Waiting for a Waking [Yam]

[Sparrow]

K’laon sat on a ledge, watching the herdbeasts graze, bored but stuck until Amirinth woke up. Why the Green felt such a need to not only bring him with when she ate, but make him wait for what felt like ages while she slept off her meal was beyond him. Everything about the Green was not what he wanted, how he loved her so much was a mystery.

Sitting would be more interesting if there were at least other dragons about, stirring up trouble among the dull animals lounging below. It was a pity all the dragons of the Weyr apparently weren’t hungry at the same time as K’laon’s little Green.

It would be more interesting if Amirinth was awake even, despite how irritating talking to her could be. Moments like these made him wonder why he’d gone a lifetime without getting any fire-lizards to keep him entertained, but as soon as Amirinth woke up, that train of thought ended. She was just a giant fire-lizard herself.

[yamamoto]

Nelth flew through the air with a certian grace about him, carrying his confused rider on his back. And'l was not sure why the blue had asked him to come with him. One minute the blue had flown off to go eat, and the next minute he was back saying the he wanted his rider with him. And'l had a suspision that there was another dragonrider at the Feeding Grounds. Both Leaf and and Topaz had gone on ahead and the greenrider would soon find the two flit's landing on him. The green on his head, and the bronze on his shoulders.

As soon as Nelth spotted the green and her rider that he had seen before he came down for a landing near the pair. Andol though seemed like he did not want to get off his dragon. The young man just sat there staring at the other rider as Nelth said, Go ahead and get off And'l. You don't have to be afarid of him, if he does anything to you, I am sure that Leaf will bite his ear off. Plus I will come and protect you. Nelth knew that he would not have to keep this promise, becuase this rider simply did not look like he would do anything to And'l, though the blue was wacthing closely. He was not going let the other scare his socially nervous rider.

And'l climbed down off his dragon, with what seemed like a sense of hesitation. As he looked over at the other man, he felt Nelth nudge him foward with his nose, and as such he walked foward, Nelth stayed close behind his rider, so that And'l could not back away, yet could also be shielded by his wing if the blue felt that was need. The blue was planning on waiting until his rider was settled until he went and ate. And'l looked at the rider for a moment, studing the other man. He spoke with a nervous sense in his voice, "Hello, my name is And'l. What is yours?" At first he held out his hand in greeting, then pulled it back as though changing his mind.

[Sparrow]

K'laon winced as two fire-lizards popped out of nowhere and started flying for him. Had Amirinth somehow woken up without his noticing and summoned them here? She got along well with flitters anyways, not that it was any surprise. When the pair decided to land on him, K'laon angrily began trying to brush them off- the last thing he wanted was a pair of flitters Impressing to him.

He paused when a Blue appeared also, a rider on its back. Were these his? Better not hurt them if they belonged to something, although K'laon didn't withold a poisonous look to the Bronze settled firmly on his shoulder. Hopefully the sharding things would get off before too long.

The Blue was approaching, and K'laon felt a twinge from Amirinth as she awoke slightly to register the male's presence. She apparently was too content laying in the sun with a full belly to actually raise her head to greet him though, and K'laon was left to his own devices on greeting the pair. With that in mind though, he felt no desire to stand. It wasn't like doing so made much difference in his height anyways.

It didn't look like the Bluerider was one for formalities either- in fact, he looked quite horrified at the idea of waiting with another rider while his dragon fed. Finally the Blue shoved him forward and got him talking, and the rider's thin voice, and continued uncertian actions, weren't any more than the Greenrider would have expected.

And'l? He probably did know the rider then... but K'laon was having a hard time remembering everyone, what with how many riders there were at the Weyr now. "I'm K'laon, and that lump on the other ledge is Amirinth." He motioned with a thick thumb towards the Green sleeping not too far away. "Your dragon hungry too then?" Well, obviously, but it was an easy question to answer. He didn't want And'l having a heart attack over a conversation.

[yamamoto]

The two flit's seemed to take the hint as they quickly left there perch on the greenrider's shoulder to return to the perch that actully wanted them to sit on him. As they perch on there pet, And'l reached out and the green flew into his arms, and he held her close and she affectionatly nuzzled his chest. K'laon would notice singficent relaxation in the bluerider as his flit's perched on him. To the rider, his firelizard where stress realiver's. They made him feel better.

