05.Aug.22, 02:43 AM
Ch'es smothered a laugh behind his hand, but it didn't help when the dark hatchling could read his amusement clearly. Proud, Pardrith lifted his head and stood tall to show off his lithe frame for Sironar to appreciate properly. Since Ch'es seemed to think the world of him, he supposed he could give the youth another chance.
When one of his siblings bumbled too close and risked knocking over both of the teens, Pardrith squeezed by to bare his teeth in a lip-wrinkling snarl. The clumsy blue scampered back behind the cover of his boy, away from the pair under his protection.
Interested by the behavior, Chirp observed the interaction with a tilted head. With a trill, she bounded off Ch'es's shoulder to land nimbly on Pardrith's head where she mimicked his posture, acting as a second sentinel. Satisfied to have her following his direction, Pardrith sat and nodded. It was only right she should take direction from him!
Turning his attention back to Sironar, Ch'es regarded his roommate. Previous roommate. It was still surreal to realize he'd not spend another night in that room which had become something of a sanctuary for the pair of them against all that happened in the Weyr. Are you okay? he asked, falling back on the hand signals the pair had devised between the two of them.
Ch'es nodded fondly, dropping down to scratch beneath Pardrith's chin where he felt an itch himself before tugging Sironar with him towards the food tables. After collecting a plate for himself, he approached an attendant to signal for a bucket for Pardrith and carried all the spoils back to their secluded corner. It was hard to have any kind of privacy when Pardrith tended to tell everyone and their mother what he was thinking or feeling.
Well, he had no defense there.
Ch'es stuffed a bread roll in his mouth with one hand while plucking a piece of meat from the bucket out for Pardrith. Even if the young dragon could eat from the pail himself, both boy and dragon preferred the bonding of hand feeding.
Even with his mouth full, Pardrith still managed to offer his opinion interwoven with his boy's thoughts.
Ch'es kept the bread roll in his mouth and smacked his hand across his face. You can't just tell people how they're allowed to feel, Pardrith.
Clearly not understanding the implications, the little dragon turned back.
Even with his second hand covered in meat juices from Pardrith's meal, Ch'es brought it up to join his other hand and hide his face behind them both. This was going swimmingly.
He wouldn't have to worry about surviving all the classes he had to take now. Ch'es was convinced he would simply die of embarrassment right there.