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+--- Thread: [G] [C] 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling (/showthread.php?tid=4599)
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RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Sariel - 06.Jan.20
Sariel's delighted response to the second egg was bright laughter. What a lovely, bouncy, sweet personality, and observant as well. Both golds were quite taken by her ability to share and her unique traits, it seemed. If she were being honest, she'd never really thought about any of that before.
"Well," she mumured to the egg as a parting, "whomever you choose will be forever blessed with enough joy they'll be glowing forever. Come your Hatching Day, I'll be waiting for your lovely face!"
With her duty - and a pleasant one it was - done, she headed toward the seating in order to take a look at the whole clutch. Nothing to be down about for her, at least. But some folks had lesser luck. Right now, someone was probably starting a poll.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Dareji - 06.Jan.20
Dareji felt horrible once she realised how her past experiences were affecting this timid baby. She did her best to reassure it, let it know that what it was seeing was just a fluke. Not everything was scary and even the hatchlings of the past had special circumstances to them. No one would fear the sweet thing she was now interacting with. She did her best to reassure the baby with every happy memory she could think of on the spot, including riding dragons and making new friends—just anything.
Just please don’t be afraid and please join us out here soon.
When the connection broke, Dareji dropped her hand and sighed. That little one was going to have a tough time of it, assuming it did hatch. Please hatch. She didn’t want to cry at another Hatching due to another tragedy and she didn’t think she would at this one but perhaps she had better get used to the idea it was possible at any of them now.
“I’ll be cheering for you, baby,” Dareji promised and moved along again. She had noticed the entire time that one egg seemed to get a lot of attention. Every time she looked that way she swore someone else was at it. It was tempting to check it out herself but decided not to. It was probably already tired and needed a break before the next group came in. She realised she’d always been in the first group or two for a Touching and now wondered how vastly different the experience was for those at the end of the day. Were the dragons crankier from fifty people bothering it? Did they even notice the passage of time and how popular they were? Maybe, if this wasn’t her lucky Hatching, she would purposely try to be the last group to find out.
Speaking of time, she still had plenty of it. She hadn’t taken very long with the two eggs she had already visited so she could continue seeking out the right eggs for a while yet. She glanced at the golds but still make her way over to them. They were gold and only Impressed to women so she didn’t need to encourage them with a touch. If she was meant for one, it would find her. A fighter, though, that was where she had to persuade dragons it was okay to like her and choose her—especially since she wanted a blue.
Since she was still heading toward the popular egg, Dareji decided to visit its less popular friend. The last one had been afraid of everything and it made her wonder, maybe even she seemed large and imposing despite barely being taller than some of the eggs. So she crouched down and laid her hand as gently as she could on the shell, trying to be the least imposing she could be.
Egg 39.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - N'noa - 06.Jan.20
This was an egg he could get behind. Narinoa had still felt judged, like he always did with every Touching, but this one felt a lot better. He was going to say fair, but was it really fair just because it was an outcome he wanted? But he appreciated this dragon’s view and Narinoa walked away with that newfound calm instilled in him.
He wasn’t perfect but like this little one had pointed out, he did a lot of good as well. Heck, he was good for finding happiness in helping animals and being with people in such pleasurable ways. He was okay with that outlook and realised he always had been. It was why he had taken to sex so easily initially and embraced it wholeheartedly once he got to the Weyr.
That was the positive note he was looking for to leave off on. He could have gone for another one or two since time still remained but he wanted a bit of time to quietly reflect on everything. Despite the flurry of activity around the eggs, everyone still spoke in low tones to avoid bothering anyone else. It gave the Hatching grounds an eerie calming quality and Narinoa sat away from the others who had already called it in so he could enjoy that vibe a while longer.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Rhaedalyn - 06.Jan.20
11
Quinvalis – easy-going
You’re hit by a wave of calm that sends you out into the sea of chill vibes only. There’s no need to hurry out here. No need to worry and certainly no need to stress over what others think. Remember, everyone has a bad day and deal differently. The dragonet encourages you to relax, to trust it, and to just let go. You agree to give it a shot and fall backwards into the water where you float and let it take you wherever it wants.
38
Fediletch – annoyed
You sense you probably shouldn’t have picked this egg. You feel a large sigh drag out in your head and realise this egg was perfectly fine being left alone. How dare you interrupt its time alone? Just because it didn’t look busy didn’t mean that was true. You sense another sigh before it does what you want and prods your mind for a moment before giving you the dragon equivalent of a thumbs up before pulling away from you again. What did it see? You guess it liked you but you’ll never know what was really going on with this one.
