Asking for Trouble (Rael, Toya, any free rider)

[brimstone81]

Panthea had led the girls to the alpha wings. She of course was more self concious than ever. She worried about how people saw her sometimes, and wanted to protect herself from being hurt or looking hurt. She didn't speak on her tour to the alpha weyrs. She wanted some time to think, so she let the other two walking behind her talk as they will. There was a chill down her spine, and she breifly wondered about what they were doing. . . This was a chance that she was taking. Being a candidate, they wouldn't have shoulder knots. With out shoulder knots, who would know who they were? Or would it make them stand out ever more? Their dragons would know, but well. . . Panthea tried to let go of her reservations. She was a reseved, hard working girl by nature who had a conscience that was pretty strict. No, she did not give herself permission to have a wild time, but that was her personality. No one can teach you to act like a party animal if you yourself are happy with how you act. Social concious was probably a good word to call Panthea. Well now they were nearing the wings. There was no backing out now. Not that she would chicken out and be forced to being forever teased by the others. No, it was too late to change her mind.

Not that the candidate Master could stop her from standing by just going into the weyrs themselves uninvited. That was not what she was thinking about. Panthea was a smart girl who happened to have a nice reputation. So what if she didn't drink wildly or flirt shamlessly, or show her cleavage? She had friends who did, but she chose not to imitate them. Friends like Kelsaya, Byrda and D'lon. Panthea was sure that she looked respectable, if not a tad to the serious side. This wasn't that big of risk. While there were plenty more queen candidates, she was sure that the Master would want all the girls he could get so that the new queen would have plenty to choose from. Breathe, she told herself. This can't be that hard. She turned to the others and said softly, "I give you the Alpha Wing weyrs. Go forth and find riders."

Let them go first. Let them flirt to their heart's content. If they Impressed this time around, well then there would be less time to do it later with a young mouth to feed and a little body to oil. Not to mention more lessons to attend to. More solomnly than previously, Panthtea walked around, her dark eyes peeking in here and there, hoping to find a rider off and perhaps a little bored. She had said she was going to aim for a brownrider, and she would. They were often reputed to be steady and loyal. Once J'tan, however teasingly about one of his friends, said that they were less given to the frivolities of vainer folk. That might have just been that rider, but it wasn't a bad quality, at least no in this gold candidates' eyes. However she still tried to rationalize this whole situation in her mind. She was not seeking a weyrmate, just perhaps a friend to go fishing with. Why would she flirt with friends? Maybe she was looking at this all wrong. . . and maybe she was just thinking about this all to seriously for one so young.

Panthea leaned against a wall after she was sure the other two were well on their way to finding riders, and closed her eyes just for a few seconds. She thought she heard soft foot steps, but then thought it was just Rael or Toya walking past. She sighed and then rubbed her eyes as if to rouse her after clearing her mind. This is just a mode of fun. Just meant for entertainment. She told herself.

[FireThorne]

((Hey, Rael’s not that bad!! She thinks about other things besides flirting. Like that time she...okay, um...well what about the time....oh yea.....well, take my word for it, she’s not that shallow. Hmph. ))

Raelwyn took a deep, steadying breath as Panthea lead them to the Alpha weyrs, her eyes darting about them wildly for any sign of movement. Her heart had begun to beat more swiftly, until it was nearly hammering in her chest. Her adrenalin coursed madly. She had never done anything like this before, and her body started to run away with her in the midst of the excitement and fear. It was certainly a crazy situation. When the girl in the lead stopped and beckoned, Rael managed to school her expression enough to hide her confusion. Where had all of the other Fort-born’s lightness gone, the teasing mood she had worn not so long ago? Now she seemed far more serious than in the barracks, but it could have been attributed to nerves. After all, they were in the lair of the beast now–no turning back. Yet, something about Panna’s manner bothered the girl, but she rather thought this would be a bad place to point it out. Right now, they needed to get what they came for and leave. That was by far the best option

Nodding, the candidate quietly walked off, glancing over her shoulder at Panthea. Her mood had swung from playful to dead serious so fast she wondered if one of them had said something to offend her. Oh, Raelwyn would hate that! They had just become friends. Maybe she had not wanted to do this to begin with? The girl sighed. Great; she was brooding like a moody old goat when she should have been searching for a rider. Yet, she worried about her friend. She hoped Panna was okay. Rael was the type of girl that let her emotions run away with her, and when someone she cared about seemed hurt, the girl’s heart ached. Her sentiments had been known to swing wildly out of control, if truth be told, and wrench through her entire being like a dagger of ice. Now she was worried.

