Sunny wet stars (open)

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Geth rolled over a few times in the lake, before turning back over onto his belly and languidly paddling back toward the shore. Now that he was all wet ... and not muddy! ... it was time for a bath. Standing in the edge of the lake, R'anl was waiting for the dragon to finish up with his getting wet phase. "Are you ready now, you big oaf?" R'anl asked. The rider was as ready for dragon bathing as he could be, considering the situation. He was dressed in trousers rolled up to the knee (not that that stopped them from getting wet anyway) and a loose tunic that was half unlaced. It was really too hot to be wearing a shirt, but R'anl didn't want to try going without it ... it was a good way to get sunburnt, after all. And the last thing he wanted to do after bathing Geth was having to deal with a burn that stretched over his entire back.

Not quite yet. Geth responded, just to be obstinate. Reaching the shore, the bronze sprawled out casually, parallel to the shoreline, dropping both wings back down into the water. There, now I'm ready. Hurry ... it itches. Geth added before lifting his snout and snorting water out of his nostrils. The spray was not aimed at R'anl, but he got hit with it anyway since he was downwind.

"Eagah!" R'anl protested, wiping his face off with one sleeve as he sloshed through the water. "Thank you very much, oaf!" He grouched, carrying the pail of sweetsand around to Geth's near side. There, he set the pail down on a handy chunk of dragon to keep it out of the water. Scooping some sand out, he wet it and then started scrubbing a hefty layer of grime off of Geth's side. "What did you do, go roll in the ovinepens before you came this way?" R'anl asked.

Hardly. Our new room was dirty, up to and including my bed. Geth grouched in return, though it was still a deliberate attempt to be onery and nothing more. Swishing his tail through the water, he sent a small wave lapping at his own sides, turning his head to look around at everything else that he happened to be able to see.

"I swept that thing out for you, and you said it was good." R'anl countered, moving down the dragon's side as he worked. "So don't complain to me about the state of your bed."

I said it was good, because you were making it worse, not better. You never could sweep a bed properly. Geth responded, simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world to know. All it earned him was a handful of sand being thrown at the back of his head to dribble down over his face and eyes. The bronze blinked, and turned his head back toward where R'anl was standing, fists on hips.

"Say what?!" R'anl demanded.

You heard me. Geth responded, before lowering his head and swishing it around under the water to get the sand off his snout. Lifting his head, he looked back out across the lake at the light reflecting off the small ripples of waves that were blowing across it. I see stars on the water.

"What?" R'anl asked, caught off guard by the topic change. Stars? In the middle of the day? He turned to look at the water, saw the sparkling of the light on water, and huffed, before glowering at the dragon again. "You're changing the subject!"

[Akki]

“Oi! Watch where you’re placing your hands!” Akki scolded, turning her head slightly so she could shoot a mock glare at the boy sitting behind her.

“As if I would try to be copping a feel on you.” Z’ayr shot back with a roll of his eyes. Maybe he shouldn’t have accepted the ride on dragonback after all. The two had met when Akki was skipping through the Weyr Bowl, waiting for Ebbeth to come down from his ledge. The blue had been complaining about wanting some fun for a while now so Akki promised him today they would go out to the Lake. That cheered him up quite a bit. Originally it was just going to be those two, but then she spotted Z’ayr lying down on the ground – doing nothing but staring at the sky. Apparently his own blue wanted to sleep that day, leaving Z’ayr by himself.

So Akki did the logical thing. Kidnapped him, forced him on Ebbeth and headed out to the Lake. No, really. That was exactly how it went. Z’ayr didn’t even have time to protest before he found himself sitting on top of the blue, arms wrapped around Akki so he wouldn’t fall off and die.

“Hey, look. That’s not G’han, is it? Who is that?” Z’ayr asked with genuine curiosity as a bronzerider and his dragon came into view. Akki shook her head, she had no idea who that man was. But she was about to find out.

“Hold on tight otherwise you’ll fall and probably break your neck and I will leave you there.” The bluerider warned as Ebbeth angled himself to slowly descend. He landed on the ground with a soft ‘Thwump’ and waited impatiently for the two could get off. He wanted in the water.

[panther]

Ez groaned. Stretched his arms each way, work was tiring. Chores here, work there, caring for Garisath in between. The dragon was asleep right now. But Ez ached. So achey all over. He could scream for the amount of tension that had formed in his shoulder blades. He rolled his shoulders back, trying to ease the tension as he walked, but it did not help to abate the sting. He sighed. Tawkny eyes spotted something much more interesting though. Over by the lake, a rather grand bronze. He wondered, was that the same gold carrying bronze? No, not a chance of it. The bronze itself was different, the hatching egg carrying bronze had been brindled. So peculiar, he would remember it for sevendays to come.

But, aside from the fact the bronze wasn’t the same bronze, he was interested to see just who this bronzer was. The Bronze rider was joined, quickly by a blue rider, who, wasn’t by himself – Strike that herself, for it was Akki, and her blue Ebbeth. With her seemingly was the wildhaired Z’ayr. Well, Ez said wild haired, he really wasn’t. He just felt it to Ez, because Ez was so meticulous, bordering on prissy with his hair, and general appearance. Today, however, was more of necessity than of grandeur. Which he despised. Bangles adorned his wrists, A few small braids in his long hair, which was worn loose and free, the wind toying with the dark red tresses as he walked.

He approached the group. He heard the Blue female rider comment on the Bronze rider’s newness, and so, he listened in, “Don’t mind me, new Weyrling Ez’ki of Garisath” He introduced as a mild point of interest as he awaited the new bronze rider’s reply.

((I'll bring Y'rael in in a little while =3))

[Marnark’tranarprol]

I am not, either. Oh, look. Company. You had better put on a better face, or you'll scare them away. Geth commented, turning his head to watch as the incoming dragon angled down for a landing. A blue carrying two people? Just to the lake? Now that was interesting, indeed. I wonder who these three are. The bronze mused, naturally including the dragon in on the numbers.