39
Dareji – obedient
Wouldn’t life just be easier if you did everything you were told, never stepped out of line, and was just a good and obedient girl? You startle at the thought as the dragonet curiously prods at it. You’ve had that thought before and it wants to know why. Why are you visiting it instead of the golds like girls are supposed to? You know you’re allowed to visit all the eggs now at Fort but you suddenly feel nervous, like maybe you are being disobedient and will disappoint someone. Maybe you should go see the golds and maybe start following all the rules and it keeps going, rattling off all the things a good girl should be until you remove your hand.
7
Phinarion – eager
Who was influencing whom? As you touch the egg, you’re engulfed in an excitement that left you eager to meet not only this dragonet but all of them! The dragonet feels the same way, bouncing around you, trying to get to know you as best as it can and then meet everyone else as well. You’re both battling to prove you’re eager to please and even learn what you can. So you talk. Questions and answers bouncing back and forth with no aim or purpose but simply because you can and you just really needed to share with someone. When it’s finally time to part, you feel your tail-chasing friend spin away as it prepares to meet someone else.
13
Phinarion – isolation
Trapped. Restricted. Hidden away. The presence surrounding you gives off each sensation and it feels like it’s choking you as it circles closer and closer. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more in life than being trapped in a shell—and that’s not just the dragonet, is it? You feel restricted, isolated. But is that someone’s fault or your own? As you take your hand away, you feel a promise—it awaits your return when it’s time to break free. But which one will be free?
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - D'io - 06.Jan.20
He wasn't sure what he expected when he touched his next egg, maybe more of the same. Happiness and excitement, that would have been wonderful but this egg bypassed all his happy memories and brought out the ones that flustered him. Casa. Mylo. The stupid merchant who'd tried to swindle him. All of those memories raged and Dandioar could feel himself blush from the tips of his ears to the point of his chin. He hated being flustered but he knew it was something that was always at the forefront of his interactions with other people. Some day he'd go through life without that emotion but today wasn't that day. A sudden influx of panic had him clenching his fingers and his teeth, trying to apologize to the dragonet for bringing chaos as he snatched his hand away.
Breath puffed out and Dandi dragged a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end as he muddled through his thoughts. None of the reactions of him and everyone else had seemed to be so terrible as those he'd witnessed during Thallyath's touching, but he hadn't expected the intensity of them. Maybe it was because they were normal dragonets and not something dead or dying. They had more personality with thoughts and ideas that were more solid. He'd heard the stories of Thallyath's and Dandi was glad this was not that clutch. He eyed Aradissicath again to make sure the gold had not moved, he had no desire to be bitten in half by an angry gold and backed away from the egg he'd just touched.
Once more, one more and then he was going to find Mylo and sink his emotions into his friend. He appreciated that she'd never asked for something more serious all the times they fell into each other, having a friend he could love and leave without pissing them made things so much easier. He reached another egg, a little smaller than the last, but no less warm and smooth. He pulled in his breath and laid a palm against the shell.
Egg #40
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Fediletch - 07.Jan.20
"Oh sorry, but the Weyrlingmaster said we were supposed to touch. That's why we're here." Maybe no one told the baby dragon about the touching, or maybe it didn't pay attention when the momma dragon let everyone know. Like when his own mother would call out that supper was ready, but he still had to go track down the siblings who hadn't heard to get them to the table. "Just so you know that's today. More people will come to touch you okay?"
Fediletch wasn't sure the warning was heard, or even if it would help. Maybe the baby dragon didn't really understand what a touching was. It wasn't like the baby dragon could see outside of its shell... or could it? No, that didn't make any sense, the shells didn't have windows. So the dragon couldn't see, it probably didn't even know what hands were yet so it was understandable it would be grumpy.
Once Fetch was done with that egg he looked around and decided that he had touched a lot of eggs, and since that one had been grumpy, maybe the others might get overwhelmed too. Babies needed their naps. So he bid the egg farewell and moved to go sit on the stands with a smile on his face as he waited for everyone else to finish up. When Katiryn slid onto the bench beside him he gave her a nod and excited grin. "Hi! How was your touching? I got to meet some nice baby dragons, one of them was a little grouchy but I think it just needed a nap. Another was asking me about the pretty girl, it might have been talking about you. Did you only touch the gold eggs?"
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - August - 07.Jan.20
She wasn't normally shy, usually got right into the middle of everything, but August was still feeling out the weyr. At home, she'd dive right in and push people out of the way but there was a certain amount of reverence that was necessary at a touching she'd found. Being rough and rowdy around the eggs was a good way to get banned or even harmed. This was the first clutch she was going to be standing for at Fort, the rest had been at the other weyrs and decidedly different. This one was home, for all that she'd been born at a hold, but this was Fort and it was the weyrwoman's gold. Aradissicath was a little intimidating and August studied her for a moment. The gold was large, much larger than a couple of the others she'd seen but she stood a little straighter as she made her way towards the eggs.
