[G] [C] 734.01.01 | Hot Potato! [B'jin]

While he hadn’t been in any shape to enjoy more than sleeping in bed beside his lover, R’nd had still enjoyed the Hatching and watching so many Impressions be made. It had been a bit upsetting to see three eggs didn’t hatch, especially the one that had been cracked open to reveal what was inside those dud eggs. His tender senses that morning had appreciated not seeing anything more or smelling anything. It was hard to watch as one twin Impressed and the other was left standing on the hot Sands alone, obviously in shock and wondering what he was supposed to do. Ryvian and Nyvian were good kids and fun to hang out with before their parties grew too wild and it tore at his heart to see them separated like that. Hopefully soon the other twin would find a dragonet to call his own and the twins would be reunited properly once again.

It was nice to see Indivara hadn’t seem too affected by the rampaging bronze either. He always knew that girl was strong, and while he also knew it was often a front to hide her sensitive and vulnerable side, R’nd genuinely believed Indivara took every bronze’s attitude as a personal challenge now and dealt with overcoming them in her own way. That said, he didn’t have much more of an attention span to continue analyzing his young friend and turned to B’jin.

“Do you want to congratulate anyone, love? I know a few that Impressed but I’ll see them at the celebrations later.” R’nd was a bit excited about that. He had spent the night celebrating, gone home drunk with B’jin, attended a hatching, would likely be going back to bed with B’jin, only to repeat steps one and two soon. It was a nice routine! “I prefer getting you back into my bed and--” his seductive promise of things to come was cut short as Indivara was suddenly swooping in on them and giving R’nd another shock to his system that he didn’t need.

“Here. Play daddy.”

With his arms now full of a child that wasn’t nearly as fat as Benden had been at such a young age, R’nd could only stare at Indivara’s retreating back and wonder what he had done to the girl. He was always nice to her! Why did he deserve this? Varlea was awkwardly held as R’nd shifted her from one nook of the arm to the other, trying to sort out the best way to hold her. Benden hadn’t been held that much early on and his rounder shape had meant different methods had been employed. “I’m going to kill her,” he pouted as he looked over to B’jin, now convinced Indivara did it purposely to cockblock him.

B’jin was not paying a lick of attention to his lover as he quietly radiated smug over the results of the latest Hatching. He was not overly pleased that he had missed claiming a gold, again, but to see the last of his searched boys Impress to bronze was no small pleasure and the greenrider was quite happy to wallow in his warm bubble of smug. Seven out of eight Searched Impressed, with just one girl left to get her gold, and of course, his son. B’jin and Larrikith (and Indamor himself, in his own silent way) were all quite convinced the boy would get himself a bronze, when he was old enough. He can begin standing by the time Krypth’s next clutch is ready to show, I should think. The green dragon put in, as B’jin’s brown eyes sought out his young son. Likely, if he is ready. B’jin had a feeling the boy would likely be fussy about what he stood for, and Krypth had only just had her first clutch by a bronze.

The idle conversation about Indamor continued between the greenrider and his dragon until R’nd spoke, and B’jin waved Larrikith off (who gave every indication of a dramatic eyeroll before prancing off to meet the new babies) and the greenrider wrapped his arm lazily around R’nd’s waist. A smirk flickered into life on his lips at the bluerider’s words and he was in the process of cuddling closer when there was suddenly an infant and the particularly desirable body he was picturing with rather a lot less clothing. B’jin blinked several times. “Play daddy?” B’jin’s eyebrows arched up, and he eyed the child for a moment before looking up and eyeing R’nd thoughtfully. He hesitated for a few moments, trying to figure out the best way to play on those words, before shaking his head slightly and gently fixing R’nd’s hold of the infant. “Like this, love.”

B’jin leaned backwards slightly, taking in the amusing sight with clear affect, before leaning back in to kiss R’nd gently. “C’mon. She didn’t say how long you had to play pretend for,” he teased, eyes sparkling. “Let us find Par’a. She’ll take the little imp. Besides, she owes me one.” B’jin gave R’nd a playful look, purposefully withholding why Par’a owed him a favour, and he wrapped an arm back around R’nd’s waist. With slow steps, B’jin gently lead the hilariously timid bluerider across the sands, B’jin’s teeth bit into his bottom lip to keep from outright laughing at his poor lover. It was incredibly endearing!

“She’s not mine,” R’nd felt compelled to point out as he struggled not only with whether he should pout or stare wide-eyed at B’jin but also with how to how the child. He tried to follow B’jin’s instructions with what was apparently the best way to hold a baby that wasn’t a massive lump upon birth but it felt strange to him. For all his protesting about Benden not being his due to his size, R’nd had figured out how to hold him with some ease and that felt far more natural than dealing with Varlea. In the end, the pout won out.

He studied the brat for a moment, having only briefly seen her once before when he went to check on Indivara shortly after the birth. For all of her comments and attitude, she was still a friend and R’nd had been worried about her throughout the pregnancy and how her fragile – and he’d never say that in front of Indivara! – body would handle everything. It was hard to tell if Varlea looked like Indivara or the father but he really wasn’t the best judge for such things to begin with. Benden clearly had his looks and had been hard to deny once Volfetti introduced them but otherwise, R’nd was a master of turning a blind eye to children and any resemblance they had to someone, especially himself.