"I will scare them away?! Hah! You should talk!" R'anl braced himself against the bronze's side as another tail-induced wave washed past his legs. "And if you don't stop that, I'm going to stop trying to wash you. You'll have to wash your own hide!" R'anl added, before straightening, his expression clearing. He edged around the front of the dragon's shoulders, under his arched neck, to take a look at who was coming. "Ah ... hello?" He offered, when the two riders dismounted off of the same blue dragon.

But that wasn't all who appeared ... someone else was coming over, too. Another fellow. "Hello, Ez'ki, of Garisath." R'anl repeated, simply. He hadn't the faintest notion who these people were. But he was willing to bet a year's marks not only that all three were locals, but he was going to have a fair idea who they were before the hour was out. Which was good ... he needed to learn these things after all. This was thier new home. "I'm R'anl ... and this unruly behemoth here is Geth."

Greetings and welcome. Geth said, to Ebbeth. This is my patch of water. But you can sit over there, in the water, and I won't mind. After a comment like that, R'anl's face crinkled up and he shot an unhappy look at the Bronze. For that, he wished he could kick the high-and-mighty creature in the rump. Not that it would have done much good at all.

After all, it was Geth that was the newcomer, not the blue! All things told, this was the blue's territory! But would Geth understand that? Apparently not! He was bronze, Ebbeth was blue, and things had thier order thus, in his twisted little mind. Bronze is as Bronze does. Arrogant, to the last.

Deciding that the least said, the quickest mended, R'anl chose not to comment on his own dragon's rather ... unsavory ... comments toward the blue. And instead he turned his attention over the people there. A rather frazzled red-headed fellow, a rather attractive blonde woman, and then another youth who ... technically ... looked too old to be just a weyrling. But yet another redhead. This was ... interesting! "I was just giving Geth here a bath, though I think he's deliberately making life difficult about it." R'anl explained, simply.

Which one is yours? Geth asked, of Ebbeth, unable to decide between which of the two riders should belong to the blue in question. And do you always land so heavily ... or only when burdened with an extra notmine? Though the wording of the question came off rather harsh, Geth was genuinely curious. Because most of the blues he'd ever worked around were quite agile, light-actioned creatures. It was the browns and some of the bulkier bronzes that did such things as thump into a landing...

[Akki]

A lake shindig! This brought much joy to Akki and Z’ayr (Guys! There were guys at the lake!) which was obvious with the grins on their faces. Z’ayr carefully slid down the blue while Akki did the unladylike thing and really just jumped off.

Z’ayr didn’t really know Ez, he only knew a small number of the candidates this time around. Akki really only knew him because she had volunteered to help out Rhia, remembering the boys bright red locks. “Oh good, we got here just in time for introductions.” She practically crowed. She motioned to herself, “I’m Akki” and then to her blue, “And that’s Ebbeth.”

Z’ayr nodded slightly to the bronzerider, “I’m Z’ayr. My blue isn’t here. Asleep and such.” Apparently doing nothing but eating and demanding to be oiled tuckered a fellow out.

Ebbeth was obviously amused by the bronze and his antics. He had never seen Geth around before or even heard of him, but that didn’t seem to matter to the bronze. My humble thanks for letting me borrow your water. Ebbeth replied, trying to keep his voice stoic as he slid into the cool liquid. Akki shot the blue a look, “Play nice with others Ebbeth.” She wretched her eyes away from the draconically grinning dragon and let them settle back on R’anl, “It’s a dragons duty to make every aspect of life difficult.”

The girl is mine. He enjoyed the fact he had just made Akki sound like his little pet. The boy is another blue’s. We were kidnapping him, couldn’t let him walk. He’d try to run otherwise. Ebbeth vaguely explained the extra person he had been carrying. Z’ayr probably would have tried to run but was not given the chance when he was ungracefully thrown upon the blue. He allowed himself to swim farther out to the lake, examining the bronze with churning eyes. An amusing dragon, Ebbeth would have fun. I’m fat, that’s why

Z’ayr watched Ebbeth with a general interest. “Does he know how to play nice?” He asked with a small grin. Dinayth didn’t know how too either, maybe it was a blue thing.

[panther]

((apologies x.x))

Ez gave a glint of a smile, “Nice to meet you R’anl.” He dipped his head in some show of respect – mild as it was. “Though, call me Ez,” he shrugged, “Ez’ki doesn’t feel right, and, the old nickname works, so I’ll stick with that.” He mused to the new bronze rider.

He turned as the other two introduced themselves, Akki, and Z’ayr. “Nice to meet you two as well, I don’t believe I met either of you before the hatching.” He said, charm and elegance displaying quite nicely now. “Aye Z’ayr, I know that feeling, Garisath’s sleeping too, he sleeps about as much as he eats, what a grand life.” Ez jested. He felt a little foolish here, two people knew each other, and that was it. Z’ayr, and Akki, no one else. It made the situation quite odd. Usually dynamics flowed with introductions and such like, but this was odd.

“So, R’anl, When did you get here? The only transfer bronze I knew about was that one who brought the egg in during the hatching – but he was perhaps a little hard to miss.”

[Marnark’tranarprol]

"Akki ... Z'ayr ... and Ez." R'anl repeated, nodding to each in turn, before slogging out of the water entirely, to stand on the ground proper. "Nice to meet all of you. I transfered in ... but before the hatching, actually. I was there to witness that event, and it was ..." what word could be used to describe such an eventful event? Hatchings were happy, no doubt, but that one had been quite dramatic, too. "... interesting. And yes ... I noted the bronzerider's arrival, as well. It is a rather interesting way for a Queen egg to arrive, no?" He asked.

No problem ... the girl, hm? Geth scrutenized Akki for a moment, before turning his head to watch Ebbeth playing out in the water. You're fat? That ... The comment was such an unusual one to be handed that it took Geth a moment to even register it, much less respond. Uh ... okay? Maybe you should do something about that? He suggested. Yours looks skinny ... maybe you ought to take yours more places. Get you excersize, and keep yours from running her weight off?[/i] He stated, completely insensitive to how what he said sounded.

Maybe you should return that one to his... I wouldn't like it if someone kidnapped mine, after all. I think he'd be in a fit. Geth remarked, eyeing Z'ayr speculatively. Why wasn't he upset, if he'd just been kidnapped? Why wasn't his dragon chasing him down? It didn't quite add up in Geth's mind.

