[G] [O] 743.04.10 | A simple spring day

Varanuth was nearing her full maturity and August wasn't quite sure what she thought about it. The last several months had been a whirlwind of activity. From Var's hatching to lessons to going over the agreement she had with Fort's leaders with Benden's leaders. Ameris hadn't been overjoyed by the prospect of losing a gold to Fort but she couldn't argue with it. Given August's preoccupation with Rh'mus, it was a distinct possibility the weyrling would have argued with it herself.

But Ameris had reminded her that deals were deals and that she had to do what she'd promised. At least for a little while.

They'd had to leave the weyr when Mizeath had flown a few months back, though she was pretty positive Varanuth wouldn't have cared but everyone had been worried the other gold's flight would have thrown Var into a heat. She did have to say that Ameris had prepared her for everything she was going to need to do with Varanuth including a frantic flight away from the weyr. She'd been escorted, of course, T'drin and a couple of other bronzeriders had gone with her to make sure she didn't get hurt.

Which was annoying as fuck. She wasn't a child and she was certain she and Varanuth could have handled whatever came their way but she could see the need for it... She supposed. She was far too independent for her own good and chafed at the rules that impressing her gold had brought around with it.

Do you regret it then?

She sighed as she thumped her head against Varanuth's shoulder and soaked in a bit of the spring sun. "Of course not," she told the dragon as she sought to soothe her feelings, "Where would I be without you? Wore out and thrown away probably." She grimaced at that thought, knowing full well that her words could have been quite true if she hadn't accepted search or forced her father to agree. "Soon I'll take you to meet Audrick," she continued with a sweet smile at the thought of her son, "He'll love you."

I'm sure he will, I am perfect after all, the gold rumbled with amusement, But any child that comes from you will be perfect in every way.

August laughed and patted the gold's arm as she shifted slightly to relieve the pressure on her rear end sitting on the ground. Varanuth was suddenly alert and watchful before rumbling a greeting to whoever had decided to join them. Ever the diplomat August raised a hand in greeting, "Care to join?"

Another Hatching was approaching, this time in Benden. Orgailian had only started Standing at the other Weyrs a couple of years ago to help with his chances but also to just get out and see other areas. Sure, one Weyr was rather identical to another but it was still a change of pace and with new faces to stare at or avoid. Benden was still shiny and new and it had been nearly a year since he was last there so he supposed he had a bit more excitement than usual when packing up and being carted off to another Weyr. Maybe he’d get lucky and end up Impressing and staying for a year or longer or maybe he was wasting his time and would be leaving in a few weeks again.

Either way, Orgailian had arrived that morning and claimed his temporary cot in the Candidate barracks, taking his time nosing about to see who else was already there. He didn’t learn about anyone worth hunting down so he’d grabbed his notebook and went for a stroll with no real destination in mind. He mostly wandered around the Lower Bowl scoping out the best areas to hang out where he wouldn’t be disturbed if he wanted to write but still have a good view of everyone else. A couple of locations were mentally marked but he didn’t stop as a shiny hide had caught his attention.

It wasn’t often he saw a gold dragon simply hanging out in such an open area and he was drawn to her to see what was going on. As he grew closer, Orgailian decided she was young, maybe only learning to fly and it would explain sunning on the ground like that. Then he saw the woman sitting with the dragon and once he placed why she was vaguely familiar, Orgailian knew he was right. He had Stood with the woman a few times and had been there when she Impressed but they had never really spoken more than a few words to one another. That was a shame as well given how attractive she was.

Maybe he should change that. Orgailian moved closer and was startled when a hand raised in greeting and an offer to join was given. He hadn’t expected that despite his intentions to visit and a small crooked smile appeared as he nodded and sat down. Too bad he hadn’t given himself enough time to recall the woman’s name. Autumn? Aubrey? August? That sounded right and Orgailian risked it all on a name, “How’s the weyrling, August? I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you after the Hatching so congrats.”

She squinted lightly into the sun, Varanuth doing nothing to block the glare of it when Orgailian sat down. She didn't really know the man only that he was the kid of R'nd who apparently was rather prolific in his reproduction. Varanuth shifted slightly as the candidate settle in next to August and the woman glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was a handsome sort, though young, and she had a feeling he would be just as prolific as his sire if given the chance.

"She's growing," she grinned, "A bit fat right now but I think once we're flying regularly she'll slim right down."

I am not fat the gold grumbled darkly to the woman. Truthfully she was a little plump and it showed in the languid way she'd sprawled her hind limbs. August wasn't going to mention the stomach rolls that she was leaning against right at that moment. August chuckled as she shook her head. "I wouldn't expect you to think so, dear heart," she told the gold before turning back to the candidate.

"You don't know me," she told him with a pat of a hand against his knee, "I wouldn't expect you to come congratulate me after the hatching. You're doing it now so I'll say that definitely counts." She looked at him again and tried to guess what kind of dragon he would do best on. She didn't know dragons or him good enough to make that guess, though, and she gave up quickly. "Are you excited for Nadioth's hatch?" she asked him carefully.

That was an oddly graceful answer and it showed why August Impressed the gold. She not only accepted his words, as late as they were, but gave an excuse for him that showed no ill will. "Keep with those types of diplomatic replies and you'll be a Weyrwoman before you know it." It might be a smaller Weyr given the older golds would likely stay in the larger ones, but maybe one day he would see August running Ista or Igen. But he wasn't delusional enough to see himself as her Weyrleader or even on a bronze.

Orgailian gave a small shrug. "As excited as I am for any, I suppose. We keep setting ourselves up for crushing disappointment, don't we?" He leaned back, resting his hands on the ground behind him and looking up at the sky. The Red Star was up there but he usually struggled to see it well during a sunny day. But with it coming, he knew there would be more chances of Impressing as well thanks to old diaries he had read.

"If I'm meant to Impress, it will happen when it happens. Sometimes I'm grateful for walking away alone so I can be selfish a little longer and do my own thing. Sometimes I'm envious of the way you, for example, have your other half." He enjoyed being alone but also sought out companionship just as regularly. The hatchlings up to that point probably saw his mind and fled, unsure of what to do with him. The right one would know and find him eventually. Maybe he had to find himself a bit more as well.