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+--- Thread: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away (/showthread.php?tid=4756)
741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 14.Dec.20
B’kit was having fun despite himself. His utter distaste for the cold could be overcome with the liberal application of warm spiced drinks and a party atmosphere, and it was nice to catch up with his friends’ family and meet their other guests.
He had only been skating a handful of times before, and he was looking forward to a chance to try again—hopefully with fewer occasions of falling this year, though he doubted he would be so lucky. Some people took to it like breathing, but not B’kit.
Erebuth had convinced some of the other dragons to pile together in a lazy lump near the fire pit the humans were warming up around, though he kept popping his head up to see what his rider was doing or when something else caught his attention. B’kit, look! Snow! The blue exclaimed excitedly, scrambling out of the cuddle pile to the exasperated huffs of some of the others who were jostled or stepped on. Sorry!
B’kit looked up at the sound of the commotion, losing track of the others around him as he slid to a wobbly stop. Re! Behave, or we won’t get invited nex-! he lost track of the thought as his skates slipped and he fell—automatically grabbing out for something to break the fall and unintentionally dragging someone else down with him.
At least this time he managed to avoid hitting his head, he thought, gingerly glancing to see if the other person was okay. “Sorry about that. I can’t believe I did that. Are you alright?”
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 15.Dec.20
Yfris was used to the cold thanks to Misty Hold's location where storms could blow in off the ocean and linger due to the mountains surrounding them on the other sides but High Reaches, Bitra, and Benden always tried their best to freeze his nuts and he preferred those stayed toasty, thank you very much!
But he also loved socializing and ice skating was something he didn't exactly excel at but enjoyed enough to participate when the occasion rose. So he was bundled up in fur-lined coat and gloves with a rather charming knitted cap an elderly woman gave him when he arrived. It wasn't his usually his style of hat but Yfris felt he still looked damn good in it.
He had been chatting with a lovely young lady when the world tipped and he was on his back with a strange man pawing at him. "I've usually had more to drink before I find myself in this position," he remarked as his lady friend skated off with a giggle, leaving him stranded.
"I'm sure it's my fault. The ice is meant for gliding, not standing so I was likely rudely in your way." But was he okay? Yfris went through body parts, finding everything intact and the bits meant to wiggle wiggled. His head had connected with the ice but the hat softened the blow from what was already a fairly slow fall.
"And other than my backside starting to go numb from the cold, I appear to be fine. No harm your way, I hope?" Yfris asked as he sat up and looked over his companion. He found a young man that was pleasing to the eye but someone he didn't recognize. Likely a dragonrider given it was one of the days open to friends in the Weyrs. Perhaps he could have even more fun that day.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 15.Dec.20
B’kit couldn’t help a surprised laugh at the young man’s wry response, quickly disentangling himself. “Unfortunately it was definitely my fault. I’m clumsier than a newborn runner on the ice. I’m probably the only person you’ll meet today capable of falling while standing still.”
Erebuth had been biting at the falling snow and trying to catch the flakes on his tongue, but charged down towards the ice when Kitt fell. He hovered anxiously nearby as the two got to their feet. At least the blue had the sense to not try scampering out onto the ice itself; Kitt doubted it would hold even the small dragon’s weight. Are you okay? B’kit, I’m sorry I distracted you.
“I’m fine,” he replied to both his dragon and the man he’d collided with. “No permanent damage, other than to my pride.” He offered a hand with a small smile. “B’kit of Erebuth. Sorry about interrupting,” he added, with a subtle nod in the direction of the still giggling lady. “I’d offer to go put in a word for you but I think she’d be wary of me dragging her down too.”
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 15.Dec.20
“Nonsense. I believe I was standing still when I fell. I did have a bit of help but you will hardly be counted as the only one on this day,” Yfris replied as he got to his feet and dusted himself off. A light dusting of snow coated the ice in spots and with how chilled his bum was, he no doubt had snow frozen to his pants and that simply wouldn’t do.
“Yfris, second son of Misty Hold,” he shook B’kit’s hand and smiled at the man. He laughed when the girl was brought up again and didn’t bother giving her even a glance over his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. She’ll return later to check on me, likely with a friend or two, I’ll pout as I dramatically retell the horrible event, play up an injury that doesn’t exist, and have them all cooing and pretending they know the first thing about healing.” A usual game of lords and ladies, really. Yfris was a master at it but it was growing rather tedious as well. And may the ocean take him if that was a sign he was maturing and ready to settle down!