[Akki]

Ooc|| D< What the frack am I talking Lex? Z’ayr and Ez weren’t in the same candidate class. I am so confused right now

“Not formally anyways, I was having too much fun watching Rhia lecture everyone about introductions.” Akki said with a rather fond grin. Watching Rhia lecture people, as long as it wasn’t her, made her happy. She wasn’t so good at lecturing people; she could never keep a straight face. Grinning like a mad man and trying not to giggle sort of ruined the whole stern aspect of it all.

Z’ayr bobbed his head up and down as he listened to the boy. “Doesn’t it make you want to be a dragon? What a life!” He snorted with amusement. Then again, he’d probably be exactly as Dinayth. Prissy and demanding. And flirting non-stop with all the other boy dragons, which would probably be a bad idea. A bronze dragon could easily take him down. Oaky, now he was thinking too hard about this. “Garisath is a brown, right? Congratulations.”

The two turned their attention back to the man, interested in what he was going to say. “It was a real good one. Maulings galore! And I think a few people cried, which I probably shouldn’t be so happy about. I think I’m a terrible person.” A sheepish grin playing on her lips. “The bronzerider who delivered the egg is certainly become a somewhat famous person in our Weyr now, the lucky man.” She flopped onto the ground, wrapping her arms around her legs as she looked up at R’anl, “Can I ask where you’re from?”

There’s not much I can do about it, it’s never ending fat. No matter what I do, it’ll always be there. Ebbeth said in a rather morose tone. Okay, this probably wasn’t the best way to greet a new dragon into Dark Moon but he really couldn’t help it. The girl is fatter than I am. See her fall onto the ground there? Standing was too much for her, she collapsed.

“I’m sorry R’anl. I think Ebbeth is picking on Geth.” Akki apologized, shooting scolding glances at the blue – who ignored them. It’s not the first time we’ve kidnapped him. He used colorful words when he was forced onto me, but now he’s over it. Okay, that one was the truth at least unlike the other comments of his.

[panther]

((Ooc::Lol akki! I did wonder what was going on in your head I was like … uhms… they didn’t impress at the same hatching … eh…))

Ez nodded to the bronzer – “Yes, I’d imagine it’s quite a peculiar thing.” He nodded, “I’d hate to be charaged with that responsibility, I’m careful and all, but it would be just my luck that I’d drop it between, or something.” He suggested. Despite the fact that he was still by the first egg scared of both flying and the between. None knew that fact though, except for R’fael… but that was neither here nor there at the moment.

Ez smirked as Z’ayr enthusiastically elaborated on Ez’s ditty, “You’re telling me, I used to do pretty much just that – except for the fact I did actually wash myself as opposed to getting some one close to me to wash me and save me the effort.” He smirked, “What more could you want from life? Every aspect of you cared for, simply because you are a dragon. “Thanks, yeah Garisath’s a brown, not quite sure how Responsibility and I will get along, but” He shrugged, “What can you do?” He smirked again, arrogant little streak that he was. “And, sorry, Z’ayr, forgive me if you mentioned it already – but I think I missed your blues name – I wasn’t here much before the hatching, and I kind of missed out on a lot of the introductions and such.”

Ez turned as Akki spoke, she spoke of people getting mauled and crying, and the infamous bronzer, “Hmmm, I know Salina was close – but, just so as you know Akki? She didn’t break the waterworks there – I don’t think there were tears amongst my little lot.” He placed claim on his generation already. Whoops. He wasn’t an egotistical brat at all… honest.

The clouds were calm, drifting by at a snails pace, a dark spot grew in the sun’s path, casting a shadow over the gathering below. Spread wings above of that odd brindle pattern. Spiralling downwards, the bronze landed a few feet from them, back winging carefully as he did so.

His bonded didn’t wait for his dragon to sink lower to the ground, on the contrary, he jumped down just as his bonded had landed! He approached the little grouping. Same tan hide jacket over his back as when he had flown into the hatching caverns.

“Hi, don’t think I know you guys – but,” He whizzed around hands pointing to various points of the compass as he did so, stopping as he faced them again striding forwardsfingers pointing to the ground like how a feller might walk in a western movie with his guns drawn, “any chance one of you lovely people could direct me towards, oh shards – I’m not going anywhere in particular, I’m just looking for some amount of company, this place is so small - there’s barely a soul that’s not gone to the between around here!” He corrected himself, He intruded upon their little gathering, purposefully standing opposite the only girl of the group, though the lad with the red hair wasn’t far from feminine, he was still not female. “Pardon me, don’t mean to intrude, don’t suppose you could lend a spot of company to this bronze Rider could you?” He asked feigning innocence quite masterfully. “Y’rael by the way, of that bronze there – he’s Nyxth.” He bowed slightly to the others, grin on his lips feral yet charming.


((*cough... cough* talk of the devil, and he shall appeareth! xD))

[Marnark’tranarprol]

R'anl paid attention to all that was said, though some of what they were remarking about got right past him ... he didn't know who was who just yet. But he would, oh yes, he would. Soon enough, indeedy. "Well ... actually ... I don't often refer to hatchings that have maulings as ... wonderful ..." R'anl offered. He had seen quite a few maulings ... there had even been maulings at the hatching where he had impressed. It happened. But the hatchings that happened gleefully blissfully mauling-free were the ones that were the really good ones. All happy, no sad, no pain. "But otherwise, beyond the maulings, yes ... it was a good hatching. No hatchling went between." R'anl nodded, scratching a forearm idly for a moment. But the sound of sand pouring into water and then a bucket hitting water upside down made him frown a moment. So much for that. He half turned, and looked up at Geth with an accusing look. "I'm not fetching you a new pail of sand." He informed the dragon.

What? You think I did that intentionally? Geth defended, not even bothering to look back at his rider. Instead, he was still watching Ebbeth. Permanent fat, is it? I could chew it off a bit? Geth offered, quite seriously. Yes, he was aware he was getting his tail yanked, but didn't really care. He was a bronze ... bronzes didn't joke around like that. Or, at least ... Geth didn't. He was going to be a Leader, after all!! Must be responsible, must be serious, yes.