She'd been told she needed to touch the gold egg while she was at Telgar and leave the others alone but she already knew she'd sneak a touch or two of the other ones. She'd seen the girls that impressed green and already had ideas and thoughts. Why shouldn't she impress a green? It was foolish to waste a girl on only the golds when there would be twice as many greens as golds. What would happen if she ignored a green egg and the baby betweened because it could find her? That would be silly and she was glad Fort and Ista didn't think the way Telgar did.
She sniffed quietly as she moved towards the eggs.
Two was interesting and from what she understood the first for Aradissicath. She always thought golds only had one gold egg, but she really didn't know. She'd never been told much of anything about dragons until she came to Fort for the first time. Scarred and slender hand reached out to touch the gold closest to her, eye watching out for Aradissicath and was slightly embarrassed at the terrible sight of her hands. Nicks and cuts and even now a bandage on the finger she'd cut the other day. She grimaced slightly but didn't remove her hand.
Gold #1
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Qu'va - 07.Jan.20
Quinvalis sighed in pure contentment. He liked the scenario created in his mind and he felt like he could stay out there forever, floating along without a care in the world. It would be so nice to not worry about anything or think he wasn’t worth anything. Just float and enjoy the world passing by.
When he sighed again, it was when the connection finally faded and he was staring at his hand on an egg. Reality was back and it wasn’t nearly as pleasant. He supposed the only good thing was that he didn’t truly want life to pass him by no matter how tired he got from it at times. He did have things he enjoyed and he was willing to bet a few people might miss him if he floated out to sea as a happy and lazy Quinvalis-shaped log.
But that was still a happier egg to end on than the last. He figured there was still plenty of time to get in some more eggs but Quinvalis didn’t want to jinx the luck he’d already had. Besides, he did talk to R’nya about the custom of Touchings before and even the Weyrleader confessed it wasn’t a guarantee to finding your mate but it made traditionalists happy and it helped get the Candidates ready for experiencing strong emotions that weren’t theirs in their heads. He saw the logic in it but that didn’t mean he had to spend the entire time greeting every baby.
So he joined the few others that had ended early, moving to the stands, though sitting a bit down from the group. He knew them but being shy kept him from approaching any of them. It wouldn’t be long until they were done anyway and he didn’t want to encourage conversations to get too loud and bother Aradissicath either.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Dareji - 07.Jan.20
Dareji found herself nodding that maybe she should visit the golds and yes, it would be a lot easier if she did as she was told, if they all did as they were told and what was expected of them. But that didn’t mean it had to be done without question. She shook her head from the influence of the egg, wrinkling her nose at it. Her parents were wonderful people and had always encouraged her to be herself. Respect was the guiding rule but it was okay to say no or have her opinion as well. She loved them for that and found her own way in life, but she wasn’t out there openly defying everyone and everything. But she knew her limits and when she could question a command.
Everything in balance, she replied to the egg as it kept trying to push her into behaving and accepting her place. She frowned as she realised she was about to be rather rude to the little one but it wouldn’t stop lecturing her and she couldn’t seem to cut through it with reasoning so she apologised as she took her hand away, ending the list of her flaws in her head.
Well, she did just tell the egg everything in balance and she did want to get a few more in if possible so Dareji headed over to the golds to give one of them a whirl. It’d be fun to compare the reactions anyway, she supposed.
Gold 2
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Rhaedalyn - 07.Jan.20
40
Dandioar – euphoria
You seem drawn to a certain emotion that day. Even the last egg was linked to some of the same memories attached to the far happier emotions. Now, you are catapulted back to that blissful place of earlier and then pushed further into a euphoric state. You recall with vivid detail how you feel after time spent with a beautiful woman and while you haven’t achieved that emotion outside of sex, the presence swirling around in your thoughts knows it’s possible. Perhaps Impressing it will be that moment? Perhaps becoming a dragonrider with a mate and a child will be the peek moment in your life. So many options and a lot of time to discover what it will be. Where will you start, it wonders, as it pulls away from you.
Gold 1
August – humiliation
Your thoughts of your scarred hands being right there on the surface make for an easy grab as the gold’s presence shifts around in your mind. You don’t mind them and see them as a badge of honour for your craft but you feel distaste encompassing you all the same. How do you expect to be a goldrider when you look like you belong in a caravan? Who would take you seriously? You would be confused for the drudge scrubbing the floor. The gold scoffs, unsure she could stomach being bonded to you and the humiliation it would bring before she withdraws from you.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - August - 08.Jan.20
The dragonet grabbed her thoughts and feelings, mixing pride for her craft with her scars and August slid the hand from the egg with a face that was redder than she ever thought possible. She never thought of her scars as badges of honor, hating what they made those elegant hands look like but the dragonet made her feel things she that she wasn't prepared for. She couldn't remember how other touchings had gone, couldn't remember how other dragonets had made her feel, but the way this gold made her feel was at the forefront. Cheeky little thing.
