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Breaking Routine; Tag: Tesla's Elmi
Topic Started: Dec 11 2014, 08:59 PM (452 Views)
Samiya
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The Sarcastic One
Transferring Weyrs had proven to be one of the best decisions J'zec could have made. The change in scenery, in weather, in people and dragons surrounding him was just what he needed to get the itch of restlessness under control. Of course, Riliath had been passionately resistant to the idea right up until the moment they appeared above Vaioa and he saw how many lovely females there were. The copper's mood only improved as they later selected their new weyr--a spacious, luxurious suite with a wonderful view. After fussing until everything was just so and things had been arranged in a way that pleased the beryllium beast, he finally allowed his rider to head off for supper.

Which was how J'zec found himself in the lower caverns, standing in the midst of a long, empty corridor and gazing around for any sign that he was headed in the right direction. "Where the fardle am I?" he demanded under his breath, turning in a slow circle.

At this point, he couldn't even remember what direction he had even come from. And he had thought descending from the riders' weyrs into the caverns was a better plan than crossing the 'bowl to the more obvious kitchen entrance. Well, he had certainly learned his lesson this time. He would have to learn the twists and turns of the caverns eventually, certainly, but at the moment... well. He was rather lost.

"This is fecking ridiculous. How can they just continue on like this? And where are the people?" Honestly, he should've seen at least one other human being by then, right?

For all your complaining, you know you're thrilled. Getting lost means there's something new to discover, Riliath remarked, stretched out on his brand new ledge with a very plump belly of his own.

J'zec grinned, rubbing his nose. His dragon knew him too well. Well, I'm not about to learn them already. Got to leave some mystery this time. Stretch it out a few turns before we get bored and move on again.

Not we. You. I wasn't bored of Fort.

Details.

A scuff down the hall had the copperrider whirling around and he slapped on his most polite, charming smile. It was a first impression and whoever was heading his way was his only hope for dinner that night. He had to play nice.

"Hi, excuse me? Sorry to disturb you, but can you point me in the direction of the dining hall? I'm hopelessly lost and I'm afraid I might soon faint of hunger," he said, working in a little chuckle at his own expense.
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Vaioa: Iron Healer Carissa of Brown Carisk || Granite Wingrider C'mir of Garnet Morueth || Sandstone Wingrider Y'son of Garnet Sindath || Marble Wingrider J'zec of Copper Riliath || Shale Wingrider L'relin of Brown Akaath || Ruby Weyrling Elya of Brown Gaventh || Basalt Wingrider Jeklyn of Grey Laith || Coal Wingsecond K'noa of Green Anyth || Jade Weyrling A'tem of Black Unvolith
Cove: Squall Wingthird Satria of Grey Kassyth || Squall Dragonhealer R'syn of Blue Gheth
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Tesla
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… Was that someone up ahead?

Baskets in hand – one for the dim glows, the other for their replacements – Elmi regarded the figure in the hallway with something bordering on apprehension. It was more reluctance than nervousness, though; she wasn’t given to the second thing, as a rule, but she certainly didn’t feel like dealing with whatever foolishness this turned out to be. A prank, a misadventure, a wrong turn – she couldn’t make out much, from a distance, but it was obvious even from here she’d not stumbled upon a fellow caverns worker. The posture, the hesitancy, even the outline and its dim impression of clothing were all wrong. This was, to all appearances, no one who had any business being down here at this time of night.

Squaring her shoulders – and thereby disturbing Kynes, who’d been dozing – she stalked forward, hands pumping around the basket handles and expression souring. The bronze, picking up on the object of her scrutiny, tensed, claws tightening in the collar of her shirt. As she drew nearer, though, the figure resolved into that of a man who looked decidedly more confused than shady; she was still learning the language of shoulder knots, peculiar to the Weyrs and crafthalls, but she’d obviously stumbled across a rider. Before she could remark that he was rather out of bounds, though, he turned and spotted her approaching, launching unprompted into an explanation:

Hi, excuse me? …I’m hopelessly lost and I’m afraid I might soon faint of hunger.
An eyebrow inched towards her hairline, and she didn’t stop walking until she was nearly toe-to-toe with the man. She stood glowering up at him for a moment, and he towered over her from this angle – but then, nearly everyone did.
“You’re pretty far off course,” she confirmed, probably unnecessarily, and then skirted around him, aiming for a nearby glowbasket; her voice, still scratchy and rumbly from the cough that had nearly killed her as a child, carried well in the hall, and her tone was dry. Not scathing, but not especially friendly.

