[G] [P] 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - Printable Version +- World of Pern (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum) +-- Forum: Telgar Weyr Boundaries (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=109) +--- Forum: Telgar Weyr (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=118) +--- Thread: [G] [P] 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You (/showthread.php?tid=5215) |
743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - Ch'es - 24.May.22 It was a lot to take in. Chironhes had made quite a first impression: vomiting as soon as he was on the ground, earning at least one healer's ire after jerking away at the S'far's mention of him staying at the Weyr with the distinct impression left that it was not just for healing, staring for too long at the dragons everywhere, and just being generally unfamiliar with...everything. The freckled boy had thought himself an oddity back at Lemos Hold. With how he seemed to be regarded now, Chir thought he'd perhaps sprouted a second head somewhere along that darkness they'd flown. What had S'far called it? Between? Somewhere between Lemos and...wherever this was. At least the food wasn't different. Well, not all of it. To be honest, quite a bit of it was dressed up fancier than anything he'd seen before. Granted, he was used to spitting his own kills and fletching arrows to the sound of fat dripping into a campfire. Peeling pieces off a fresh kill had a different feel to it than using utensils to flick weird groupings of plants off a slab of wherry steak drizzled in some sauce. Even more so when he was forced to do so with his non-dominant hand. Chir's right arm remained bandaged, the sling fashioned to keep the healing limb trapped close to his chest to prevent excessive motion from re-opening the stitches along his shoulder. Other than the bandages around his middle, there was little to be done to prevent him from overstretching his left side where his more severe injuries lay. With a healthy slathering of numbroot applied beneath the bandages, he couldn't even feel the area anymore. Unable to voice any protest when S'far suddenly excused himself and abandoned the freckled teen at the dining tables to fend for himself, Chir scowled into his meal and struggled to slice another piece of wherry steak with just the fork he could manage. It'd be nice to not have so many stares on him so he could just pick it up and bite a piece off with his teeth without looking like some barbarian. Frustrated, he pushed the plate away despite his hunger while trying to mentally plot his way back home. Stealing a dragon was out of the realm of possibilities. Not because he knew anything about the bonds they shared with their riders, but simply because he didn't imagine he could manage the straps S'far had used to get him here. Which left finding a runnerbeast. Or walking. And additionally required him to know where in Pern he'd even been brought. Taken? Rescued? He still couldn't decide. He was in the process of deliberating his admittedly limited options when another strode into the dining hall, aiming for him. Warily, Chir glanced back for S'far. Even if he was still uncertain about the dragon rider's intentions, the boy had long ago learned 'better the devil you know.' But the man was still nowhere in sight, leaving the boy to the scrutiny of another. RE: 743.05.23| All Eyes On You - B'jin - 24.May.22 B’jin eyed the flitter that had just popped into existence in the middle of the living room with irritation. He didn’t enjoy random firelizards showing up in his home, and he didn’t recognise the one before him. Shimmer, who was usually pretty relaxed, glared at the intruder as she perched on B’jin’s shoulder, her tail twined around his neck, interwoven with the fancy scarf he wore there to hide his scarring. After a few moments, B’jin reached out and took the note from the firelizard, his eyes narrowed, though his expression relaxed when the pesky creature vanished as simply as it had appeared. The letter didn’t say much, but what it did say piqued B’jin’s curiosity, and he read it again before shrugging and handing it to a curious R’nd. All it really said was that S’far wanted him (or Larrikith, really) to see if a kid was a possible Candidate, and that the kid might need ‘additional considerations’, whatever that meant. The fact that the Weyrleader insisted in the note that he did not kidnap the child both amused B’jin a great deal, and worried him some. B’jin gave R’nd an affectionate kiss before making his way over to their dragons, and climbing on board Larrikith. He didn’t bother with straps, since they would just be gliding down to the Dining Hall entrance, and Larrikith would be a lot less snippy if she wasn’t stuck in her straps unnecessarily. He could feel her emotional eyeroll as she tipped her round little green body off the edge of the weyr ledge, and spread her wings out lazily, halting their plumet to glide in for a tidy landing not a few moments later. B’jin was used to such theatrics, and dismounted without comment as he gave her an idle pat to the shoulder, mind focused on what could be up with the youngster S’far had definitely kidnapped. S'far hadn’t given him any information on who he would be meeting, so B’jin had expected to see the Weyrleader at one of the tables somewhere, entertaining his new abductee… But apparently not, since B’jin couldn’t see the bronzerider