"Rude," she muttered as she moved away from that egg. A craft was just as important and brought another facet of experience and knowledge to a dragonrider that they might not have before. And August was good at it, even if she tended to forget how good at it she was, she knew people liked what she did. It would only make her a better rider in her opinion. She was that gold's loss and another's gain she knew. She squared her shoulders, shoved the contrite and embarrassment from her mind and moved to the next. She tried to clear her mind as she touched the next egg, thinking only of the amazement and wonderful things that they could do together.
Gold #2
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Rhaedalyn - 08.Jan.20
Gold 2
Dareji – resilient
That last dragonet may have tried to tear you down but you’re stronger than that. You feel what could be described as a hug as the presence wraps around you and encourages you to stay strong. You may stumble sometimes, but you’re resilient. Nothing keeps you down for long. A good quality in a leader. Your visit is brief but it stays with you as you walk away.
Gold 2
August – admiration
This gold takes to you a lot better than the last. This one is curious about all faucets of who you are and admires all that you do. You put your all into everything no matter what it is and the gold likes that, needs that. Someone that loves passionately but also won’t back down is who deserves to lead and look after her people. The gold continues to stroll through your mind, plucking out further things she admires while brushing away any doubts that still linger as that isn’t needed here.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Dareji - 09.Jan.20
Dareji would hardly call herself a leader and she didn’t think she’d ever be one either, but to have the little gold boost her up did feel nice after the last egg. But she did agree with everything else. She had to be resilient after the landslide. Her home was destroyed and a lot of lives were lost but she had to keep going for herself as well as others that needed her. Just like the Hatchings that had deaths or the Touchings that showed unimaginable things. Someone had to stay strong so they could help others along the rocky path and her parents had raised her to love and respect those around her so she nominated herself.
What didn’t kill you made you stronger, right?
She thanked the gold and walked away with a little smile. Dareji didn’t think she was meant to be a goldrider but it was nice to have that one’s vote of confidence. The good vibes stayed with her as she moved away from the clutch and to the stands. She had lost track of time and didn’t know how much was left for their group, but Dareji wanted to share those good vibes with someone and she made her way up the steps to Kordiavis and ignoring his glares as she tried to strike up a conversation.
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Kelian - 09.Jan.20
The call to hit the sands for the touching was always exciting for Kel. Even though she often worried about whether or not she would Impress before she aged out, she never tired of being on the sands.
She entered the sands with the rest of her group and looked around at the clutch, letting out a low whistle as she looked over the massive clutch and then at the gold watching over said eggs. The Fort Weyr sands were familiar to her, as was the gold and the Weyrwoman, but not as familiar as those back in Ista. If she worried about Impressing a dragon in Fort it didn't show and she made no comment to anyone about it. Yes, she would be a little sad if she ended up Impressing anywhere but Ista, but the sadness wouldn't overshadow the joy of Impressing and her family would, of course, understand.
Her attention was pulled back from her wandering thoughts as Rhaedalyn's voice rose in greeting. Kel tried not to flinch at the mention of any possible negative feelings. She knew the Weyrwoman was right, but her words made her remember Thallyath’s eggs. She took a breath and shook herself. No. This was a good and proper clutch, there were two gold eggs and dozens more. Not that the survivors of Thallyath’s clutch weren't good dragons, but they still worried her some days, even more so because her friend had Impressed one of them. These eggs, however, these new hatchlings would be different. They had to be. She glanced over to see where Rhaedalyn had pointed to the provided water. Well wasn't that thoughtful of her?
Once they were released to wander the sands she hung back a couple of moments, letting those who were younger than her or who had never been to a touching before go first. She was excited too, but she didn't want to be greedy either. She gave a smile and quick nod to the Weyrwoman then slowly made her way across the sands. Her gaze was naturally drawn to the two gold eggs and she felt that raw energy of anxious excitement race over her body. She knew they would be allowed to touch any of the eggs, but she truly did wish to start with one of the two gold eggs and tried to decide which one she wanted to touch first.
Once she had decided on one of the two, she waited a few moments after the last girl left the egg, not wanting to overwhelm the baby inside. She walked up to her chosen egg, always amazed at the size of the eggs for some reason, though she knew it was because she really wasn't much taller than most of them. She was still smiling at that thought when she placed her right palm on the warm shell.
-------------------------
Gold Egg #2
RE: 741.01.09 | Touch More, With Feeling - Rhaedalyn - 10.Jan.20
Gold 2
Kelian – kind-hearted
The gold responds to your touch easily as she’s drawn to your big heart. Despite any fears you might have of greeting her or even Impressing her away from your family, you’re willing to give her and everyone else a chance. You let others go first, you don’t like to make a fuss, and the little gold wonders if you ever stop to take a moment for yourself. But she likes what she sees and you feel the warmth of her approval spread through you as your very being seems to motivate the little dragon to be better herself and look after those around her.