Geth turned his head to look as Akki dumped onto the ground and hugged her legs. I see. I can chew on her, too ... though I think she needs run more, rather than chewed. Not being able to stand is rather sad. Okay, maybe Geth was pulling Ebbeth's tail in return ... he just wasn't seeming like he was!!

"Some holdfolk already claim that most dragonfolk already live the life of dragons, luxury and pampering, what not." R'anl pointed out. "Just because something seems one way from one perspective does not mean that's how it really is. Dragons really do work hard ... and Faranth knows that if they weren't good at it, we would not be alive today." R'anl added. "So I wouldn't judge dragons too harshly... and if you teach them ..." here he shot a look at Geth again... "they can half bathe themselves."

Geth snorted. Remember you said that, Anlmine. You cannot complain any more about washing me! the bronze crowed, before falling silent a moment to watch as yet another bronze showed up and landed. Geth watched the new bronze intently for a moment, before he determined that the newcomer was ... indeed ... the newcomer. Which, ironically enough, gave Geth (the newcomer) a sense of seniority. He was there first! On all counts! Geth pushed to his feet, raining water off of his body all around, and tented his wings by his sides, watching Nyxth intently. Yes ... he was showing off. And trying to make a point of being in charge of the area. His spot! This is my water. Geth repeated.

R'anl also watched with interest as the new bronzer and rider arrived and landed. His face never changed as he watched the dramatic dismounting ... he knew as well as anyone that doing that was really hard on the knees... especially off a dragon as large as a bronze. Which immediately pegged Y'rael in R'anl's mind as a flashy show off of a Bronze rider. They came in all flavors, he supposed. The rambling and strutting about afterward didn't help the building of the image, though, and R'anl resisted the urge to knock the man to the ground and make him sit... just to make him be still. Remarkably enough, he held his peace for the time being, merely crossing his arms over his chest.

"You would be wise to ensure that a lovely lady such as Akki is not already accompanied, before flinging around and flirting so blatantly." R'anl remarked, with a slight edge to his tone. Which, actually, surprised R'anl as much as it might have anyone else. Why in Faranth's name did he care whether or not this new fellow was flirting with Akki? Maybe because he thought it was rude? He couldn't put his thumb on it. But R'anl quickly changed his stance and tone to compensate ... he wasn't here to make even more enemies, after all. That was why he'd left his home Weyr. "Greetings, Y'rael, of Nyxth. I'm R'anl, of Geth." He shrugged a shoulder at the blatantly posing bronze behind him. R'anl was quite sure that he was going to have a hard time just finding that bucket again ... unless it had decided to bob around with it's bottom sticking out of the water.

It took R'anl a moment to remember that someone ... he forgot who ... had asked him where he'd come from. So he figured he'd better answer that, too ... "I Impressed at High Reaches." R'anl remarked, not sure at all who he was supposed to tell, as he didn't remember who'd asked. But the next comment he knew went to Akki: "That's alright ... Geth could use some teasing. He's altogether wound up too tight. It's amazing he's not constipated." R'anl kicked a bit of grit at Geth, trying to get him to stop trying to stare down the other bronze. Not that it worked. Geth ignored him completely, and all R'anl could do was shrug uselessly.

[Akki]

“The idea of getting someone to wash me is just too creepy.” Z’ayr said with a shake of his head. It was just…weird. Dragons and other critters could get away with it but not so much Weyrlings. “Pass the responsibility onto someone else? That’s my advice.” He said with a simple shrug, keeping Akki in his line of sight as he said that. He looked back at Ez and grinned, “I don’t think I said actually. His name is Dinayth though.”

Akki let a sly grin slowly appear on her mouth. “Oh, I know Ez. The crier was Z’ayr.” The boy looked down with a horrified look on his face.

“There was something in my eye! There was sand in my eye! I wasn’t crying! You were!” He replied back loudly, clearly embarrassed. Okay, so there might have been a tear that snaked out at one point. But that was because he was proud of his friends! He lightly hit Akki on the shoulder, “Stop making up stuff!”

“Ow! Faranth! Don’t hit me!” She cried, rubbing her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his leg, hitting her head against his knees – as if that was a good revenge. She let her arms fall back to her side, shooting a dirty look at Z’ayr before turning her attention to the new bronzerider. “Everyone’s gone because they were jealous of the shindig going down here. I’m Akki, that over there is Ebbeth. And the lad here is Z’ayr.” She introduced, Z’ayr giving a slight nod to Y’rael. Bronzeriders were straight, Z’ayr held no interest in him. She looked up at R’anl, a sheepish grin on her face. “I guess I shouldn’t get so excited by maulings. We didn’t have any when I Impressed so now I get really worked up when I see them. I feel slightly jealous, it’d be a good story to tell if you got mauled.” Always looking on the bright side of life.

Thanks for the offer, but I’m okay with my permanent fat. Feel free to chew on AkkiMine though. I hope one day she can stand for longer than a few minutes. He sounded almost remorseful, as if Akki really couldn’t stand up by herself for very long. She wasn’t that pathetic. Ebbeth watched with amusement as Geth stared at the other bronze, declaring ownership over the Lake. This was just too good.

Akki let a slow grin appear on her face as R’anl replied to Y’rael. Really? Was she being flirted with? That would be nice but she didn’t think she was. She could never tell though, wasn’t so good at that stuff. She listened to R’anl as he said where he was from – she was curious as to what High Reaches was like, she had never really been there before. A weird “Snrrk” noise came out of her mouth as R’anl kicked some dirt towards Geth.

I think you should fight him Geth. Prove your dominance over the Lake and such.

[panther]

Y’rael gave a disappointed look to the other bronze Rider, R’anl. As though the other had just destroyed his fun, “Ah shards there R’anl.” He gave a look of disheartedness to the man, “but, I’m only playing. So, there’s no need to see if the lovely Akki is indeed accompanied, harmless fun never steps on the toes of anyone.” He advised, “I’m hardly going to follow up on it now am I? Certainly not without some form of consent at very least.” He explained to the other bronzer, almost as though the others weren’t standing beside them. He turned to Akki as she introduced herself and her companion, “Glad to meet you Akki, don’t mind the sour-puss over there, I mean no harm, as I’m sure you can tell, I’m just a little playful s’all.” He grinned cheekily, and looked over to Z’ayr, “Good to meet you too lad,” He reached over and scruffed the lads hair a little giving a half arsed wink.