“Is that Erebuth?” Yfris asked as he spotted the small blue dragon on the edge. He smiled but he found it odd how this particular dragon didn’t seem as filled out or as large as every other dragon he had seen. But who was he to judge dragons? Maybe they came in varying sizes just like their colours and patterns. “Hello my new dragon friend! It is a pleasure to meet you as well.”
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 18.Dec.20
Kitt’s smile turned into a grin as the holder laughed off the apology for interrupting his flirtation and turned his attention to Erebuth. At least Yfris wasn’t sore about the girl skating off or B’kit crashing into him. They skated over towards the blue for a proper introduction and to let the dragon reassure himself his rider really was fine.
Erebuth nosed at B’kit, who tolerated the mothering with a stifled laugh and obligingly moved his arms and legs to demonstrate he could. “I told you, I’m fine, Re. I just slipped. My tailbone’s a bit sore--” Erebuth interrupted him, saying, humans don’t have tails, which startled a proper laugh out of the rider. “You’re right, Erebuth, we don’t. You’ll have to ask L’gan or Eb’zer next time we see them why it’s called that.” The blue looked at him quizzically and snorted, then turned his attention to Yfris.
Hello. I am sorry for distracting B’kit and making him crash into you. I was excited about the snow. We don’t have snow in Ista. It’s cold, but I like it.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 18.Dec.20
Yfris didn’t pay the pair’s conversation much mind as he looked over the dragon again. He really wanted to ask more about dragon sizes and how young the blue was but he wondered if that was rude. He usually spoke his mind without hesitation but he normally also wasn’t speaking to or about a dragon and he knew very little about how anything worked in a Weyr. He was startled out of his ponderings when a low voice slid into his mind and he smiled.
He’d only had Malvayth speak to him and her voice was very different and a lot louder. Erebuth’s was low and gravelly but it endeared him more to the dragon. “I feel much the same way about snow, Erebuth. And please, there is nothing to apologise for. I wouldn’t have met either of you if anything was different about that moment. This was meant to be!” It really didn’t matter what the event was. If it brought a new friend into his life, Yfris would roll with it and see it as a positive.
“Is this your first winter then? Real winter I mean. Ista hardly has seasons after all. Misty Hold can get a bit of snow but our winter is mostly cold rain. Absolutely miserable! I highly recommend you come experience it!” He laughed with the invitation, though he meant it. Yfris loved entertaining and never turned away a friend that came calling, even in the horrible weather. Mostly because they stayed indoors but a dragon would need to be outside and that just seemed unfair and rude of him to suggest, especially for a dragon that was already skin and bones.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 21.Dec.20
“It’s his first since we’ve been allowed to travel beyond the Weyr,” B’kit replied for them both. “We have a few friends in Fort, so he’s experienced the cold a bit already this season, but snow is still a novelty. And it’s not like the cold is anything like between.” He laughed as well at the invitation. “Careful, or he might take you up on that. He likes new places, even if he’s normally not this gregarious.”
Erebuth didn’t seem too concerned by the cold at the moment, inspecting the ice curiously. Would I slide like you on it? It looks like fun. He didn’t exclude Yfris from the question, curious about their new friend. Alarmed as it looked like Erebuth might try anyway before they could answer, Kitt scooped up a handful of snow into a ball and lobbed it at the blue to distract him. Erebuth tried to catch it, but missed, and it accidentally hit Yfris in the shoulder instead.
B’kit gave him an apologetic grin, then had to duck as a snowball was sent his way in retaliation. He yelped and flung himself behind the blue at the shore so he could attempt to get the blades off his boots and maybe not make more of a fool of himself on the ice.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 21.Dec.20
Yfris wasn't an expert in ice or dragons but he considered the surface and thought it was fairly thick so maybe it could ho--
Yfris gasped as snowball exploded on his shoulder and seeing the apologetic look from his new friend knew where it came from. He quickly scooped up some snow and returned fire. How rude of the man to dodge behind his dragon! Yfris was laughing as he made another snowball and skated around to get B'kit in his sights again. He tossed the ball and saw it explode on a knee as the bluerider wriggled about to get his skates off.