“Not sure where you thought you were going, but you can follow me – I’m headed in that direction.”
She wasn’t headed to the dining hall itself, but her route would take her near enough, and she could afford the detour. A spell of silence, while she replaced the worn out lights, and then she straightened and turned, scrutinizing him from across the still-dim hall. They were in an area that didn’t see much foot traffic, and so there was little need for it to be particularly well-lit.

“I could give you directions, from here, but frankly I don’t like your chances.” She didn’t say the reason for this was that she herself was a recent arrival to the Weyr; better to let him draw his own conclusions. He was the one who’d gotten lost, after all. She had a general sense of Vaioa's layout now, herself, but long experience as a drudge had given her an advantage in that regard. She had acquired a basically intuitive understanding of the schema by which Weyrs and Holds were organized – all were different, of course, but there was an underlying consistency, certain patterns that they all tended to follow. Still, she couldn’t have told him in any great detail how to free himself from the maze of corridors he’d found himself in; couldn’t have counted off doorways, or anything like that. Wouldn’t do anyone any good to let him wander off on his own again, not when he was likely to wind up someplace equally obscure. She’d just have to resign herself to a bit of company - and so she stood, wavering in thinly-suppressed impatience, waiting for him to acknowledge or turn down her offer. Kynes, still draped across her shoulders, stared balefully out from where his head was tucked into her collar, eyes winking red in the glowlight.

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Elmi & Garnet Basteth | Az'riel & Copper Liyanth
Singrid & Copper Wiliath | J'nai & Brown Elokith
Caylan & Grey Parath | El'jir & Blue Morrith
Savka & Blue Ripariath | N'din & Green Ingalath
J'phel & Black Davoth | I'vend & Graphite Rerioth
Sankal & Black Sansk | Avry & Blue Ask

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Samiya
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The Sarcastic One
The new arrival was a woman-well, girl was more appropriate-that seemed somewhat less than thrilled to find J'zec down here. Despite her obvious and immediate dislike, however, she marched right up to him and the copperrider found himself a little taken aback by her abruptness. And proximity. He blinked down at her, feeling his neck strain with the unusual angle. How did somebody stay so tiny? She was like a child, really.

He quirked his eyebrow right back at her, amusement touching his features. "Yes, I'm aware of that. That's typically what 'lost' means," he pointed out blankly.

Aren't you blunt today.

Hey, so is she!

He pivoted as she paced around him, keeping a curious eye on her. From his experience, lower cavern workers weren't usually so... confrontational to riders. Wasn't that somehow... against Weyr rules or something? Maybe he should have paid better attention to his lessons. Come to think of it, had they even taught proper Weyr etiquette or had they just assumed everybody had manners? Stupid, if that was the case. There were plenty of people like him that wound up at a Weyr.

Her added remark about his chances evoked a little scoff. "Are you always this friendly to total strangers? Or am I just the lucky man that gets heaped with your unyielding cheer?" he asked lightly, taking a step after her.

Insulting her isn't smart. You'll be lost down there forever, Riliath pointed out unsympathetically.

Send a search party, then. He caught sight of the firelizard, practically boring holes through his face with that hateful gaze, and bared his teeth at the little beast. It was only when Riliath sighed in the back of his mind that he remembered the girl was staring right at him too.