.:.:.:.

Ez smirked, R’anl kind of deserved that, at least in his eyes, there was no need to be presumptuous and spoil another man’s fun. Well, unless it encroached on your fun, or your territory… The red head looked between Akki and R’anl, they obviously didn’t know each other. So, why was Geth’s bond getting quite jealous over this? He pondered and came to only one conclusion, he felt affronted for he did wish to stake a claim. It was a natural thing that even the wild, dragons to bigmouths were territorial over their females, humans done it too.
“I’m Ez, Ez’ki of brown Garisath – just a weyrling though, Impressed at that hatching where you made that showy entrance with the gold egg.” He informed the bronzer who had entered the circle near by him.

He returned his attentions to Z’ayr, the lad was perhaps a little shorter than him, not by much though, and a little younger. Perhaps a turn or two. He was kind of masculine, but he’d likely grow into that. Well, at least in Ez’s eyes. He kind of smirked as Akki accused him of being the crier at the Hatching. “Aww don’t worry Z’ayr, I’m sure it was just sand.” He patted the lad’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. “No need to be embarrassed about it kiddo – just next time, make sure she doesn’t see you tearing eh?” He smirked, he liked to tease

“Dinayth’s a nice name for a blue, wouldn’t suit a bronze. Really wouldn’t suit such a name.” He glanced in the direction of the two quarrelling bronzers. “And yeah, passing responsibility… don’t the ranking people call that ‘delegating’

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]” He smiled wickedly. He so enjoyed being him sometimes.

.:.:.:.

“Ahhh, good to meet you too Ez, And, I didn’t mean for it to be flashy, it was jut ill timed, how was I supposed to know there was a hatching afoot? If memory serves I was told that even the Weyrwoman was taken by surprise a the eggs hatching.” The bronzer shrugged.

Greetings, Ebbeth and Geth, I am Nyxth, from Igen before here. The bronze introduced himself, curling up on his-self, basking in the sun, with all his brindled glory.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Nyxth wasn't even bothering to try to challenge ... that was good! But also a tad dissappointing. Apparently, Igen bronzes weren't made of much. He wasn't even standing up anymore! Already sprawling out in the grit. Geth huffed through his nostrils, lifting his snout in a short jerk, before stepping about in place as he turned, plainly strutting his stuff. And then he flopped back into the water again, completely relaxed.

His lake. Even better... unchallenged!

I will make an appointment for yours to be nibbled on. Though I don't think yours would like me to do it so much ... maybe we shall convince mine to do the nibbling. Geth remarked, practical in thought. He had big teeth, after all, and it would be too easy to accidentally bite a limb off ... But of course, he understood it was all a joke ... Geth could see quite plainly that Akki was by no means at all flabby!

Dragons don't bite dragons. Geth reminded Ebbeth, gently. Bronzes do not fight bronzes ... outside of queenflights. He rumbled lightly, and shook his head as if to berid it of a few errant drops of water. Besides ... what is there to prove? He's lazy. I am clearly dominant.

R'anl didn't know what Geth was thinking ... or saying ... but by the first few actions he had started worrying a little. Relaxing again when the bronze plopped back into the water. Phew. No altercations today. This was a good thing! Rolling his shoulders slightly, R'anl looked at the others again, realizing he had yet again missed a lot of what had been said due to being preoccupied with watching Geth like a hawk.

He tried to catch up on the conversation, but decided it was a vain effort ... shards, he really needed to learn to multi task a load better than that. So while he listened to what was going on so far, he merely smiled pleasantly. Though he hadn't been paying enough attention to be sure, he had a pretty good idea that snerk out of Akki had been aimed at him ... though why, he wasn't quite sure. Oh well.

Wait, wait ... surprise egg hatching? They hadn't known when the eggs were due to hatch? That was ... decidedly odd ... R'anl started to say something, thought better of it, and closed his mouth again... best to not open mouth and insert his foot. He was so good at that, it was hard not to. But he was here to get away from alot of that, so ... curb that habit while it was still in the bag.

Which ... left him with remarkably little to say. Especially since he'd missed a lot of what had been said. And he didn't want to make any oblique comments, either, to try and fill in his empty air ... that would really make them all look at him strangely!

[Akki]

“If it cheers any one up, I am fully unaccompanied?” She offered with a lopsided grin. Not that probably made a big difference, she had a loud mouth that had the tendency to frighten off a few people. She stared at the man, snapping her fingers. “Oh, that’s right. You’re the bloke who delivered the Gold egg right?” So that’s why he looked familiar. She was trying to place him when Ez mentioned it. She lifted a hand up at Z’ayr, eyes pleading for some help to lift her off the ground.

Z’ayr rolled his eyes, took the hand and lifted the girl up back onto his feet. He was more concerned with the fact that his hair had just been ruffled. Heterosexual cooties! In his hair! This was a travesty! He so badly wanted to lift a hand to his hair and shake them out but figured that would probably a little too obvious. He would wait until he was alone to do it. He crinkled his nose when Ez comforted him, “I think I should just avoid hatchings in all now. Too much sand that gets in the eyes.” It was pretty obvious that there was nothing in his eye during the hatching but whatever. He just didn’t want to be made fun of.

“Dinayth would make a perfect bronze, it’s a shame. Arrogant, and everything.” He said with a snort of amusement. “Mind you, I’d make a wretched bronzerider. I think you have to be straight for that.” He laughed with a wink to Akki who grinned back at him. Apparently the boy was no longer hiding the fact that he preferred guys. Not that he was really disguising it before. “I’m almost positive they call it delegating.”

“Yeah it was a surprise hatching, alright.” Akki said with a slight grin, remembering the looks on peoples faces when the first egg had crumbled away to reveal a dragon. Good times. She grinned at R’anl as she noticed him watching the dragons, “I think Ebbeth is having his masculinity threatened with so many bronzes. I hope Geth doesn’t make him cry.” She glanced over at Z’ayr, “Oh wait, that’s your job.”