“Par’a?” Again, he frowned. He didn’t like the idea of dealing with Varlea who was starting to squirm a bit in his arms but he liked the idea of Par’a being an influence on the girl even less! That was all they needed; a young Par’a running around the Weyr. R’nd shuddered a little at the thought. At the mentioning of favours, the shudder ceased and R’nd eyed B’jin with curiosity but he was too afraid to ask the details. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to know about past lovers but thinking about Par’a in a sexual manner wasn’t something R’nd enjoyed and given how he worked favours in the past, his mind couldn’t help but lead him down that path again.

Too confused and worried over his own thoughts and why he was still holding a baby, R’nd took slow and careful steps across the sands with B’jin leading him. “Isn’t there anyone else to ditch her on?” He finally asked, gaze wandering around the crowds still milling about. “Don’t you want to hold her?” B’jin had been , and still was, a great help with Benden and R’nd got the sense that his friend loved children and now wondered if that only applied to his own spawn and those of people important to B’jin, or babies in general. R’nd really hoped it was in general as Varlea squirmed a little more and gurgled, making him worry she was going to be sick or cry. Both were equally horrifying to the bluerider.

B’jin smiled slightly, amusement clear as he shook his head lightly at R’nd. “I know, love.” The greenrider was pretty sure the entire Weyr was aware of just who wasn’t the father of Indivara’s brat – particularly since the actual father had been unknown for so long, and most the Weyr had been quick to attest to it not being theirs! Besides, the little imp did not look anything like his grey eyed, blonde haired lover! B’jin’s expression turned sly and he eyed R’nd sideways. “She’s not tubby enough to be yours m’dear.” B’jin giggled impishly and wriggled his eyebrows playfully.

“Why someone else?” B”jin asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he tilted his head at R’nd, brushing stray stands of his own hair out of brown eyes as he eyed his lover. He studied the flighty looking bluerider’s face for a few moments. “Par’a is a fantastic babysitter!” His expression turned bemused. “She was great with the kids when I was staying with her. She and Amorandii are very close.” That had certainly been an interesting time, and B’jin still had several friends (and some not-friends) who were trying to figure out exactly where B’jin had stayed while he was living with his fellow greenrider after his breakup with N’mall, and what had (or had not) occurred between them. B’jin had been particularly pleased when Par’a had more fun denying an answer than giving away the flit.

What happened (or didn’t happen!) in Par’a’s hut, stayed in Par’a’s hut!

Laughter rippled free of B’jin’s lips at R’nd’s clearly desperate question, and B’jin gave the bluerider a wide-eyed, and incredibly faux innocent look as he smiled sweetly. “But you look positively precious, love. She makes a lovely accessory for you.” B’jin only managed to make the bluerider wait a few heartbeats before taking pity on the poor man and he stepped forward, carefully shifting Varlea again and stealing a lingering kiss, filled with promises. Brown eyes twinkled coyly as B’jin turned away slightly, still leaning against R’nd. Where was Par’a? The woman was usually impossible to miss!

“Ah!” B’jin grinned suddenly as he spotted the woman, wrapping his right arm low around R’nd’s waist, as his lover held Varlea and urged R’nd to walk towards the loud, gesticulating woman that was talking to a couple of other greenriders. “Peeeell!” B’jin crooned innocently when he and R’nd were in reach of the woman, interrupting her excited conversation. “We have a gift for you.” Sugary sweetness dripped off B’jin’s words as he fluttered his lashes at his fellow greenrider, ignoring R’nd for the moment as he indicated the infant in his bluerider’s arms with his chin.

Par’a being a main influence on Amorandii made the bluerider worry a bit but there was time to properly fret over what was being taught to the sweet young girl at a later date. Right then, R’nd had to come to grips with having to interact with the woman. It wasn’t that he hated her; in fact he, he found her to be rather entertaining. It was the way she leered at him and managed to undress him with her eyes that left him slightly unsettled. It was hard to explain since he loved the attention of everyone and could be just as bad as her when it came to flirtatious advances but R’nd liked to avoid her when he could.

Since it didn’t seem like he could thanks to B’jin being monumentally mean by not taking Varlea from him after teasing his tubby genes and before complimenting the apparently fashionable baby accessory, R’nd sucked it up and followed along. It was hard to argue Par’a being an excellent babysitter since she did have a hand in raising nearly every resident under the age of twenty. Indivara was among those and R’nd knew the girl relied on the greenrider regularly so it made the most sense. Well, other than finding Valerian and tossing the girl at him but R’nd understood the reluctant father role all too well and also knew Valerian would be caught up in his note-taking to even pretend he was watching Varlea.