He made no apologies. "Never liked them. A few have some musical talent, but that's all they're good for." Oh, wait. He was supposed to be playing nice. "I'll apologize, if you lead me out of here," he added. If I have to, anyway.
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Vaioa: Iron Healer Carissa of Brown Carisk || Granite Wingrider C'mir of Garnet Morueth || Sandstone Wingrider Y'son of Garnet Sindath || Marble Wingrider J'zec of Copper Riliath || Shale Wingrider L'relin of Brown Akaath || Ruby Weyrling Elya of Brown Gaventh || Basalt Wingrider Jeklyn of Grey Laith || Coal Wingsecond K'noa of Green Anyth || Jade Weyrling A'tem of Black Unvolith
Cove: Squall Wingthird Satria of Grey Kassyth || Squall Dragonhealer R'syn of Blue Gheth
(a57543) (7a0029) (882209) (ee7621) (74482C) (AB8C66) (dimgrey) (33cc33) (2d3d36) (grey) (midnightblue)
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Tesla
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That’s typically what ‘lost’ means.
How quickly those polite, self-effacing pretenses were abandoned! But then, Elmi’d always preferred to forego the social niceties and common courtesies, time consuming and inane as they were. Drudges were often off the hook for that, anyway, expected to remain in the background or subservient or both (Elmi, as J'zec could probably already have guessed, favored the first option). He could hardly be faulted, anyway, for responding to her brusqueness in kind, and she let the sarcasm go without comment. She did, however, detect amusement in his expression as he peered down at her, and she felt her own features pinch into a fierce scowl in response. It was hardly unusual, but she’d found it no less irritating here than it had been at Telgar, that some people thought her funny. She never knew whether to attribute it to her short stature, her raspy voice, her often severe expression, or all of this in combination with her lower caverns work – regardless, it tended not to endear strangers to her.

Are you always this friendly…?
He’d turned to watch her work, but had only strayed a step after her down the hallway. She took a deep breath and counted to five, reluctant to let irritation get the better of her, though the look she shot him was patently unimpressed. She hadn’t meant it like that, though she was self-aware (and honest) enough to concede she’d known, and not minded, that he was likely to interpret her remark as an insult. It didn’t matter anyway. He didn’t have much of a choice but to follow her, not if he wanted his dinner still warm by the time he got to it. Straight-faced, tone even, she responded (after a moment of pointed silence):
“I’m offering to escort you to the dining hall. Or would you rather wait for someone friendlier to come along?”

She didn’t have any intention of leaving him to fend for himself, not really; the place was a miserable maze, after all, and she herself was still learning it. But, again, he didn’t need to know that – and she’d no intention of telling him. She was working, after all, and if her tone and posture betrayed a bit of impatience she wasn’t going to apologize for it. A reminder that she did, in fact, have better (or at least more productive) things to be doing with her time wouldn’t be remiss, in her considered opinion. But then he bared his teeth at a positively scandalized Kynes, and she felt her glare ease into something more neutral, one corner of her mouth quirking in a suggestion of a smile.

The bronze, for his part, removed his head from beneath her collar and leaned forward, hunching menacingly over her right shoulder to deliver a hiss. To be in such close proximity to his human, and making such ugly faces, was just not on – though a mute command from Elmi kept him rooted to his perch. He’d never been any friendlier than she, but newly-hatched he’d displayed an aggressive streak that she’d worked hard to extinguish. There’d been a time – quite a long time, actually – where she’d not allowed him to accompany her to work at all. She didn’t mind him snarking, particularly at such an... enthusiastic opponent, but he’d do it from a distance or not at all. To J’zec’s explanation, however, she only shrugged. She cared very little for his opinion of firelizards, and Kynes cared even less.

Now, however, he seemed willing to cooperate, and she took a step further down the hallway, angling her shoulders away though she kept her head turned in his direction, eyebrows furrowing as she waited to see whether he would follow.
“Don’t want any apologies. The kitchens are this way.”

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Elmi & Garnet Basteth | Az'riel & Copper Liyanth
Singrid & Copper Wiliath | J'nai & Brown Elokith
Caylan & Grey Parath | El'jir & Blue Morrith
Savka & Blue Ripariath | N'din & Green Ingalath
J'phel & Black Davoth | I'vend & Graphite Rerioth
Sankal & Black Sansk | Avry & Blue Ask

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Samiya
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The Sarcastic One
The moment the girl's expression changed from her casual glare to an actual scowl, J'zec felt his own face morph into surprise. It couldn't have been his words that rankled her, as she seemed rather immune to them, but something else entirely. "What a face to make at a stranger! Do tell me, dear lady, if I have done or said something to offend," he said airily, replacing the amusement with a look of sincere remorse. It was all feigned, of course, and he'd be able to get her measure whether or not she was able to detect it. He wasn't mocking her, not really, merely curious to see just how she would react to his light teasing.