anywhere. Frowning for a moment, he gazed around. It really didn’t take long to spot the kid, though, and he was a child. B’jin’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he took in the bandages, and what definitely looked like storage clothes; the kids must have been quite a mess if they’d stolen his clothing off him. B’jin made his way over, waving cheerfully to those that greeted him but not pausing in his path. A gentle smile tilted B’jin’s lips when he clearly noticed the reluctance on the kid’s face, and he settled himself down on the other side of the table, folding his hands together and placing them before him. Shimmer was still on his shoulder, her little gold head tilted to stare down at the boy with scrutiny. Tilting his head, B’jin considered the boy. He was still a bit of a mess, but the Healers had obviously done a good job patching the boy up. Shifting his gaze, he took in the sling that confined one arm, and then the discarded plate. Brown eyes sparkled as he unfolded his hands to draw the plate towards him, and he set about cutting up the meat before pushing it back towards the youngster. B’jin pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated, and pulled up his little chalkboard and quickly scribbled some words on it, before turning it to face the boy. It was very quickly apparent that he couldn’t read, so B’jin smiled in reassurance, and made a vague gesture that indicated they’d just have to put up with his sassy dragon and her comments to speak on B’jin’s behalf – since he had yet to be given the information that Chironhes couldn’t speak himself. RE: 743.05.23| All Eyes On You - Ch'es - 24.May.22 Chir realized he ached for his weapons. He'd spent years with the bow and dagger as constant companions that now that he was without either, he felt far too exposed. It didn't help that even the clothes he wore weren't his own ragged furs. The boy felt very much out of place and everything was wildly different than what he knew. Without the ribbed leather wrappings around his dagger's handle to run his thumb across, Chir instead rubbed his left hand nervously along his thigh as the stranger sat in front of him. The man was smiling, but Chir knew better than to accept it at face value. Not all smiles were kind. In fact, quite a number of them hid cunning. The way the tiny golden dragon wrapped around the man's shoulders stared him down, the young hunter couldn't help but feel he was being judged and found lacking. That, at least, was familiar. Still, he averted his eyes from the little creature in case it decided it didn't care for his gaze and leaped at him or something. Chir certainly didn't expect the stranger to tug his discarded plate closer to slice the wherry steak up for him and push it back. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, feeling guilty for having misjudged him so quickly. He nodded his thanks and had just lifted his hand for his previously discarded fork when the voice in his head had him jolting. He tried and failed to look slyly about for the owner of the voice. Based on his experience with Urudith, Chir naturally sought out a dragon and took in the green one lingering nearby. He thought nothing in response to the revelation that the man - this B'jin - had a son who had lost an arm. Chir kept his mind carefully blank, but without any formal training for such, even he couldn't stem the emotions he felt about it; sorrow, pity, guilt. B'jin's snort drew his gaze back to him and Chir realized he, too, could hear the voice he'd assumed was only in his own head. Larrikith was a far more gracious interpreter than Urudith, the boy realized. Still, his previous experience made him hesitant to think much of anything in response considering the way he'd insulted the bronze dragon with questions and curiosity. But when she revealed that her rider also couldn't speak, Chir blinked in surprise. It could not be a coincidence that he was here, then. Again, the boy glanced around for S'far without success. When B'jin pulled out a little chalkboard, Chir stared uncomprehendingly at the glyphs written. Self-conscious, he managed only the barest shakes of his head to indicate he couldn't read. The boy took a deep breath as if gathering his courage. They'd get nowhere if he didn't at least try again and risk irritating another dragon. I cannot speak either. Can you thank him for...? Chironhes didn't complete the thought but glanced down at the cut-up meal in front of him. Finally, the young hunter snagged the fork and skewered a neatly cut piece of wherry steak to pop it in his mouth. The taste of it reminded him of the abandoned boar and wherry he'd killed before S'far had found him. He frowned, wondering if one of the dragon-riders would perhaps return to bring both back here to serve in payment for his meal and the healing. Chir admittedly didn't have anything in the way of repayment other than his skills as a hunter. Looking back up at Larrikith, he sent fractured images of the morning's hunt: his success with taking down the boar, the subsequent attack by the large wherry, managing to take that down as well after sustaining his injuries, his weapons left behind, S'far finding him, even an abridged version of how he managed to insult Urudith. The thoughts came quickly and with purpose. Could someone return for the boar and wherry? I don't like to think they'll go to waste when they can help feed people here. I was supposed to