B’jin knew all the right ways to make a bluerider compliant and R’nd grinned at the man when the lingering kiss finally faded away. B’jin was right and he didn’t have to say a word. There were far more entertaining ways to pass the day than babysitting and they all revolved around hiding away inside R’nd’s hut; and more specifically, his bed. “Indivara seems busy looking after a twin at the moment and can’t watch Varlea.” R’nd gave the baby a little poke to the nose as he smiled at her. He still wasn’t comfortable with children but he could tolerate a few minutes far easier than he once could and sometimes the child was even adorable.

Varlea was carefully held out when Par’a moved to take her. R’nd liked when he was able to pass Benden back to Volfetti or even B’jin but he had never been very good at it. There was something awkward about making sure everyone’s hands were in the right place so the baby didn’t go tumbling. Maybe that was just his fear of exactly that happening, though.

As soon as the child was in the woman’s arms, R’nd thanked her and was linking arms with B’jin before any conversation could be struck up. There were promises to fulfill and some people wouldn’t appreciate them happening there on the Sands! R’nd smirked at his thoughts as he urged B’jin away from the crowd with a light tug and then a kiss to the cheek. “You might like Varlea as my accessory,” R’nd teased quietly, a smile firmly in place now that he was baby-free again, “but I much prefer you in my arms.”

R’nd stopped them from walking for a moment so he could turn to face B’jin, arms slipping around his lover’s waist to give a kiss that ended with a light nibbling of the greenrider’s bottom lip. “Still think I’m precious?”

B'jin watched the juggling act of getting Varlea from R'nd's timid grip and into Par'a's almost blunt handling of the child; B'jin supposed when you had handled as many infants and young children as the older greenriders had dealt with, you got last past the eggshell factor. Despite that, B'jin wasn't sure if he ever hoped he was that relaxed around children, though he also mostly hoped he didn't have any more; that would mean someone other than R'nd winning Larrikirth's flights, and he was quite happy with his current blueriding partner, thank you very much!

The wandering thoughts of the harper were interrupted when the bluerider swimming around in his mind linked their arms and swung B'jin around to begin moving off of the sands. The greenrider laughed softly at R'nd's teasing, leaning over to place a playful kiss on the younger man's cheek. "I'm pleased," B'jin purred gently, pressing close when R'nd stopped and eyeing the bluerider coyly from under his lashes. His voice was light and playful, but contained a subtle serious lilt. "I'm their favourite occupant," B'jin could accept that other people ended up in them, from infants to very much adults, but he certainly preferred when they were filled with him, and not other occupants of the Weyr!

With arms around his waist and teeth nibbling on his lip, B'jin just stared up at R'nd silently, pressing closer as his arms slowly wove around his lover's neck. He was disinclined to interrupt the mild nibbles, though his lips pulled into a gentle smile and his eyebrows arched up just slightly. "Always," his voice was soft and whispery, and B'jin pressed closer against R'nd, brown eyes staring up at his partner. "Can we go home now, please?" There was a desperate, almost begging tinge to his words. He really, really didn't want to make a scene on the hatching sands. But there were several layers of clothing that really needed to be removed!

Larrikith sighed dramatically at Ayyonth, mentally rolling her eyes thought her emotions were riddled with fond amusement. Could they be any more pathetic? while her words were aimed at their riders, she was nearly laughing as she turned to peer over her shoulder at a couple not far away that were laying bets on the pair, not at all subtle about their laughter and the odds they were settling with. We should tax them. She added to her pretty blue, indicating the laughing pair not far away.

Now that he didn’t have Varlea in his arms but a sexy greenrider instead, R’nd was back at the top of his game and focused solely on B’jin. “There’s no other destination in mind, love,” R’nd smiled, eyes shining bright with the lust he carried for the man in his arms. B’jin was precious in every way and R’nd loved when he had the chance to not only show B’jin that he was but to revel in the man’s presence as well. “Unless you count all the specific locations within our hut,” too caught up in what they would be doing soon enough combined with the remnants of sleepiness made for an extra oblivious R’nd that didn’t notice how he referred to his hut.

Ayyonth snorted, amused both by the onlookers and R’nd’s slip of words. His rider was usually careful with his words but when it came to B’jin, R’nd spoke a lot more freely without double checking his phrasing and it made for some fun slip ups. Although, it was usually much more amusing when the man noticed what he had said. Given the way R’nd was now leading B’jin backwards across the sands with small steps and kisses, Ayyonth knew the ownership of the hut would never be noticed. We should also charge for the show they’re putting on for everyone. They’re on their way to beating their graduation performance. The big blue rumbled with laughter at the memory. Their riders took the meaning of dancing to a whole new level!

R’nd, however, still had enough common sense that day to remember where they were and what they had just attended that his hands didn’t remove clothing quite as quickly as they normally would have. Instead, he waited patiently, stealing kisses every few steps until their dragons were reached. Dragons were the best thing ever when it came to such situations. Home was needed and quickly? No problem when there was a dragon to get you there in seconds. It was the perfect time to flee for more reasons than one as well. R’nd didn’t have a child in his arms which was always a bonus but since it was Indivara’s and despite her feelings toward the girl, the bluerider was a little worried about her reaction when she heard he ditched the baby on someone else.

Home was the most appealing option by far and in so many ways!