Evidently he had said the wrong thing again as her prolonged silence seemed to imply. And then she was speaking again, using that same neutral, unsympathetic tone. Her words brought a genuine smile to his face, crooked though it was, and he gave a short laugh of approval. "Certainly not. I find your open hostility refreshing. Can't stand the bowing and scraping that most folks employ. Really, if you can't stand someone, at least let it show. Like you. I applaud you for making it evidently clear how much you loathe me." Despite his words, his voice didn't at all suggest offense--rather he sounded amused and pleased.

You are happy she is rude to you? came the copper's very confused query.

I am. It's a nice change of pace.

I will never understand humans...

J'zec chuckled lowly and turned his attention back to the girl just in time to catch a flicker of... was that a smile? A hint of one? "Don't be alarmed, dear lady, but I do believe your mouth is doing something against your will," he said, mock grave, and dared to take another step after her. He was finding he quite enjoyed her company, as malicious as it was, and he certainly wasn't going to remain here when she had already offered to lead him out.

The firelizard's increased hostility troubled matters, however. If he antagonized the little beast into attacking, he couldn't guarantee Riliath wouldn't attempt to claw his way into the lower caverns to protect him. Hmm. This did pose a problem. Smartly taking the step back, he spread his arms and shrugged to the little beast. "Peace, creature. I mean your owner no harm. And you, I suppose, though you are a right nasty thing, aren't you?" He could feel Riliath's sigh in the back of his mind. The copperrider slapped his charming smile back on and trailed after the girl as she began to lead, the picture of innocence.
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Vaioa: Iron Healer Carissa of Brown Carisk || Granite Wingrider C'mir of Garnet Morueth || Sandstone Wingrider Y'son of Garnet Sindath || Marble Wingrider J'zec of Copper Riliath || Shale Wingrider L'relin of Brown Akaath || Ruby Weyrling Elya of Brown Gaventh || Basalt Wingrider Jeklyn of Grey Laith || Coal Wingsecond K'noa of Green Anyth || Jade Weyrling A'tem of Black Unvolith
Cove: Squall Wingthird Satria of Grey Kassyth || Squall Dragonhealer R'syn of Blue Gheth
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Tesla
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What was this guy’s game? Snarkiness one moment, patently-fake simpering the next; did he expect to fool or placate her, or was he just trying to keep her on her toes? It seemed exhausting, whatever he was playing at, and she let the near-smirk dissolve back into an exasperated grimace.
Do tell me, dear lady, if I have done or said something to offend…
She shot him a look over her shoulder, one eyebrow quirked. His own expression seemed sincere enough, which was cute; it wasn’t as if she didn’t already have this guy’s number. His reaction to Kynes, she suspected, was the only candid display she’d seen from him.
“Are you serious?”
By her tone, it was obviously a rhetorical question; a little incredulous, a lot unimpressed. And to that particular comment, it was the only response he was going to get.

Her own question - did he want to wait for someone 'nicer' - was received rather better than she'd expected. Probably it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, though; she may not have bothered with the formalities, but he’d seemed perfectly happy to do away with them, given the opportunity. Though he was laying it on a little thick again – really, it was like he couldn’t help himself – she felt amusement tugging at the corner of her mouth, more endeared by the sentiment than she was willing to let on. Perhaps he was only saying it to manipulate that precise reaction out of her, but if he was willing to indulge her admittedly sour attitude, she could hardly complain. He seemed sincere enough, though – this time.
Can’t stand the bowing and scraping that most folks employ.
“I’ve been told I could benefit from a little more of that. I’m sure you can imagine."
I applaud you for making it evidently clear how much you loathe me.
That one earned him another look – this one as subtly teasing as his earlier words had been.
“You flatter yourself. Loathing would require a lot more effort, on your part.”

He certainly seemed to be relaxing, now that the initial sniping was out of the way – was even following her down the hallway, finally. Her smirk hadn’t been quite as understated as she’d assumed, though, as that earned her yet more ribbing. It was… odd. Others thought her funny, sometimes, that was true – but for her height or other such things beyond her control. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had teased in a way that was playful – even meant to be reciprocated. Well, there was her brother Jamphel, but he hardly counted. Unsure how, exactly, to respond to someone not-Jam, she eventually settled on a shrug and:
“Happens to the best of us.”