take them back to the Hold. At least the boar. I didn't expect the wherry. But out there, their deaths serve no purpose. I don't know if they are suitable to repay for my healing, but I can hunt more if I need to when I get home? The last thought was undoubtedly a question. How to get home was very much still on his mind, though now that there was a dragon that seemed willing enough to listen, perhaps the trip could be made easier without him having to walk or steal a ride. RE: 743.05.23| All Eyes On You - B'jin - 25.May.22 When the boy told her he couldn’t speak, either, Larrikith gave a vocal chirp of amusement that had B’jin glancing idly in her direction, though it was hard to see her from where he sat. Raising an eyebrow, B’jin waited for his dragon to pass on what was so amusing. Feeling Larrikith’s attention shift from him, and the interesting expressions on the boy’s face, B’jin could tell he was actively trying to speak to his dragon. Mind-speak took a lot for Weyrlings to learn, but B’jin had always felt that that was as much because young dragons were easily distracted by shiny things as it was because the new rider-to-be had to learn to communicate silently. Which made B’jin wonder how long the boy had been mute for. Since birth? A long time at least, he was sure. Deciding the pair were quite occupied with their communication for the moment, B’jin got up and nipped over to the service area, filling a plate with some food and a glass with some wine. He made his way quickly back to the table, and took a seat again as he felt Larrikith adjust her attention back to him. The pair had another quick conversation, before Larrikith’s voice once more returned to the boy’s mind. RE: 743.05.23| All Eyes On You - Ch'es - 25.May.22 Again with that word. Mate. S'far had used it to link himself and his dragon, but now Larrikith used it to connect B'jin's son and another. Chironhes still struggled to understand any other meaning than the one he knew; a coupling. His only example remained a pair of dogs he'd seen at the Hold. But he kept the question tucked close, not wanting to insult Larrikith with his lack of comprehension. It was different communicating with her compared to Urudith. Larrikith seemed to pick up on his emotions in a way the other dragon hadn't bothered. Admittedly, it was easier to let his guard down a little around the green female. She was soft and kind whereas Urudith was gruff and irritable. Chir perked when Larrikith promised to retrieve his kills as well as his weapons. He wondered if she would be so inclined to retrieve them if she knew he wanted them to be able to defend himself in this strange place. But if they were already going that way, perhaps he could tag along... The young hunter went back to eating while the dragon and rider seemed preoccupied with their own conversation. He quickly polished off the meat before poking around at the spattering of vegetables available on his plate. Some of them looked remarkably similar to plants he'd tried to eat in the past when hunting went poorly. Recalling the way he'd vomited afterward, he opted to avoid them altogether. Chir glanced back up when Larrikith asked why he wanted to return home. The freckled teen's mind blanked for a long moment before he answered with his confusion clear. Because it is home. Wasn't that something everyone held dear? He thought of the shelter he'd built for himself in the forest, the way he'd slaved over it and improved it over the years. It was nothing but a child's play-fort when compared to all the opulence around him now, but it was wholly his own. Larrikith's follow-up question had Chir lowering his gaze to frown seriously at the tabletop. Stay? He didn't belong in a place like this. There were so many people and dragons and things he didn't understand. But... There was also B'jin, who had cut up his meat for him. And Larrikith who considered him kindly. And S'far, who'd sought healing for him, a complete stranger he was under no obligation to care about. While his relationship with Urudith left much to be desired, the dragon had carried him to that healing without complaint. Well, at least none he could hear. Even as he thought it, he knew his follow-up was weak. It is what I know. But it was clear he was already wondering what life would be like in a place like this. Would he be a burden? At the very least, it seemed there was at least one dragon willing to serve as his interpreter. But attaching himself to B'jin and Larrikith seemed...unfair. He was a burden they hadn't asked for, and he had little doubt that S'far was to blame considering his pointed lack of presence. I could hunt here... he considered, apparently giving it a great deal of thought. But I cannot afford lodgings. Perhaps there was a forest nearby where he could live similarly. He supposed there was no particular connection to the bit of land he'd been living on other than it was where he was born and where his parents had died. But they'd been gone for years and he'd truly not formed meaningful connections with the other Holdfolk over the years. Already in the short span of a single conversation, he felt more kinship for a fellow mute and a dragon! It was certainly not something he'd have ever imagined for himself considering it was a dragon rider who was responsible for his own muteness. The thoughts fell unfiltered from his head, open and free for Larrikith to dig through if she was inclined. Chir's lack