[G] [P] 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You

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. People can be cruel, she stated firmly, and across the table from the boy, B’jin’s eyebrows drew together in a frown, eyes glazing in a far away expression for a moment as his left hand idly fingered at his neck through the pretty, gauzy scarf he was wearing. B’jin came back to the present with a little shake of his head, and forced his hand away from his neck. He studied Chironhes again for a few moments, wondering. He was curious about Chironhes’ muteness, whether he’d been that way since birth or encountered a fun time like B’jin had. He didn’t ask, though, because doing so would invite Chironhes to ask about B’jin’s story, and while B’jin wouldn’t lie about it, he was fairly sure that telling the child someone had attacked him, while he was minding his own business, and sliced his throat before leaving him for dead might not endear the boy to Weyr life.

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. We will leave you with S’far, she said, standing up and stretching languidly, which looked kind of amusing to B’jin, since she was so small and roundly fat. We will go and fetch your hunting gear before it gets dark. You can come and find us tomorrow afternoon to collect your things. Both B’jin and Larrikith assumed Chironhes would be busy for the remainder of the day getting comfortable and settled at the Weyr, and B’jin did not like being woken up before lunch time if he could get away with it.

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.