Kynes, though – still eyeing the copperrider, still openly hostile – seemed to be earning himself a little too much scrutiny. She let the man negotiate with him, for a spell, amused and safely so – he could no longer see her expression, having fallen back a few paces. Eventually, though, she tired of it; no word or gesture was going to do a thing to settle the bronze down. They’d do much better ignoring him.
“He’s not going to attack you. Doesn’t get on well with most people, but he knows better’n that. Gets to be as nasty as he wants, so long as he keeps his claws to himself.”
The last was more for Kynes’ benefit than J’zec’s – those had been the terms of their agreement, years ago. It had taken months of working with the little monster, after he'd hatched, for him to settle down and agree to them, but the lesson had stuck. Short of attacking Elmi, there was very little J’zec could do to earn himself more than a hiss and a mean look.

(And then I realized they hadn't even gotten around to introducing themselves, and all I could think of was this.)

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Elmi & Garnet Basteth | Az'riel & Copper Liyanth
Singrid & Copper Wiliath | J'nai & Brown Elokith
Caylan & Grey Parath | El'jir & Blue Morrith
Savka & Blue Ripariath | N'din & Green Ingalath
J'phel & Black Davoth | I'vend & Graphite Rerioth
Sankal & Black Sansk | Avry & Blue Ask

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Samiya
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It was entertaining watching the grumpy drudge try to puzzle out if he was serious or not. He had a tendency to change his demeanor and mannerisms based on the people he was around. This girl allowed him to relax a little--let his true inner sarcasm shine bright. Poor girl had no idea what she was enabling. His lips twitched as she finally asked the question that clearly didn't require a response and he shrugged. Was he serious? "Rarely," he replied flippantly. Life was too short to be.

He caught the next flicker of amusement on her face and he smirked. If he could draw forth an actual smile or a laugh... Well, that would be a productive day. He would have to reward himself for something like that. The thought of this girl bowing to someone nearly made him laugh aloud. He stifled it, replaced with a little chuckle. "No, I certainly can't. You're the picture of politeness." He opened his mouth to say more and blinked as she shot him a... teasing look? Well now. His eyebrows rose as her next comment.

"Really now? I might have to redouble my efforts, in that case," he joked. So she didn't hate him? That was surprising. Her attitude seemed to imply otherwise, but apparently she was just slightly harder to read. He liked a challenge, anyway. He turned a renewed interest on the girl, determined to figure her out. He enjoyed a mystery, sure, but he also prided himself on being able to read people. She would not be an exception if he could help it.

Delight touched his face as she joked herself. If she was able to laugh at her own expense, and even make snarky comments about it, then she was all right in his book. "It does indeed," he agreed, nodding his head sagely. After all, she was drawing forth a few expressions on his own face that he wasn't quick enough to catch. Humor still dominated, regardless.

His gaze shifted back to the little hissing beast at her explanation and he eyed the flitter thoughtfully. "A good rule. I may have to consider implementing it for myself." There was only a slight undertone of mischief in his voice that time, and he could swear he could feel Riliath rolling his eyes at him.

If you are quite done flirting, I would like to be oiled now, the copper insisted.

Not until I've had my dinner.

You'll never get there at this rate!

J'zec sighed. "Really, it can be such a bother having a dragon in your head. He's throwing such a tantrum over my... mm... detour." Much better than admitting a second time to getting lost. "Are we near the dining hall?" he asked, drawn back to his original purpose. He eyed the girl carefully and then proposed a simple, "Have you already eaten?" It was an innocent enough question and it certainly didn't hurt to ask. Were drudges allowed to eat in dining halls, or was there a special hall separate from them? He'd never paid attention.
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Vaioa: Iron Healer Carissa of Brown Carisk || Granite Wingrider C'mir of Garnet Morueth || Sandstone Wingrider Y'son of Garnet Sindath || Marble Wingrider J'zec of Copper Riliath || Shale Wingrider L'relin of Brown Akaath || Ruby Weyrling Elya of Brown Gaventh || Basalt Wingrider Jeklyn of Grey Laith || Coal Wingsecond K'noa of Green Anyth || Jade Weyrling A'tem of Black Unvolith
Cove: Squall Wingthird Satria of Grey Kassyth || Squall Dragonhealer R'syn of Blue Gheth
(a57543) (7a0029) (882209) (ee7621) (74482C) (AB8C66) (dimgrey) (33cc33) (2d3d36) (grey) (midnightblue)
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Tesla
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Rarely, was the answer he gave her rhetorical question, and after pondering it for a moment she shrugged; fair enough. He was definitely playing games; she supposed the least he could do was be up front about it.

