So early in the morning (open)

[ShadowReine]

T'mar could not stop yawning. He knew why. He had not slept. Basically, the greenrider had not slept at all.

He might have got a couple of restless candlemarks. Now he had given up, got up, and joined the early shift for breakfast. Mostly those riders who had drawn dawn sweeps.

He should volunteer to replace one of them. Except he was so tired he might fall off Freyjath, and then where would he be?

Just to add to his annoyance, *she* was still asleep, with Flower and Trouble both curled up next to her.

SHE had slept fine. "Sharding dragon," he muttered, not, of course, at all *meaning* it. No rider could be mad with his or her dragon for any length of time, even those who had dragons that would drive anyone else crazy.

T'mar did wonder if sometimes dragons just looked for the person best equipped to put up with them.

[kandykat]

Shador rubbed her temples and yawned as she walked into the lower caverns. She was dressed--not already, but still, from the night before. Her top, which was low-cut and decorated with bright embroidery, was looking a little weary. She was walking barefoot and carrying her shoes in one hand. She had been up all night, drinking wine and dancing with friends at a part held in her weyr, and now she wanted some breakfast before going to bed.

I am going to want a bath sometime today,[/color] Kelth told her a bit apologetically. The Violet, who had slept through most of the party, was just getting ready to wake up. The Violet liked to rise early, to greet the other dragons as they woke.

After I sleep, dear. How about a twilight bath? Shador smiled and poured herself a mug of klah. She knew that she probably shouldn't go on living like this, but right now she didn't have many responsibilities. With Inolyn and Brylorea to help out, there was much less work for her. And Kelth didn't have a clutch, and wouldn't for a while, so she didn't have that to worry about.

She got a piece of toast and then went to find somewhere to sit. Surveying the tables, she saw one occupied only by a young weyrling. Smiling charmingly, Shador sidled up to the table and set her plate down. "Let me guess, early morning sweeps?" she asked. "Mind if I join you? We can help keep each other awake."

[ShadowReine]

T'mar shook his head. "I almost wish. Horrible insomnia. Whilst my dragon sleeps like a green log."

He made a face. "Knowing my luck I'll fall asleep around noonmeal. Need to tell my body I'm not a sharding wherhandler."

He knew he was sounding grumpy, but he WAS grumpy. He wasn't sure he didn't want to push the queenrider away...rather than inflict his mood on the woman. Right now he was struggling to remember her name...and there were only two violet riders to worry about.

He did take a moment to thank Faranth men could not Impress queens. He would not want her job...not at all.

[kandykat]

Shador shook her head sympathetically. There wasn't much worse than not being able to sleep when you really wanted to. The greenrider certainly didn't sound happy, but she didn't blame him. "Drink lots of klah," she advised, raising her own mug before taking a sip. She had plenty of experience with making herself stay awake through her duties.

"So what's keeping you awake? Something on your conscience?" she asked teasingly, a grin playing across her face.

[ShadowReine]

T'mar shook his head. "I honestly can't think of anything. I just can't seem to get comfortable. Maybe I need a new mattress or something."

Of course, he would graduate soon. Maybe that was it...maybe he was nervous about joining the fighting wings. After all, new graduates were the most likely to get killed. He did not want to get Freyjath hurt.

Yes, he was far more worried about his dragon's hide than his own. At least the queenrider seemed to be more...well. As he recalled, the only thing keeping him safe from being hit on was his weyrling knots...and possibly an assumption that the green strand in those knots meant he did not do girls at all. Incorrect, in his case, but...a reasonable assumption. Most male greenriders were one hundred percent homosexual, or close.

[kandykat]

Shador giggled. "Well, if I recall, the cots in the weyrling barracks aren't too comfortable--but you'll be graduating soon."

In reality, she was not flirting simply because it was too early in the morning. She didn't have the energy--if it had been later in the day, things might have been different. As it was, she could still tease the weyrling. "And with that considered, there must be plenty of things you're worried about. Joining a Wing, picking your new weyr...mating Flights." She gave him a saucy wink, wondering if the Weyr's youngest male Greenrider had thought about his dragon's rising at all.

[ShadowReine]

T'mar grinned. "I'm not too worried about flights. I don't particularly care who I wake up next to, as long as their weyrmate doesn't try to give me a black eye."

He did feel sorry for those with a stronger gender preference when it came to flights.

"And I've already got my thoughts on a weyr. One of the higher ones, but Freyjath likes it...and that matters too."

No, the cots were not comfortable, but even a greenrider could requisition decent furniture from stores. The perk of being a rider...one was given everything one needed. Not wanted, no, but needed. A decent bed was one of those things. "At least I don't have to worry about certain results of mating flights...on the dragon side." Getting some female bluerider pregnant? Well, bridge, cross, come to.

[kandykat]

Shador echoed the greenrider's grin. "That's a good attitude to have about it. Reminds me a little of how I felt as a weyrling," she said with a laugh. It was just too bad that she couldn't pick on him if he felt like that about it. "Of course, I wouldn't have been too happy if I woke up with a girl, but Queenriders don't have to worry about that too much."

She nodded when he brought up other consequences of a Flight. "That's true...Kelth isn't very fun when she's broody. The Hatching day makes it all worth it, though." She smiled, thinking about Kelth's last Hatching, with all of the new colors. "Speaking of clutches, have you had a look at Jorindath's? Got any bets about it?"

[ShadowReine]

T'mar nodded. "There's, what, one female brownrider in the entire Weyr...and she'd be as unhappy as you would be, from what I hear. And I've not really peeked. I'm wondering, though, if it will be like the last tan-violet clutch...overrun with new colors."

He did wonder if there would be any more of those handsome charcoals. Freyjath thought they were quite attractive...despite their surly personalities. "Not sure we need any more charcoals, although I think Freyjath disagrees with me."

He had a couple of blues he would prefer to be the dragons who flew Freyjath first, but he knew he would get no choice in the matter. The green would pick as she picked, and ignore her rider. Best to keep a completely open mind.