Yet that still did not mean he was not nervous, yet Nelth took this as his cue to fly off and get somthing to eat, which the blue did. Flying down and scopping up a herdbeast and taking it to a nearbye leadge to feast on. Again the blueriders body posture seemed to be one of fear, but a quick nuzzle form his green firelizard changed that as the young man seemed to relax again. Though when he spoke it was still with some nervousness in his voice, "Yes Nelth came to eat some food, but I think he has ulititor motives in doing so." The way And'l was acting, plus the way the dragon had pushed his rider foward reviled what those motives where.

[Sparrow]

K'laon felt relieved as the flitters left him for the other rider, partly because they were off, and partly because they made an obvious difference in And'l's visible relaxation level. The Greenrider doubted they could fix the boy completely, but they helped, and that was good. The last thing he needed was a rabbit for company.

"Dragons often have ulterior motives, I've noticed." K'laon rolled his eyes. If Amirinth did anything without having something else in mind... well, it wasn't quite possible, so no need to waste energy thinking of worst case scenarios. "If your Nelth is at all like my dragon, I imagine you'll be here a while though?" He patted the stone next to him. "May as well take a seat."

Obviously the dragon wanted And'l to talk, K'laon wouldn't get in the way of that. Nelth looked like a pushy beast.

[yamamoto]

And'l walked over and sat down by the rider, as he held Leaf tight against him. He never held her too tight, but his hold on her was always quite snug. The green leaned up and softly licked And'l's chest before nuzzling into it again. She just wanted her pet to feel comforntable, so she never minded when he held her close. He had been doing sinice she had been born, and would probably keep doing. Besides, the green was never hurt by it.

And'l spoke in reply to the other's comment, "Yeah he does take awhile. Though today, I think he is going to stall as long as he can." The blue could simply just stay here for no reason at all, other than to simply make sure that And'l milked this social sitution dry. The blue alway did that, and today would be no differnt. The blue seemed to get less and less nervous as the moments went on. He usally had most of his problems with the beganning of a coversation. Not the end.

[Sparrow]

K'laon chuckled. "So he thinks you need to get out more, I'm guessing? Amirinth thinks the same thing about me." Although, thankfully, she didn't go shoving him into things, and K'laon wasn't awkward when it came to social things. Apparently his sense of humor just wasn't appreciated by everyone. He did seem to get along quite well with some of the new riders though...

"Maybe all dragons think that." Two for sure out of a few hundred probably wasn't the best thing to guess off, but K'laon didn't care much. "But only some do anything about it."

Amirinth preferred finding her own company, as doing so tended to find K'laon dragged along. Even now, the Green was waking up to watch Nelth curiously. Like any self-conscious female, she found it her duty to inspect any potential mate. At least she was still too dulled to chat with him.

[yamamoto]

By now the blue dragon was finished eating, though like he did anytime And'l was around he diecded that he wasn't going to gorge himself until he was sleepy. And'l need his support after all and then blue landed there casting a shadow over his rider and he curled up right next to the young man and softly nuzzled him. He regarded the green as she laied there. Though Nelth turned back to his bonded, he was not sure about this green. He did not like the way her mating habits would affect his bonded, he did not want And'l to have any uncertainity in anything. So he did not regard the green, unless she wanted to talk to him.

And'l seemed to relax even more once he was able to reach out and put his hand on the blue's snout. He ran his hand along it as he spoke, "Yep that is about the truth of it. I have ripped shirts form where I have been carried out of my weyr multiple times by this big guy wanting me to talk to someone. So if you ever hear a rider yelling at there dragon to put them down. It is probably me. When Nelth wants me to socialize, that is what Nelth gets." The blue crooned considering what his rider said to be a compliment.

[Sparrow]

Amirinth cocked her head curiously as Nelth landed on the ledge with the humans, never one to join Hers after eating since she liked having room to spread out (or just to make herself feel bigger by not sharing). It struck her as odd that he would choose to crowd so close to And'l and K'laon, and her rider felt somewhat the same.

You didn't eat much, Amirinth commented, her mental tone somehow a little sleep-slurred. Making a big deal out of lying in the sun after gorging was apparently her focus today.

K'laon chuckled. "I'm glad Amirinth sees no need to ever manhandle me." That would be the day. "Maybe someday you could take him by surprise and go talk to someone before he makes you." Like the lower caverns women, maybe. They were always looking for men to socialize with, and among the most easygoing people the Greenrider knew.

"Might just save a few shirts, anyways."

[yamamoto]

Nelth looked down curiously at the green, he was supirsed that she had even adressed him, but sinice she had then he would now pay attention to here, but he was being careful, the blue walked on egg shells alot for And'l trying not to bother him with to much worry about flights and socialization, I did not want to eat to much and fall asleep becuase And'l needs me to take care of him. The blue seemed to regard his bonded who had calmed down simply becuase of the blue's presance. This was the way that Andol always was. The young needed his dragon, and so Nelth made sure that he was always there.

