21.Mar.13, 12:10 AM
Talian's eyes brightened. "It's no problem, Val," he said tenderly, turning his head just slightly to keep his adoring eyes at least somewhat modest. "And it looks like you've just given me a reason to stay. I suppose this isn't really so bad," he said, glancing quickly around and surveying those around them. "B'jin has a lovely voice, and I've always loved your music. It sounds like a fine evening."
The idea of sticking around for the party didn't sound so awful as it usually did. Maybe he was finally growing comfortable. He smiled as Fellis purred. The little beast could sense his happiness.
As can I Khaduceth said, pleasantly surprised but willing to be charitable. He walked over, carefully but proudly meandering between the people weaving around him. The dragon settled himself on his haunches beside Veeth, whom he greeted with a low rumble, aloof but not friendly. The brown dragon regarded the pair of humans for a few long moments. My rider cares deeply for yours he said to Veeth. The blue's conversational nature had never particularly hit home with Khaduceth, but he didn't dislike the blue and he didn't go out of his way to snub him. Tonight, the brown dragon was especially at peace with his blue cousin.
Talian reached out to pat Khaduceth's foreleg. "Looks like S'kef is about to speak..." he said lowly, eyeing the older brownrider with mistrust as he spoke.
Talian listened quietly through the speech. He wrinkled his nose at all the implications, frustrated by the disappointment that he sensed in Valerian and disgusted by the demand that he change his own name. Val was right to assume that Talian was displeased. He'd been dreading the surrender of his birth name, but after a moment of pale-faced outrage, he realized that this was probably better. At least this way he could declare it privately tomorrow instead of suffer through a humiliating ceremony. Shards. Maybe it was some sort of blessing in disguise, he thought grimly.
That at least took the sting off of it. He grimaced just the same and looked to his friend.
"What an asshole," he said lightly, almost feisty, though he kept him comment low and under his breath. He winced a bit when the nearby bronzerider burst out in protest, voicing what Talian assumed many must feel. He didn't much care about the women's honorifics, but honorifics in general seemed insulting to him. He didn't want to be part of the dragonrider club. He didn't want one at all. But he tried to keep in mind that there were those who did.
He looked to Val and frowned. "This sucks," he said indignantly. His expression softened just slightly as he turned to Val, waiting patiently to see if he had any thoughts he wished to share. Without really thinking, Talian wiggled in for a meek hug.
The idea of sticking around for the party didn't sound so awful as it usually did. Maybe he was finally growing comfortable. He smiled as Fellis purred. The little beast could sense his happiness.
Talian reached out to pat Khaduceth's foreleg. "Looks like S'kef is about to speak..." he said lowly, eyeing the older brownrider with mistrust as he spoke.
Talian listened quietly through the speech. He wrinkled his nose at all the implications, frustrated by the disappointment that he sensed in Valerian and disgusted by the demand that he change his own name. Val was right to assume that Talian was displeased. He'd been dreading the surrender of his birth name, but after a moment of pale-faced outrage, he realized that this was probably better. At least this way he could declare it privately tomorrow instead of suffer through a humiliating ceremony. Shards. Maybe it was some sort of blessing in disguise, he thought grimly.
That at least took the sting off of it. He grimaced just the same and looked to his friend.
"What an asshole," he said lightly, almost feisty, though he kept him comment low and under his breath. He winced a bit when the nearby bronzerider burst out in protest, voicing what Talian assumed many must feel. He didn't much care about the women's honorifics, but honorifics in general seemed insulting to him. He didn't want to be part of the dragonrider club. He didn't want one at all. But he tried to keep in mind that there were those who did.
He looked to Val and frowned. "This sucks," he said indignantly. His expression softened just slightly as he turned to Val, waiting patiently to see if he had any thoughts he wished to share. Without really thinking, Talian wiggled in for a meek hug.