You’re the picture of politeness.
She shrugged, unapologetic; despite having lived most of her life as a drudge, she’d rarely been in serious trouble on account of her attitude – her inability, as J’zec had said earlier, to bother with the bowing and scraping that was more appropriate to her position. She’d found there were few perks, to being young and looking younger, but not being taken seriously had proven a blessing as much as a curse over the years. She never appreciated it, even when it worked in her favor – but that didn’t stop her taking advantage, at times like this. Brand-new to Vaioa though she was, she wasn’t worried that J’zec would go running to the Headwoman after she delivered him to the dining hall; and even if he did, she didn’t expect anything would come of it.

I might have to redouble my efforts, in that case.
She hadn’t known quite how to respond to his (seemingly) good-natured teasing, but apparently she’d done all right – or at least hadn’t done so badly as to run him off-track. It was more gratifying than she might have expected; she enjoyed the camaraderie she and Jamphel had always shared – and she didn’t care one whit that he’d Impressed, there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Ista she was ever calling him ‘J’phel’ – but she’d never known how to achieve the same… ease of conversation with anyone else. She and J’zec certainly weren’t anywhere near it now, but it was a step further in that direction than she usually managed, and it was interesting – particularly considering that the man, in his own way, seemed almost as abrasive as she knew herself to be. Or he seemed capable of it, at any rate. She didn’t often appreciate casual conversation, which was no doubt part of the problem, but this particular dragonrider was proving to be mildly interesting; she could have done worse, she supposed, in picking up a stray.

They were finally getting back into a section of the caverns she knew well. If it had taken them a little longer than strictly necessary to get there – well, it’s not as though he would know what turns she’d missed.
I may have to consider implementing it for myself.
That comment earned him another smirk, fleeting though it was; it was a policy she’d exercised herself, on more than one occasion. It probably didn't say anything good about her, but she sympathized with Kynes more often not.

The man detoured, then, to confide that his dragon was for some reason unhappy about their situation; what Elmi took away from the statement was that the dragon was male. She was now a (small) step closer to determining the meaning of his shoulder knots; it was, in fact, the only bit of personal information she’d been given thus far, aside from the fact that he was a recent transfer. She was oddly reluctant to just come out and ask him, though – it seemed too much like a puzzle, despite the fact that no amount of scrutiny was going to help her determine the dragon’s color, never mind his name. Still, asking was too easy, and would give the impression that she was invested in the answer; she wasn’t that curious.

“We’re almost there,” she confirmed, as they turned the second-to-last corner; there were people with them now, in the halls, most of them headed back to their weyrs but a fair few just now arriving for dinner. He could find his own way, from here, except-
Have you already eaten?
It was a moment before she recognized the invitation, despite it being a relatively transparent one; she so rarely sat down and had a meal with anyone that her first instinct was to take the question at face value. Even breakfast with Jam was typically ten or fifteen minutes of him wolfing down food, with her cleaning tables nearby as an excuse to catch up with him. She usually ate on the go, and relaxed with a cup of klah after her shift ended and the hall was mostly cleared out. And yet:
“Actually I haven’t.”
She shuffled, unsure of the situation, though her expression was more contemplative than uneasy.
“I’d have to be quick, but no one would mind if I took a few minute for a meal.”

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Elmi & Garnet Basteth | Az'riel & Copper Liyanth
Singrid & Copper Wiliath | J'nai & Brown Elokith
Caylan & Grey Parath | El'jir & Blue Morrith
Savka & Blue Ripariath | N'din & Green Ingalath
J'phel & Black Davoth | I'vend & Graphite Rerioth
Sankal & Black Sansk | Avry & Blue Ask

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Samiya
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The Sarcastic One
J'zec felt, early into the extended silence, that he was under some amount of scrutiny. Whether the drudge was contemplating which dark corner of the Weyr to leave his body in, or if it was worth continuing the conversation was beyond him. The mystery of it just added to his overall content with the situation, either way. This girl just kept him guessing.