The boy rolled his eyes at her comment before looking at the two bronzeriders. “I’m assuming you, Y’rael, arrived at the hatching for the first time then? When did you get here R’anl?”

It’s a pleasure to meet you Nyxth. I have recently met another bronze from Igen, I wonder if you know of him? His name is Waeith, his rider is V’ian. It would be an interesting thing to see if this bronze knew of Akki’s brother’s. He turned his attention back to Geth, I see your point. Maybe Yours will be better for such a task then. He slipped under the waters surface, blending in with the dark blue color. Air bubbles rose to the surface as he made another comment, Dragons will fight when I reclaim my Lake.

[panther]

Waeith? Nyxth searched his memory, Ah, yes, he was a hatchling about three turns after myself. Dark fellow… never had much contact with him though, different wings I suppose Nyxth replied to Ebbeth. The blue had slipped under the water.
Oh, is that what you were doing? Guarding the lake? He asked to Geth, I had wondered quite as to what you were doing…Forgive me I’m not particularly in the mood for games. He was lazy at the best of times! And fighting, for a lake? Well now that was bizarre. Dragon’s shared the lake, because there were not enough Lakes in all of pern for the dragons of this small weyr – let alone the larger, older weyrs.

The bronze amused himself, the bonded and his Dragon were as territorial as each other, he relayed the thought to his bond quietly, amusement obvious.

Y’rael found it interesting also. He smirked, even if it seemed to have naught to do with the conversation. The bronze rider offered a friendly, come ‘I told you so’ look to Geth’s bonded, “So, I was stepping on no toes at all then, unless…” allowing the word to hang, a slight look of suspicion, yet a bemused suspicion towards R’anl, but smirk bloomed to a smile and he turned back to Akki, “Aye, yes, that was me. Ill timing, but I was told to make my way with the egg, and so, I did.” He shrugged. “though I’m glad you can remember who I am, I must have made a good first impression,” Self confidence brimming as always, he so enjoyed be challenged like this, and R’anl, another bronze rider was giving him a fine fight for it. He ujst simply took to the role of ‘alpha’ far too well, his presence as enormous as his ego. But, that was neither here nor there at current.

“Ah, sorry on that Z’ayr, sand was probably Nyxth’s fault, he should have landed sooner. But he wasn’t expecting a crowd, apologies little feller.” He smiled apologetically, humble almost.

“Yes, hatching was my arrival.” He nodded and allowed the conversation to move on.

.:.:.:.

Ez smiled as Z’ayr spoke of his blue being like a bronze, but the fact he would never make a bronze rider, for one would have to be straight! Well that certainly explained a few things. Ez had had suspicions, but certainty fell into place now.

“Mmm,” he smirked, feeling a little wicked now, “delegating.’ He nodded, “But yes, I’m pretty sure that’s almost a requirement, but I have heard the odd bronze rider and green rider get involved before now, and not all green rider’s are female. Ahh, the curse of not enough golds,” He posed the idea, as though it was a revolutionary theory towards the two bronze riders. They were older, and surely, surely they had been tangled up in mix ups before now? Even the ‘straight’ R’fael had… well prior to the optional one. He winked casually to Z’ayr, “Brown and blue riders were always better anyway.” He beamed. “At least we’re open minded about these things, and not overly prudish.”

[Marnark’tranarprol]

R'anl gestured around the area, where everyone was standing, with a hand. "Akki, if I dare say ... you are hardly unaccompanied. Indeed ... you are swarmed at the moment." R'anl then pointed at Y'rael. "And that's no excuse to not mind your manners. Lewd comments are just rude. Respect the woman, will you?" He insisted. No, he wasn't going to start a fight over anything if he could help it, but shardit, keeping his thoughts on things from spilling out his mouth was quite hard. Despite all his efforts. He tried to mitigate what he said, with a light, jovial tone, to try and keep from offending anyone. But he really did beleive that a fellow ought not leer at a woman, regardless who she was or what she looked like.

R'anl hesitated a moment, before realizing he was being spoken to again. "Oh. I ... wasn't keeping track of the days. About a week or two before hand. I wasn't exactly mixing a whole lot, so ... just settling in, if you know what I mean." R'anl shrugged. "When I heard the hatching had started, I went over and I watched ... I hadn't even known there were any eggs on the sands, so I doubly didn't know it was a surprise hatching to everyone else here. I find if very interesting that Dark Moon was begifted with a whole clutch ... and then a gold egg, too." At that he nodded with respect toward Y'rael. "It bodes well for the Weyr, I think."

Your lake? Geth asked, attention turning back toward where Ebbeth was sinking. Since when was it your lake? Geth wanted to know, shifting his shoulders in the water and sending ripples out across the surface. He turned his head back and forth, glancing between the bronze and blue... plainly the bronze was no threat to his seniority ... but that little blue was being rather uppity. A very strange thing for a blue to even try! Geth was not used to blues being so, no not at all.

"Curse of not enough Golds? By what are you referring to, lad? Do you have any idea what state Pern would be in if we had a Gold for every Bronze out there?

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] Pern would be over run and barren from the effort of trying to feed so many Green dragons! No, I think it is no curse at all ... things are as they should be, we have plenty enough Gold dragons as it were." R'anl commented, though he was well aware that they were talking about the riders and flights, but he couldn't help but point out what would happen to the dragon population, and by proxy, Pern, if there really were that many Golds rolling around.

"... Geth had better not make him cry." R'anl commented, glancing back across the water at the blue ... or rather where the blue had been. "Masculinity issues?"

[Akki]

Ebbeth had heard that Waeith was more or less the odd one out at Igen and wondered if this had proven that rumor to be true. It’s hard to keep contact with every dragon in such a large Weyr Ebbeth rumbled understandingly. He knew a fair number of the dragons at Dark Moon but that was because it was such a tight knit family.