Shoving those thoughts aside, the girl strode forward, looking through the hall for a rider that seemed bored. Rael tried to think of what she would say. She liked to flirt, she would admit, but the candidate had never done so with a grown rider before. Besides, her attempts at the coy ways of a coquette were juvenile at best, and she was perfectly content that way. She was still a virgin, and she had never gone very far with a man at all. To be perfectly factual, Raelwyn had only kissed two boys in a romantic fashion, and when they had wanted to go further, she slapped them. Hard. She was not the type to wear skimpy clothes or get all sultry and sensual, and the Fort-born would be charred before she let man have her innocence through anything less than love. Yes, this was by far the craziest thing she had ever done. Coming up disappointingly empty-handed, Rael sighed, leaning against the cool stone wall. Her heart still thudded like the hooves of a runner, but she would hold fast to her courage and find a rider. Her adrenalin still flooded her entire body like a great ocean wave, and her giddy nerves pulled at all of her funny strings. She almost giggled.

Shoving away from the wall, the girl whirled as she heard a noise behind her, and abruptly lost her balance. “Ah, char it.” Raelwyn hissed lowly, catching herself on the wall. However, as she fell, her feet got tangled up and the strap on her right sandal broke. “Aww, shaffit!!” She snapped, forgetting herself and where she was. “Shards and shells, why do things like this bloody always flaming happen to me?”

[brimstone81]

((Aww, I didn't mean to insinuate anything about the others, I was just trying to show Panthea's inner turmoil, and that she isn't so perfect as she would like to show. Panthea just assumes that the other girls are more flirtatious and well liked and stuff. That's not me taking a jab at Rael! Plus I love the name Rael, I have a lord holder at another Weyr named Rael. Though he's just Rael, not Raelwyn. ))

Panthea's eyes opened as she heard a familiar voice cursing down the hall. Was that Rael? Was she in trouble or was the girl hurt? Panthea raced down the to where she had heard the distinct 'aw shaffit' and looked until she found her friend. Rael looked frustrated to say the least and was holding her self up against the wall. Concern rushed over Panthea's rather serious features. She was worried that maybe Rael tripped and hurt herself. Maybe she even twisted her ankle. And by personal experience, she knew it could hurt. Panthea reached out, her eyes on her friend, and managed to speak, "You okay Rael? What happened? Are you hurt?"

Panthea hoped Raelwyn wasn't hurt, although if she was, they wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of finding riders. "Is it your ankle or did you stub your toe?" The candidate noticed her fellow gold hopeful's broken sandal, and Panthea actually giggled, "Or is that all, did you rip your sandal? I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh."

Panthea had been feeling a little sorry for herself lately, and she hated herself for doing it. Panthea did not like self pity, and was ashamed that she was sometimes. The gold candidate knelt to inspect the damage. It was snapped, and might not be worth repair, but then again, candidates weren't exactly at the top of the new clothing chain. Most of the candidates Panthea knew had not a mark to their name, this included herself. Well almost, she wasn't a horrible saver, and every stray mark was duily saved for a rainy day incase things didn't go according to plan. Panthea stood again, "I'm sure it could be repaired, but never to the same quality it was when it was new. I might work on it if you want. I'm a fair mender." She smiled to some private joke, and then went on, "I usually keep myself busy, but even so I'm sure I could try to fix it. Though I would recommend looking for a new pair. The place where it broke is not an easy one to fix."

Panthea looked around, there must be a few riders somewhere. She smiled, "And I don't suppose you found a ride yet?"

[Dragon Heart]

Toya had followed in silence, feeling that nether of the other girls wanted to talk, but the silence was eating her alive. Toya couldn't help it. This was the big moment, the time of truth. Would she be able to handle guys if she impressed a green? Toya knew that this experience might help her find out. Toya wished one of them would say something. Talking was how Toya relieved her nerves. She noticed the change in Panthea's mood, but was not too surprised. Toya had seen this before. Toya only hoped that her new friend could sort through all of her problems. Toya saw the alertness that Rael was displaying. She looked like she would jump at any sound or sudden movement.