She at least gave reactions to his remarks, shrugging and smirking and in general making it just a little bit easier for him to read the inner workings of her mind. He was fairly confident she no longer despised the moment she turned the corner and found him lost in the tunnels, at least. If he was feeling so bold, he might even assume she was enjoying herself. Just a little bit.

Before long, they entered a portion of the lower caverns with other people and J'zec barely contained his look of annoyance. Couldn't the grumpy drudge had taken a more roundabout route to get them there?

Since when do you want to extend the time you spend with someone? Riliath demanded grumpily.

Since when indeed. I haven't figured her out yet.

You're not fooling me.

Don't you have a nap to take or something?

I'm waiting for my oiling. You know I can't nap until I've been oiled, J'zec.

Fickle dragon.

J'zec paused outside the dining hall, glancing at his grouchy companion as she ventured to speak once more. Imagine his surprise when she actually seemed to accept his invitation. He gave a slight smile and dipped the smallest bow--not mocking or even his usual flourish, just a little motion as he gestured inside the hall before heading in himself. He wouldn't speak the actual words to invite her along--it would make it awkward for both of them if she declined after all, but it was there for her if she wanted to join him.

Ordinarily, he would flag down a drudge for his meal, but in light of his recent company... he gathered the food for himself and selected an empty table. If he had grabbed more than one person could eat, well... it was just in case.

((And then I realized he hasn't spoken a word this whole post. xD Let me know if you need me to smack him upside the head and pry some speech from him.))
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Vaioa: Iron Healer Carissa of Brown Carisk || Granite Wingrider C'mir of Garnet Morueth || Sandstone Wingrider Y'son of Garnet Sindath || Marble Wingrider J'zec of Copper Riliath || Shale Wingrider L'relin of Brown Akaath || Ruby Weyrling Elya of Brown Gaventh || Basalt Wingrider Jeklyn of Grey Laith || Coal Wingsecond K'noa of Green Anyth || Jade Weyrling A'tem of Black Unvolith
Cove: Squall Wingthird Satria of Grey Kassyth || Squall Dragonhealer R'syn of Blue Gheth
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Tesla
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Her tentative acceptance of his invitation won her a little bow; she peered up at him for a long moment, eyes narrowed suspiciously, before deciding the gesture had been a harmless one. Kynes, watching this exchange, and realizing his human didn’t intend to return to work immediately, snorted disdainfully. Uncoiling from around her shoulders, he leapt into the air and vanished between; just because she’d settled for such inane company, didn’t mean he had any intention of entertaining the impudent man. He’d go and find some dinner of his own, while his human was thus engaged.

Elmi waved him off, unconcerned; he’d be back sooner rather than later. For all that he disliked most humans, and even a fair few of his fellow firelizards, he wasn’t enormously fond of being alone. It was just as well they tolerated each other’s company, really; it kept Kynes from being lonely, and it gave her a willing (if not terribly eager) helper throughout her days.

Preceding J'zec into the hall, which seemed to be what he'd been waiting for, she was struck by the strangeness of it; normally she’d be bustling about collecting plates and mopping up spills. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat down to eat at what Weyr – or Hold – considered proper mealtime. When J’zec didn’t move to flag down one of her fellow drudges, though, she followed his lead, and found she was quite relieved to escape any potential scrutiny from her coworkers. Trailing him to food line, she hastily put together a small plate – just a redfruit and a couple of meatrolls – before ducking back out and sidling up next to her impromptu dinner companion. She was standing closer to him now than she had before, the better to keep track of him given the number of people in the hall; she’d lead him out of the lower caverns, there'd be no sense in losing him now.

“Where do we… sit?” She managed after a moment, peering critically about the room. She knew full well the disastrous state the hall was going to be left in, after the riders and weyrfolk all went to bed, but she didn’t mind terribly – especially not when she’d be contributing to it herself, for once.

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Elmi & Garnet Basteth | Az'riel & Copper Liyanth
Singrid & Copper Wiliath | J'nai & Brown Elokith
Caylan & Grey Parath | El'jir & Blue Morrith
Savka & Blue Ripariath | N'din & Green Ingalath
J'phel & Black Davoth | I'vend & Graphite Rerioth
Sankal & Black Sansk | Avry & Blue Ask

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