“I try my best to remember faces.” She grinned. It was true too; she liked to memorize faces and names. She was a social person; she needed to know everything about everyone. Plus the fact he had arrived with the gold egg helped, it was hard to forget someone who made an arrival like he did. Y’rael seemed to be a rather confident person and perhaps somewhat arrogant. Not that Akki didn’t expect that, bronzeriders more or less all had the same tendency. She knew G’han often acted the same way.

Z’ayr shrugged like it was no big deal, “As long as Nyxth makes someone else cry next time I’ll forgive him.” He turned his attention back to Ez, a grin on his face. “Thank Faranth I don’t ride a green. Being stuck with a bronzerider during a flight is as bad as having to sleep with a girl.” He laughed at Ez’s last comment, obviously in agreement. “Browns and blues are quite nice. And the odd male greenrider, of course.”

The female bluerider rolled her eyes at their conversation, of course Z’ayr would be talking about getting it on with other guys. She beamed at R’anl when he made his comment and laughed, “I suppose you’re right. I thought there was another girl here but I guess I made that up. Apparently I’m being accompanied by four handsome lads then.” Her eyes went wide at his next comment though, “No! Keep the lewd comments! I don’t want to be the only one cracking them!” There was nothing more awkward than being the only person making dirty comments.

“Thankfully for us, Igen had a fair number of eggs. Too many actually while Dark Moon was lacking. We’re pretty much in their debt now.” She laughed, quite pleased that new dragonets were once again running around the Weyr. When the Junior WeyrWoman left, there had been panic about what they would do but the Queen egg resting on the sands soothed those thoughts.

Ebbeth twisted and turned underneath the waters surface, enjoying the cool temperature against his hide. He pumped his wings and slowly rose to the surface, head sticking out as water dripped off of him. Yes. My lake. He replied rather calmly, before continuing, It’s been my Lake since I was hatched at Dark Moon. I have seniority over it, you see.

Akki and Z’ayr glanced at each other as people talked about Gold dragons. They simultaneously cupped their hands around their mouths, “Boo! Who needs golds! Blues, for the win!”. It was nice to know that a Weyrling and a CandidateMaster shared the same maturity level. She looked back at R’anl, “Ebbeth never feels manly when surrounded by bronzes. Then again, he’s not really a manly dragon to begin with.”

[panther]

Y’rael laughed, but it wasn’t in a derisive way, nothing he ever done (well rarely) was derisive, he was a nice guy, just a little more extroverted than a lot of people. “Oh come now R’anl!” He furrowed his brow gently, more in concern than anger, “But my comments were hardly ‘lewd’. I simply claimed that you were lovely people, and called a woman lovely. That’s known as a compliment. and it’s hardly lewd. In truth, nothing I’ve mentioned so far has been, I’m just of a playful disposition,” He shrugged, “I apologise if that offends you. And, as I’m sure Akki knows, there was no offense meant to her either, though it does seem to be easier to offend you, over her, than it does to offend herself?” He furrowed his brow, and leaned onto his back foot, crossing his arms over his chest and surveyed the other bronzer. What was his deal? Sure Y’rael was a flirt, and sure he was a little extravagant, but, he was like that with everyone. Perhaps it just seemed that he wasn’t being eccentric for the ladies benefit. “Though, I do assure you, I would be like this, whether our charming lady was here or not. I do not put on shows, this is just how I am R’anl.” He attempted to assure the other Rider. Surely someone could not be considered Lewd, or rude, if it was just part of their characteristics towards everyone.

But then on the contrary, what if that made him a disgusting human being?

He frowned, starting to feel a little introspective for a second. But that washed away soon enough,

Then Akki spoke, correcting R’anl about the lewd comments, it made him laugh, “Ah, well… I suppose it’s not quite such a destitute situation, if I am lewd without meaning to be, then I have no reason to be apologising in front of Akki here, for she wants their presence. Yet, this does make me feel a little like I’m a disgusting human being, but I’m sure I can cope with that blemish…” He smirked, pressing an element of the truth into his comments. As always.

R’anl had changed the topic, for which he was glad, talking about the hatching. “
Well, from what I hear, the clutch from Ista was gifted because they had two queens rise very close to one another, and well, they didn’t need over thiry eggs on the sands, they kept the stronger clutch from the senior queen, and gave you guys the junior queen’s” He shrugged, only afterwards having realised he said ‘you’ as opposed to ‘us’ He’d have to get that round his thick head, “And as for Igen? They have enough queens, and this place has recently been snatched of their junior, dragon blood is thin enough, we needn’t weaken it by being selfish with out bloodstock, all for one and all that.”

Y’rael nodded to Z’ayr, “Aye, I’ll make sure he makes some one else cry next time I transfer a Gold egg into this place.” He smirked, narrowing the conditions just that little piece further. He looked over to Ez, ignoring the other bronze rider’s comment, “Ah, yes, but, so long as we’re not afraid of partaking in greens, then there’s hardly worth to call it a curse now is there?” Humour kept as he spoke to the one with the longer hair.

Yet the actions of himself and Akki were quite a hilarious event, obviously the pair were joking, and seemingly spent far too much time about one another. “Alright, we get that, blue riders are always the best.” He gave a little nod of the head, smirking, just comforting them a little. Akki commented then about Ebbeth – her blue he noted mentally – not feeling manly when surrounded by bronzes.
“Ah, you have no worries with Nyxth, he’s a placid old thing, lazy to boot.” He looked over fondly at his dragon.

He’s right there Geth, had a claim a lot longer than you, but then, you are Bronze, perhaps you could settle on sharing nicely? the comment put forward as though it might be preposterous, but he’d say it ayway, like suggesting a lollipop would cure the measles.

.:.:.:.

Ez’s eyes widened, R’anl now turning his distaste upon him. Shards this man could not take a joke! “Golds, I was just meaning it’s a curse to bronze riders – such as yourself – that there aren’t enough golds to go around, meaning you have to slide to the interest in greens on occasion, that’s all Bronze Rider, no need to get defensive. I know pern could no sustain the number of golds to the number of Bronzes, do not take me for an idiot, sir.” He huffed a little, he wasn’t as placated and laid back as Y’rael, and wouldn’t take even being insinuated as a fool.