of training mixed with his deep distraction left him like an open book for any passing dragon to sift through. Worry, anxiety, excitement, fear... The possibility had emotions rising and falling in quick succession with no sign of the flow stemming anytime soon. But of all his thoughts, one rose clear about the rest. I don't want to be a burden. RE: 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - B'jin - 27.May.22 Larrikith, insightful and prone to poking around in minds she hadn’t been invited into, was still poking around the top thoughts on Chironhes’ mind, when she mentioned N’mor and his status as mated to Z’rin, so she caught the boy’s confusion. She let it go for a while, focusing on the main topic of conversation, but as he considered whether or not he wanted to go home or live in the Weyr, Larrikith started poking around again, digging up the memory of ‘mates’ and she found the exchange that had happened between him and Urudith. Without any warning whatsoever, Larrikith positively burst into laughter. It wasn’t ‘hahaha’ so much as the green dragon’s absolutely delighted amusement poured over both B’jin and Chironhes’ minds, flowing through them and filling them. B’jin blinked, confused, and clearly a little wary as his eyes narrowed, and he glanced questioningly at the boy before him, and then off to the side, mentally giving his dragon a nudge to share what it was that was causing her so much amusement, since he obviously hadn’t been privy to the boy’s thoughts – but he hadn’t looked like he was thinking anything funny. B’jin wasn’t quite sure the kid knew what a sense of humour was, let alone had one. B’jin positively smirked at this, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. She paused for a moment, and B’jin made a slight movement with his hands. Larrikith spoke again. RE: 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - Ch'es - 27.May.22 Despite the fact that Chironhes hadn't actively thought of anything the dragon could think of as amusing, the young hunter suspected he knew just what Larrikith had picked up on to bring such mirth. His face flushed crimson and he quickly looked away from B'jin's questing gaze. She confirmed it as she began a gentle instruction of the word mate that had caused him confusion. No wonder Urudith had been so annoyed with him. Delayed embarrassment had him rubbing one hand across his face. It had never occurred to him that the word could have so many uses. Granted, a life spent in the woods away from most people was certainly one that would contribute to a lack of education. Despite his shame, Chir was relieved to finally have an answer. At the very least, he wouldn't make the same mistake again with another dragon. He wondered if Urudith would accept an apology for him or if S'far's dragon would simply consider him a lost cause forever. Based on Larrikith's assessment of the bronze dragon, he suspected the latter was more likely. As the dragon referred to herself and her...mate as teachers, Chir considered the man before him with less wariness. There had been a few individuals in the Hold who had taken great joy in instructing others in new crafts. It was one of those people who had actually taught him how to craft his own weapons. Those lessons had been instrumental in the freckled teen's survival up to date, and he wondered just what life-changing lessons B'jin and Larrikith could offer. Already, in the span of a short conversation (the marvel of having a conversation was a wonder all on its own), Chir had taken in so much new information. It was a lot to consider, that was for sure. And Larrikith only added to it as she continued. Hearing that he would not be considered a burden still had some doubt nagging. He knew others in the Hold who had said the same, but their actions belayed their words, and Chir had learned to infer otherwise. But the dragon struck him as truer to her word than any person he'd ever met. He wasn't sure if dragons could lie, but his sample size of two hadn't given him reason to doubt their word so far. All thoughts of the Hold disappeared when Larrikith mentioned him becoming a mate to a dragon of his own. Shock registered in the accompanying silence of his thoughts. When she continued on with discussing him learning to read and write as well regardless of whether or not he was chosen by a dragon, Chir found his reasons for returning home to be dwindling in comparison to staying. This place, this Weyr, was strange and unknown to him. But whenever Chir had stumbled upon a new discovery in the forests surrounding Lemos, he'd never balked from learning more. That curiosity had earned him more than a few scars among his freckled skin, but he'd always learned more. That learning had brought him great satisfaction in a life otherwise filled with the dullness of day-to-day survival. Evenings spent fire-building, days spent curing hides, mornings on the hunt, and all of it filled with loneliness that was sometimes comforting and other times aching. He couldn't help but wonder what his time would be like here in a place filled with new experiences with every step. Chir found himself smiling for the first time since arriving as Larrikith commented about the tastiness of entrails. The young hunter had learned of a great many uses for his kill's guts, including curing line for things like fishing or sewing up wounds. As the process took a great deal of time, he knew sharing in his spoils would