Perhaps he should follow suit in case the snow assault continued. He returned to the other side of Erebuth and dropped down in the snow to remove his own skates. Since they were his own pair and not borrowed from the setup Lady Eridella had, Yfris scanned nearby people who lacked skates and flagged on down. "You there! Lord tall and handsome, yes you. These should fit you. Enjoy and take care of them for me. I'll try to remember to reclaim them from you later."
Another snowball hit him square in the back and Yfris smiled at the stranger. "Excuse me. I have a bluerider to bury in the snow." He made another snowball and turned to find his target.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 21.Dec.20
B’kit couldn’t help laughing as this turned into a full on snowball fight. He yelped again as another snowball hit his knee just as he was finishing removing his skates. Unfortunately, Yfris had ducked away before he could return another.
Erebuth was thrumming with excitement as the two alternated using him as a shield, his tail lashing in the snow and creating a well in the snow. He offered a leg for Kitt to climb up, all the better to aim at the lordling’s back, and the blue watched in amusement as it hit. Kitt was still laughing when the next one exploded in his face and he fell coughing and sputtering into the snowbank.
Not sensing any true distress from his rider, Erebuth didn’t fuss over him. This looks like a fun game. Can I play too?
The blue scooped up a wing full of snow and dumped it over the two, his eyes whirling mischievously. Shaking off as much of the snow as he could, B’kit looked over at Yfris. “Truce so we can both take him on?”
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 22.Dec.20
Yfris laughed as he finally landed the perfect face shot. And then quickly ducked again before retaliation came. He honestly hadn't had a snowball fight since he and his brother were young lads but it was still incredibly fun. Even when the avalanche came dumping down on them.
He sputtered and started brushing snow off but was soon doing a little dance as the cold snow found it's way inside his coat and ran down his back. "That's one way to to wake up or sober up, I'll give you that!" He gave Erebuth a pat on the side before continuing his little dance of removing the snow.
"Hm. A truce seems far easier than going for a win and the terms are rather acceptable." He held out his hand to shake on it and then started tossing snowballs at the dragon while trying to avoid the waves of snow from tail flicks or snowfalls from a wing.
When he was fairly certain half the field of snow was in his coat, Yfris waved his arms in defeat. "I surrender! You win, Erebuth. I'm thoroughly exhausted from too much fun and in need of a hot drink with a companion if you're amiable, B'kit." He gave a charming smile to the bluerider and gestured to the barn that was being used as shelter from the cold with snacks and drinks.
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - B'kit - 27.Dec.20
B’kit couldn’t remember feeling this relaxed in weeks as he allowed himself to just have fun. Sure, a snowball fight wasn’t particularly dignified behavior, but no one was telling them off or trying to break it up either.
“That sounds fantastic,” the young rider replied. The blue was pleased with himself for the win, and went back over to the pile of other dragons to warm up while his rider and new friend did the same. Kitt waited to see that he was settled and wouldn’t get chilled, before turning and giving a bright smile of his own. “Lead the way.”
Discarding the fully-soaked layers of gloves and scarves by the door, he gratefully accepted a glass of something warm and spiced, wrapping his fingers around the mug till they warmed up. “Thank you for indulging Erebuth. He’s not normally so playful or outgoing, and it was refreshing.”
RE: 741.12.14 | Slip Sliding Away - Yfris - 27.Dec.20
Yfris stuffed his gloves in the pockets of coat. He may have given away his skates without much thought but he liked his gloves and didn’t want to risk losing them. They had the best chance of survival in the coat’s pockets—and his hat was crammed in along with it a moment later with the same thought process. He then acquired a couple of mugs of what gave off the alluring scent of cider and handed one to B’kit.
He waved off the gratitude with a hand as he sipped his cider. “What’s the point of living if you’re not having fun?” That was practically his motto, always looking for entertainment and the best way to enjoy life. “I’m happy to have brought some joy into your lives and I hope to be able to do so again sometime. The offer to visit stands as well. If you know T’ryn or K’dar, both bronzeriders, they know the direct path to Misty Hold.” He didn’t fully understand how dragons travelled but knew the men both had to go to Tillek Hold first and flew from there. Something about pictures and what they were trained with and it was all too technical for him. As long as they all continued to arrive with all limbs attached, that was the important part.