And'l nodded his head in agreement, "Yes it probably would, and also maybe some marks as well." He could not count how many he had spent on shirts. The blue rider seemed to rub the back of his head in a confused manner, "Though I really don't know who to go talk to. I have been doing the same thing sinice before I was a candidate, and Faranth knows it affects Nelth. Still has yet to cacth a female after 7 turns. Though I think he does it on purpose just for me." The blue softly nuzzled his bonded with a soft croon as though confirming his own riders statment.

[Sparrow]

Amirinth snorted. Mine can survive without me being awake all the time. Although she was very sure he much preferred her awake and playing with him, he didn't just... fail at life every time she was asleep. What a relief to know that!

K'laon grinned. "Yes, most likely." Dragon mouths didn't have the friendliest of design, for obvious reasons. "And if you've been doing the same thing for that long... shards, what have you been doing?" He didn't mean to be rude, but K'laon wasn't always the nicest person. And really? The Bluerider still seemed so painfully reluctant- how had he ever gotten anything done? No wonder K'laon had never noticed him before.

Poor Nelth. Amirinth saved her lament only for her rider, what a nasty thing to have never won a Flight because of a nervous lifemate. What had driven the Blue to even choose And'l?

[yamamoto]

Nelth stared at the green with curious look, So can Mine, but if I am not awake then he might do somthing silly like run back to his weyr, when it is a prefectly good day outside. It has nothing to do with surviving or not. The blue seemed a tad annoyed at the greens snort, figuring she could have done without the snide comment.

Nelth's eye's seemed to turn form there normally happy blue's and green to a very annoyed yellow, that bordered on red, becuase of the orange flecks that began to fill them out. He spoke to And'l saying, I don't really like the way he is talking to you. The blue wanted And'l to socialize, but he was also very protective and did not want anyone saying anything to his rider that just might make him crawl back into his shell. His tail softly snaked out and began to pull his rider towards him, with the intent of covering the young man with his wing, but it was at this moment that the bluerider supirsed his dragon by reached out and giving the blue a tap on his head saying, "Now Nelth stop that. You got me out here for a reason, and don't go trying to reverse everything just because you don't like what someone says, especially when they are right." The bluerider for the moment forgot he was speaking aloud when he was talking to his dragon.

With a sigh he sat back down next to the greenrider and said "Sorry about that, he gets testy somtimes." And'l did not elaborate that it had been the greenriders fault, figuring the other could figure that out on his own. He continued speaking saying "I have been trying to get better. Mostly if I have to do somthing nessecery then I am able to. I am not a complete fool after all. Yet as for just making friends, in hindsight you could say that yes I havn't been doing anything. Desipte Nelth's efforts. Plus it does not help him that everytime a green rises, I start to panic somewhat." If there was one thing that could be said about And'l, it was that the bluerider knew what his faults where, and was not afraid to admit to it.

"I guess it just the hopless romantic inside that still has yet to let go. Back when I was a weyrling I was alot more shy than I am now, if you can believe that. So when they started to encrouge us, well I was too shy to lose my viriginty." Again And'l was not the type to hide anything, if you asked then he would tell you. That is, if you could actully get the conversation going, which K'laon had succeded at with flying colors, "So once again the hopless romantic in me has yet to let go, and so Nelth is just protecting me. He knows I get scared of anything I don't have control over, so he as always protected me in that respect. Though I will admit it has affected him somewhat." The blue dragon rested his head at his riders feet with a soft croon, though his eyes where trained sright on K'laon. And'l very seldomly laid himself that bare for anyone to pick through and examine, so the blue was giving the rider a look and said with a stern tone Think before you speak.. Nelth did not mind And'l recieving critism, sinice his bonded had expressed that he needed some, but the blue did not want the other male to verbally tear his rider apart. That was the fastest way to really really make Nelth angry. The blue rarly spoke to anyone, but his rider like most dragons, but this time had felt that it was neccesry.

[Sparrow]

Amirinth rumbled. Sweetie, he can't run back to his Weyr, he's stuck on a ledge! Why did he think Hers had hung around so long? Not because he liked waiting for her to sleep.

K'laon couldn't help but raise his eyebrows skeptically when Nelth started trying to pull his rider towards him. Maybe the dragon wasn't as much of a help as it originally seemed. Being overprotective was among the traits K'laon had always believed made people idiots.