When they arrived, Toya went quietly, looking, but not daring to go into any of the private spaces. Toya wasn't new to flirting, but that is as far as she had ever gotten. The boys in Ista Weyr didn't like her looks, or, maybe it was the fact that her parents were "only" green and blue riders. Toya hated Ista Weyr. Ista Weyr was unfair to the holders, and the lower ranked.Toya didn't really see anybody that looked bored, so she kept going. Her strap fell, and though it didn't really show any more skin than it had before, Toya left it there, knowing that it would just fall down again.

By the time Rael's strap had broken, Toya was well on her way down the hall. She heard the stream of cursing, but it didn't really register as her friends voice. Toya was thinking about the Bad Year, and was not really looking at the riders anymore. All Toya really saw was the knots that indicated what color dragon they rode. Toya just kept walking, not seeming to have any purpose. It finally registered. Something was wrong with Rael, and Toya would have a short run to get there, but where was there? For a moment Toya forgot which direction she had come from. Toya hadn't payed attention as she walked, so all of the things around her were new. Then she chose a direction and ran. All Toya could think about was whether or not her new friend was safe, strange occurrences played through Toya's mind. Most of the things she saw couldn't have possibly have happened, but the images made Toya run faster. So, Toya ran blindly in the wrong direction, trying to save her friend from the biggest monster imagination could bring up.

[Crimson]

“Shards and shells, why do things like this bloody always flaming happen to me?”

"Perhaps if you were less clumsy, Candidate, they wouldn't." R'dir raised an eyebrow, and came fully out of his own weyr, where Lornath was still sunning on the ledge. "Now, shush yourselves. There are riders here less kind than I am." He almost smirked at his own words. He turned slowly as he heard footsteps coming at them at what sounded like a quick pace. It was yet another girl. This made three. "Slow down, girl." Rolling his eyes, he turned back to the two girls already in front of him.

He wasn't sure he could spend his entire afternoon with three girls the same age his sister would be. Please? The dragon's plead was enough to break him.

Fine. We'll go. But I won't enjoy myself. R'dir sighed. "Are you three twits just about ready to go, now that you disturbed my wing and absconded me from the Weyrhall?"

[brimstone81]

At his voice, Panthea shot around to gaze at R'dir. She smiled then, pleased that he had remembered to be around. Her eyes brightened a little bit with interest as she scoped him out. From the last time they had met, she had thought about him in a passing thought or two, but now she would make sure to remember his visage. Panthea was grinning, and said playfully, "I guess I never thought that calling a poor candidate girl names like clumsy was very kind. You must explain your logic to me one day."

He didn't look very excited to be going, but Panthea had asked him earlier when she had met him. She hadn't been sure he'd accept or if she wanted him too. But now she was sure she wanted him to be the rider that took them on holiday. Plus, he was a bronzerider, something better than what she had previously planned. Before getting here, she had thought that she wouldn't be able to hold up her end of the deal-to find a dragonrider as an escort, and a brownrider at that. But thanks to her chance meeting with a rather interesting bronzerider, now they wouldn't have to worry about persuading other riders.

"I think that I speak for all of us by saying that we are all more than ready to go." She was still pleased that he remembered and didn't blow her off.

[Dragon Heart]

Toya had run literally into a dead end. She then turned around, and ran in the other direction. As she neared the others, she was out of breath. She saw the other rider, and slowed to a walk before she got close enough to realize that his knots said he was a bronze rider. Toya's heart skipped, not due to her hard breathing either. She heard him ask if they were ready to go, and Toya stopped suddenly. A bronze would take them? How? That could not be what she had heard, but it was. Toya was for once at a loss of words. She just stood there, gasping for breath, and staring. Toya had forgotten that she had heard Rael cursing, and that she had just been running as if it was for her life. Toya was in a conflict with herself. Bronze riders were never nice to her, and this one seemed no different. It was like he was being forced to do it, or at least that is how Toya thought he acted. Toya was scared of him, she didn't really have reason to be, but she was. Toya considered on insisting to find another rider for herself, but she couldn't seen to bring the words out that would let her do just that.