bring far more delight to him than hours upon hours of the work he'd have for himself otherwise. Are you sure it would be alright to stay? he asked, looking over to meet Larrikith's gaze. Chir knew having work assigned or chores would be no issue for him so long as he had proper instruction on what needed to be done. He was used to doing everything for himself, and actually found he was looking forward to learning new tasks. He struggled to tamp down on his rising excitement, not wanting it to influence Larrikith's response. But Chir found he really did want to now that she'd put the idea in his head. And if he could still hunt, even with Larrikith as a companion to be fed, that seemed more rewarding than all his time spent alone. RE: 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - B'jin - 28.May.22 Larrikith’s amusement was clear as she added, RE: 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - Ch'es - 28.May.22 Chir considered B'jin with new eyes as Larrikith revealed he, too, hailed from around Lemos. Was that part of why the other man considered him so kindly? No, no, that was a new revelation, the boy reminded himself. He didn't shy away from the older man as B'jin studied him in turn, almost willing him to see something that Chir didn't know about himself. But no such thing was discovered or revealed. Based on their interactions so far, he trusted Larrikith would have told him if it was. When Larrikith lapsed into teasing her rider, Chir wisely picked up his water cup to hide his amusement behind it. He didn't see a need to add to any embarrassment B'jin felt. The man was kind to him so far and the last thing Chir wanted to do was drive him away accidentally. Besides, he found it impressive! He only knew of a few people in Lemos who lived to such an age, and their backs had been curled years prior. At Larrikith's mention of kissing, a memory of his parents dredged up from the back of his mind. Fondness and grief swelled in turn before he carefully tucked it back away, not wanting to bring the dragon's mood down inadvertently with his childish wish for them to still be alive. Recognizing that Larrikith's teasing tone had vanished, he glanced back at the dragon and dipped his head in gratitude. Thank you. I don't usually get such a warm welcome, he admitted. It wasn't that the people of Lemos were cruel. Even now, Chir found himself coming to their defense. They simply didn't have the gift that she did to understand him. He had come to expect the way most avoided him just to avoid the discomfort of trying to communicate with a boy confined to grunts and gestures. I would be honored to...Impress a dragon like you, he thought honestly. Larrikith had a compassion Chir was certain was rare in the world, making her a true gem. Even with her propensity for teasing! Granted, Chir failed to see why B'jin would feel embarrassed about someone picking him up. The freckled hunter had very fond memories of his father lifting him high whenever his own mood was low as a child. The height granted a new perspective, he'd been told. Fondly, the boy recalled he'd been right every time. RE: 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You - B'jin - 28.May.22 B’jin’s horrendous embarrassment faded very quickly when Larrikith told him what Chironhes had made of the comment, her tone absolutely delighted and filled with amusement. B’jin suddenly lifted his head, face fading back to its natural colour, and brown eyes sparkling with an amusement he now shared with his dragon. Oh dear, the boy was the epitome of innocence, and B’jin honestly found it more than a little charming now he was fully aware of it. The greenrider beamed at Chironhes, then picked up his wine glass, glancing at it in disappointment when he realised it was empty. B’jin frowned at the glass, betrayed by it, and set it down gently once more. Larrikith gave a harrumph sound, part mental and part vocal, at Chironhes saying wasn’t always so warmly welcomed, and she followed it up with a snort. B’jin poked at his empty wine glass as Larrikith positively preened at being told he wanted a dragon like her, her whole attitude towards B’jin a big fat lump of ‘I told you I’m the most awesome thing to exist on Pern in the history of forever’ that B’jin was choosing to regally ignore. He wanted another glass of wine, but didn’t want to get up and go and get it. Besides which, it was getting late, and they would have to leave in the very near future if they wanted any hope of saving, at least, Chironhes’ weapons – B’jin was pretty sure whatever the boy had killed would be long gone. Looking up with a start of surprise when someone’s hand touched his shoulder, B’jin gave a smile to S’far and then looked back at Chironhes. Larrikith bridged the communication gap once more, speaking to the boy. Standing up, B’jin beamed at the boy one last time, reaching out to touch him lightly on the shoulder that wasn’t wrapped in bandages, and tossed him a wink. He gave a nod to S’far, before making his way swiftly out of the Dining Hall, and joining his dragon once more outside. He climbed on board, and the pair made their way back to their personal weyr, so B’jin could get Larrikith’s riding straps on her for the trip to wherever S’far had found Chironhes – she was getting that information from Urudith as B’jin did up straps. Then B’jin mounted again, and the pair winked between after Larrikith had jumped off the ledge once more. |