But he didn't mind having it mentioned that he was right about something, and waited without comment while And'l talked. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at the 'helpless romantic' comment. That obviously had gotten him nowhere, if it was true. "Oh shards, don't tell me you're still a virgin." Living at a Weyr, that was just pitiful. Riding a Blue made it especially so.

Amirinth, despite her previous comfort, was starting to grow agitated as she watched Nelth. She didn't like him staring at Hers like he was going to eat K'laon, or his ease to anger. Obviously not a Blue worth bothering with, no wonder he hadn't won a Flight yet.

[yamamoto]

Nelth wacthed the green's growing agetation. The blue seemed to calm down for moment curled up so that he was not looking at her rider, but instead was just looking at his own. Though noramlly by now, he would have snacthed And'l up and taken him back to his weyr. It was this kind of thing that he did not like people saying to his bonded. And'l was easily driven back into his shell, and the dragon did not want his rider to be hurt or sad, form the look on his riders face And'l was ethier one of those two things or both. Not normally one who was exposed to much critisim on his personaitlly, it was obviously not have a good effect on And'l, Nelth wondered what he would have to do to get his rider out his weyr after this was over. Though diecded to go with whatever would not piss off the green. So he just kept his focus on his own rider.

And'l was looking at the ground with a looked that was a cross bettewen sad, and ashamed. He had never though that it was somthing he should feel bad about for. He had never been told that is wrong, it was one of this moments that he almost regerted even being a rider. Though all he had to do was to look at Nelth and he could see that he would not trade anything in the world for his dragon, "Well yes I am, but you don't have be so mean about it. It's not like I did it on purpose. I am a shy person and it is just the way I am, you don't have to be so cureal." And'l was not going to apoligize for being shy, that was just who he was. And'l was not the type of person you could yell at to motivate, that usally just had the oppisate effect. Which was why he had half a mind to leave.

[Sparrow]

"I just find it odd." K'laon snorted. "Your dragon is just far too kind to you." Not only would he have had to avoid Flights, they would have to fight to keep Flight-drugged people out. It struck K'laon as a lot more work than it was worth- which was next to nothing, no one seemed to care much about virginity when they rode dragons.

But if the boy wanted to remain as he was, K'laon wouldn't stop him. "And as for cruel, I think you're seriously overestimating." He chuckled. "I just happen to not be a shy romantic."

[yamamoto]

And'l looked at K'laon with a confused look, "What do you mean 'too kind'. I don't see how a dragon can be too kind. I mean they are half our soul after all so shouldn't they love and take care of us. That is what Netlh does for me, so that I am not at the very really scared, or at worse tramatized." It was clear that And'l did not like flight sex for a reason as simple as simple as losing his virginity. No the reason was much much deeper than that. He was not trying to be stupid, it was just that his thought process was simply differnt form most of the other dragon riders around him. It was one of the improtant reasons the blue dragon was so pushy with his rider, so that the young man could find himself a weyrmate, and then they would not have to worry about it anymore.

"I mean I understand that maybe to you Nelth is being too nice. Yet that is what he has always done for me, so I don't consider it being too nice. To me, Nelth is just being himself." The blue was very nice to anyone who could get close egough to And'l, it was just that not many people had done so. And'l was doing his best not to look stupid, though understood how he might look that way in the greenriders eyes. The other male was on the other end of it anyway, his dragon was the one doing the flying, so maybe K'laon was just used to it. And'l was not.

He gave the greenrider a curious looked as a smile seemed to cross the young man's face for the first time, "Oh and if your not a shy romantic then please K'laon, enlighten me and tell tell me what kind of romantic are you." One could say that And'l was teasing the other male, which did cause Nelth to till his head and make a curious wrabble in his rider direction. Though even And'l was not sure if that was his intention or not. He diecded to see how the other took it, first.

[Sparrow]

"What I mean by too kind is that he's kept you from getting anywhere. Faranth knows that if there's anything I don't like, Amirinth makes it happen anyways." He didn't even like Greens- or hadn't, at any rate- and there she was. "The best way to get over a fear of something is to let it happen, then you find out it's not so bad, right?"

Right. Amirinth rumbled. It made little difference to her that no one but K'laon could hear her reply.

"What kind of romantic am I." K'laon looked up towards Amirinth's ledge, his expression as skeptical as it could get, then repeated the phrase, laughing. "What kind of romantic... shards, I'm not a romantic. I'm a sarcastic, self-proclaimed critic and down-to-earth as the treetops. And you realize that a 'shy romantic' is a complete oxymoron?" Like a lot of what he had just said. He laughed harder, a husky tone entering his voice.

