cut off insult, it wasn't the first time someone had told him to be more grateful about his new lot in life. It was, in fact, something he had had to overcome with Alquemieth in a private moment not long ago. And it was clear Ar'din still stumbled when it came down to it. But he hardly needed some random girl reminding him and was obstinate against agreeing for that reason, no matter the fact that he knew it to be true. Deep down he was still that young Bitran prize fighter, scrapping to find what was his rather than be entitled to it.

That was why he liked Mictecath despite her painful admonishment. She had fought for her belief. Whatever Alquemieth told him, some things just had to be beaten into him like a dead horse. That was how he had lived at all.

"I was in a good place before," Ar'din said eventually as he drank water. "And I'm here because someone wanted me to be." The searchrider? A family member? He didn't clarify. "But you're right. I am lucky."

Alquemieth flicked his tail gently at Ar'din's back in solidarity.

I fear some of those forces will not be for the weyr's betterment, the bronze noted, sounding less worried and more annoyed than his words implied. But at least Yulan could see them as the wingleaders they could be, though Alque knew they could go beyond if Ar'din wanted. They might certainly need to, if certain clutchmates got their way. I cannot "loosen up," Yulaniath. Do that, and you will see yourself expelled as the previous candidatemaster was. Or worse, a sickness of deceivers will descend. He already had concerns about Anakumath, for his cousin was much too soft around undesirables, and he knew some were already eyeing her shining hide.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

A good place before...well. That was interesting to hear at the very least. Shar glanced at Alquemieth with a raised brow, wondering what it was that the dragon had seen in the man sitting across from her that he had chosen him. He didn't seem to care much about being here or being a dragon rider, but perhaps the apathy was a ruse. He did admit he was lucky at the very least. If Ar'din had brushed that off she would have flat-out asked the bronze beside him why he had chosen someone so uninterested in the honor of being a bronzerider.

Yulan couldn't help but shake her head a bit, amused at her brother's reply. So serious for just a few days out of the shell! This was the time to explore, to play, to enjoy their youth while they still had it before mountains of pressure and responsibility were thrust upon them.

You're not a wingleader yet, Alquemieth, she pointed out with a fond tone of voice. And you don't have to sacrifice the values of High Reaches in order to relax. You can still be an effective leader while being approachable. There's nothing worse than one who leads out of fear rather than respect. She tilted her head just a bit before reaching across to boop her nose to her brother's, trying to get his stiff posture to ease a bit. It was true that Alque was nothing like Bossu - the two were as different as night and day - but he was still her brother and she'd try as hard as she could to see him have fun and maybe even laugh a bit while he was still young.

Shar watched Yulan attempting to interact with her stony brother for a moment before she finished up her sandwich, brushing the crumbs off her fingers and onto the floor. She didn't make a move to get up just yet, though, figuring Ar'din had sort of extended an olive branch by sitting here and she'd be incredibly rude and unnecessarily mean to simply get up and leave. She wasn't sure what else to say to the man, though. He wasn't the best at keeping conversations going.

"Is it strange?" she asked after a moment. "I've been preparing for this my whole life but you've been here for a month. I can't imagine it's been easy trying to learn everything and now having a bronze to look after and share your life with." Perhaps at Western it wasn't as important, but here every bronzerider was looked to with great respect and they knew, in turn, that much was expected of them. For someone who had never set foot in a proper Weyr to now have that responsibility saddled on them must be daunting.

medigel

 

[medigel]

It was Alquemieth's turn to have words burning on his tongue that he wouldn't release. There was no use in debating traits in leadership right now, least of all with a green. As if any of them would ever fully understand what it would be like at the top, when the weight of it all could make even the largest dragon sag; as if any of them could fully appreciate what it would take to face that with an unbroken back, decisions made in the heat of the moment and consequences all. Alque had envisioned facing their old enemy at the head of a wing ever since he and Bossuth had been shelled, and he still had his gaze turned upward now that he was out. If he ever relaxed, it would only be after Thread was gone forever. Perhaps not even then.

The bronze neither stretched his neck out nor retreated from Yulan's boop. His eyes smoldered like coals, but he kept his tone polite. If I am more feared than Thread, then they are fools. I will command nothing but the best the weyr has to offer one day, sister. Count yourself lucky if you are a part of that.

Ar'din glanced at his dragon for a moment, frowning slightly, and then returned his gaze to his food. There was still a little less than half of his meal on his plate, but it was starting to get close to the end of their lunch period. He forced himself to nibble a little more as he mulled his answer over.

"'Strange' doesn't begin to cover it," he replied. It had been out of his orbit, not even remotely in his sights. "But I guess it's like ducks and water for you weyrbrats, huh."

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Alquemeith's response made Yulaniath sigh softly as she pulled back, her blue eyes tinged a bit with grey at the edges. He was still young, it was true, and he had time to change his ways, but Yulan knew that her brother was stubborn and thought he knew what was best. She didn't deny he'd be a powerful leader, but as one of the many soldiers that would serve under him or those like him some day, she knew that there was a difference between being powerful and good. There was something to be said for those who ran a wing with compassion and kindness and she didn't like the thought of her brother turning around one day to find his entire wing had deserted him due to how he treated them. She would try to help him as best she could, but there was no saving some of those who were set in their ways.

I truly will, brother, should Mine and I be considered among the best the Weyr has to offer. She left it at that for now, not wanting to shove her advice at him when he was clearly so against hearing it. Perhaps later on down the road he'd see that being aloof and disdainful to those he might some day lead wasn't the way to win any favors.

"Something like that," Shar agreed. "Growing up here gets you ready from day one. There's some great riders who were pulled from some backwater Hold, though. You've got a bronze so there's a lot expected of you, but it's not an impossible task." She shifted to stand after that, deciding that she had stayed long enough to be polite.

"Enjoy the rest of your lunch. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other now," she said before motioning for Yulan to follow her as she hobbled off. The little green hopped after Shar to catch up, turning to give a farewell trill to her brother.

Take care, Alquemieth! We'll see you!

medigel

Last one from me!