Ez was feeling a little sour now, he hated being mocked, especially on a comment upon which he was jesting with, teasing the bronze riders, “Aye, certainly present company isn’t highlighting them very well, in some cases.” He turned to Y’rael, who pointed out as long as they weren’t scared, then it was hardly a curse. “ah, I’m not sure sleeping with a girl should be likened to such, they’re not all bad you know Z’ayr.” He tried to assure the other Weyrling, “and yes, of course, green riders too, but then I guess the only one’s I’m not too fussed on is those that couldn’t be considered in the least ways attractive.” He shrugged as though this was a burden, “Though I must admit, the idea of the number of risings a green does? That doesn’t sound good, I’d like to remember things like that.” He nodded.

He laughed as Akki and Z’ayr put on their Anti-gold display, and then looked mildly affronted towards Z’ayr at his claims to blue’s being the best – still in a jest-ful way, “but, that’s hardly fair now is it?” He gave an obviously and purposefully feigned look of hurt towards the other weyrling.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Geth huffed unhappily, and wobbled about in the water in indescision. What to do about this little, impertinent, upstart of a blue?! What to do, what to do? He could bite him ... that would be satisfying. But dragons didn't bite dragons... And anything he could say on the matter would only make him look the fool... after all, a blue was no threat to a bronze. It was a very insecure bronze that felt threatened by a blue. Blues were tiny. Sure, they could fly circles around Bronzes, but they wore out in a real hurry, too. Deciding that the uppity blue was not worth the effort of getting excited over, Geth huffed again and sprawled out in the water again. In time. He mentioned, mysteriously. The answer to all things.

R'anl glanced at his dragon a few times, and then relaxed again as the great best evidently relaxed as well ... for a few moments there he'd been worried. It didn't help any that he'd no idea at all what Geth had been getting worked up over. But it apparently had blown over. Which was well and good. The fidgity nature of his dragon was not helping R'anl any at all, and he was aware of that fact. Especially when some of the things he'd said were striking all the wrong chords with the people around him.

He hadn't meant that!! Oh well ... it was only natural, he supposed ... a lifetime of opening mouth and inserting foot wasn't going to change over night merely because of a change of location. "I know what you meant about the curse ... I just thought I'd point out the logistics of such a thing not being so." R'anl said, attempting to smooth things back over. "But no, I don't really see it as a curse. It's a balance, really. You have a mere handful of golds." He gestured with one hand. "And then all the bronzes and browns of the world, followed by the blues." He gestured with the other hand, as if holding a ball in each. "That's a lot of males to only a few females. And that's not the way that nature works. So, thus, we have Greens ... who make up nearly fully half the dragon population. That balances things out ... and keeps all those hormonal males under some medium of sanity." R'anl shrugged. "Sure, it's sometimes awkward and uncomfortable for us riders, but who are we to really complain? There are by far more pros than cons to being bonded to a dragon. If you didn't like the heat, you wouldn't be in the kitchens." He offered, with a small shrug. And then he dropped both hands and glaced at Geth again just to be sure the bronze wasn't doing anything stupid. "Yes, I understood it was a joke."

To Akki, he turned. "My appologies, then, ma'am." He said, humbly, with a nod. Feeling that maybe the least said, the quickest mended, R'anl fell silent again and merely listened to the people around him talking and jibing and making strange comments. Plainly, he had some doing if he was ever going to fit in here. R'anl was honestly afraid to even try to crack a joke about anything, for fear they'd think he was serious and then really get offended! He wasn't a stiff-necked collar-choked seriouswad ... he really wasn't. But he also tended to tread with a bit of caution and respect. Especially since he had this nasty habit of getting himself into trouble through what he said by sheer accident. No need to go looking for trouble!! That would be suicide!

Am I going to get my bath any time this century? Geth prompted, suddenly.

R'anl turned to look at the dragon again, thought about it, and then shook his head decisively. Which earned a completely shocked look from the dragon in turn. What

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]!

[Akki]

Akki was thoroughly amused by the conversation taking place around her. Was she just called a charming lady? Poor, poor Y’rael. He would learn soon enough that she was anything but charming. “Disgusting human beings often make the best company?” She offered helpfully with a slight grin. Of course she would think that way.

“Igen is showing us that sharing is caring.” She snorted with amusement. It was true though, Dark Moon was in need of dragons – especially the gold egg. They were quite thankful that they had been able to receive a transfer clutch and it was clear that it made quite a few candidates happy. She wrapped an arm around Z’ayr, “You hear that boy? He agreed that blues are the best. It can not be denied now.” They had way to much fun loving the color of their dragons.

Z’ayrs nose crinkled with disgust and horror at the same time. “I refuse to accept this. Sleeping with a girl would be a mid life crisis for me. Actually, maybe and end of life crisis. I think I would try to destroy myself afterwards so I could forget that it had ever happened.” Forever the drama queen. He flapped away Ez’s ‘fair’ comment and made amends, “Okay, okay. Sometimes browns can be as good as blues. But only sometimes.”

Akki and Z’ayr cast a look at each other as R’anl talked and grinned. “A world filled with guys and few girls doesn’t sound all that bad.” Akki laughed loudly. The female bluerider raised her arms above her head, stretching them for a second before letting them drop to her side. She bent down, wrapped her arms around Z’ayr and sort of flung him over her shoulder at the waist. “Well I came down here to swim, and that’s why I brought Z’ayr here also. If you all aren’t going to swim, then play nice with each other here. No killing each other!” In an odd way, she looked rather natural with a boy over her shoulder.

“Swimming ruins my hair.” Z’ayr mumbled into the girls back, fully aware that any protest was just pointless. It was pointless too, Akki fully ignored him as she made her way to the shore. Ebbeth slowly paddled over to the two, slightly saddened by the fact that there was not going to be some crazy dragon water fight, and let his rider throw Z’ayr onto his back. “Okay, this isn’t too bad. I won’t get wet.” Z’ayr said with a firm nod of his head, having intentions to stay perched on the blue until he was allowed to be back on the hard ground.

Akki on the other hand, didn’t care if she got wet. Instead of joining Z’ayr on her blue, she simply dove into the water.