Amirinthlove was thinking that too. It makes no sense. The Green's eyes whirled cheerfully. She still didn't like Nelth, but maybe his rider wasn't so bad; he made Hers laugh.

Of course, there wasn't much that didn't make K'laon laugh, so that wasn't much of an accomplishment, but Amirinth didn't mind that at all, and nor did her rider.

[yamamoto]

I am sorry Amirinth for being mean to you and yours ealier. The blue spoke apoligaticly, as he turned his anttention to the green and gave And'l a little more space. He wanted to go and curl up next to her and talk. Yet he was not sure if she would appratiace being crowded. He had a very good reason for getting back in the greens good graces. And'l was acting strange, very strange. His rider was having to much fun, and it looked to him like And'l was starting to do somthing that he really did, which was to make a friend. So he wanted to make friends with the green. Maybe find a way to force And'l to get over his fear in the future. At least one that would be comfrontable.

And'l sighed and shook his head, "No he has not. Where it not for Nelth I would not be sitting here talking to you. He has not held me back. He is the one who pushes me to socialize. It was him that made me show up at my own weyrling gaduration." Another sigh left his lips as he looked at the green rider, "You see it is simply that Nelth only makes me do what he knows I am ready to do. I mean I can't lie to him. He would know better. So yeah you could say that he is holding me back, though he is my dragon and knows me better than anyone else and has always taken care of me. I think that one day, when he knows that I will be ok. He will chase and cacth." It was obvious that And'l trusted his dragon, yet at the same time it was obvious that Nelth babyed his rider.

And'l seemed to girn at these words, "Are you sure about that K'laon. How do you know I am not just a romantic who is shy. I mean you aren't exactly close egough to me to find out. Just because I am shy, does not mean that I can not be romantic if neccersy." And'l giggled at this, the normally shy blue rider seemed to be quite entertianed, "As for somone who is being self proclaimed critic as well as being down to earth, you are certianly being cute while doing it." As these words, left the blue rider's mouth his own eyes grew wide, and a slight blush covered his face. Did he really just say that? Even Nelth who raised his head off the ground and looked at his rider with a awe struck look as he tilted his and let out another confused warble. Was his rider flirting? Now that was diffently somthing that was new.

[Sparrow]

Amirinth yawned and lay her head back on the stone, ready to sleep some more while the sun was still out and K'laon was still occupied. She would have to be up all night chattering to him about this encounter anyways, best she got her rest in. Amirinth never caught on to such a thing. Mean? What? Just annoying. Amirinth knew annoying, she was a girl.

K'laon shrugged. "You can think what you like." It wasn't like he minded disagreeing. As far as he was concerned, they had gotten nowhere through Nelth being protective, just as people rarely did. Shards, K'laon was wingleader and he didn't even know And'l. There was something wrong if he kept that much out of everyone's business.

K'laon's brows contracted as And'l continued to speak. "Now you're making even less sense." There was no difference between a shy romantic and romantic who was shy. In his head, they weren't particularly possible. And as for the cute comment? Oh good Faranth. "That's the goal." He grinned nonetheless, which probably erased any possibility of cuteness from his countenence, with its natural ability to practically turn him into a toad.

[yamamoto]

And'l just sighed and shook his head, he did not expect the other to understand. No one ever did, expect for Nelth. And'l just hung onto things that others did not, he found improtant things that others did not. Unless a person lived And'l's life, then they would probably not understand the dicisions that made. He stared at the ground as he picked his legs up so that he could sit indian style on his perch. As he began to think, And'l did not really care for the others opintion, in his mind he would one day prove people who scoffed at the way he acted wrong. When that day came he would be the one to have the last laugh. So he diecded that it was not worth aguring with someone who never would and apparitly did not even want to try to understand.

He began to wonder if sitting here talking to this man was even worth it. All he got out of him where sarcastic comments and things that made him feel bad. He had started the thing of the other as friend matiral, but now any thoughts on this began to quickly slip away, he had even tried to compliment the other, yet had obersevered the other a 'yeah right' type thought process. And'l actully thought the way the others smile made him look nice, he himself almost looked like a frog when he was sitting alone with Nelth. Not that anyone had ever seen him, so he diecded to try once more, "Well whatever you are doing seems to be working, your smile looks nice too." The blue riders eyes wacthed the other for moment to see if he got the same reaction or a better. Though he already had his suspsions on what he was going to get. He gave a look to Nelth too, though found his dragon to be curled up comforntably. He figured that maybe Nelth was not as annoyed as he was.