[FireThorne]

((Hehe. Please do not take offense at my post, Crim, it's all meant in good fun. ^_^))

Raelwyn scowled at her friend when the girl arrived, her green eyes snapping though it was a playful frown meant in jest. “No, you shouldn’t laugh.” She hissed at Panna, then grinned to show she was only joking. She turned her foot a little, examining the broken strap with a critical stare. Glowering at the sandal, she sighed, then bent down and removed both of her shoes. She would have to get a new pair, but how? She did not have a single mark on her, so she would have to work in exchange for them. Barefoot, the girl shivered slightly at the feel of the cold stone against her feet, then grinned crookedly at Panthea. “And no. I haven’t.”

It was then R’dir made his spectacular entrance, sending a hot jolt through her like a heated lance. Raelwyn was stunned for a few moments, having been ignored by the riders but never treated so harshly, but she quickly mastered her surprise. Anger rapidly took over. Panthea tried to stand for her cause, but to the girl, she had not been nearly hard enough on the man. The candidate scowled, fury crawling through her blood and slowly rising up her neck and coloring her cheeks with crimson. She never let men treat her like that, although she would lying if she said she had never been swatted on her arse for her cheek.

Her green eyes narrowed sharply, the icy stare she pinned him with surely too bold for a candidate to a bronzer. Smirking, Rael held up her broken sandals, arching a brow smugly. “Well, I would be ready, dear bronzerider, if I did not break my sandal because of my terrible clumsiness.” The girl said venomously, her voice so sickeningly sweet it was poisonous. She sniffed, then turned slightly, feigning distress. “Oh, I can’t go, unless...” The candidate’s gaze snapped to the rider’s, and she smiled. “Someone gets me a new pair of sandals. I’m broke.” He was going to pay for that comment, and if she got her way, he would pay in marks.

Panthea looked happy to see the man, though, Raelwyn was surprised to find, and she regretted her words for a moment. He insulted them all, acted like he would rather have his nuts ripped off than be with them, but she was smiling. The candidate sincerely wished she had not ruined it for the others....he could dismiss her if he wished (which the girl was counting on), but she hoped Panna and Toya would still get their fishing trip. Well, her fellow Fort-born had to be a nicer person than she was, Rael reflected, inwardly giggling. Or maybe...Oh, Faranth forbid, did she have a crush? The girl almost squealed. Oh, she would have to ask her friend later. But right now, she had to see how the bronzerider would react to her impertinence.

[Crimson]

((Haha, none taken. Raelwyn's a feisty little thing.))

The young candidate with the broken shoes attempted to goad him into getting her new ones. R'dir wasn't an idiot, and he wasn't easily manipulated either. "Then I suppose you'll have to get to work, or go to the beach barefoot." He frowned at her. "You have entirely too much cheek. I recommend you learn a little humility and respect before you get yourself into trouble." The bronze rider would never hit a woman, no matter how cheeky. It wasn't his manner, especially after the way his sister had died. "But if you are indeed, how you say, 'broke,' you should know that the Headwoman supplies clothes for those in need. I can't promise that they're craft-new, but they're decent, and workable. Perhaps you should visit her?" He smirked. The girl was interesting, at least.

But R'dir was more interested by Panthea. The girl had taken his not-so-subtle jibe in stride, as if she had already figured him out. And she looked genuinely happy to see him, which was an attitude towards him he hadn't experienced in a very long time. He briefly wondered if her joy in seeing him was simply vacation related or if it was for him, himself.

Who cares? Let's go to the beach, Lornath told him, following his mental note with a bugle. R'dir hadn't taken him to the beach in eons, it seemed. I would like to swim in the warm water.

"Whatever you choose to do, young woman, quickly get it done. Lornath is growing rather impatient to depart, if you didn't hear his loud yells," R'dir told the girl with the broken strap.

The third young lady had come to a screeching halt in front of them and had turned wide, fearful eyes on him. He sighed. "And what's your story? Been brutalized by a dragonrider? Or just come from Hillfolk breeding?" He laughed derisively. "Whatever it is, calm yourself. I don't bite." Perhaps she needed a little more reassurance, and he was certain that two-thirds of the girls didn't even know his name. "I am bronze rider R'dir, rider of bronze Lornath. I ride with the Alpha Wing, as you seem to know now."

[brimstone81]

Panthea grinned, the man was slightly amusing, if not rude. Brazen might be a better word for him. Well now she wouldn't let anything ruin her day. Nothing would bring her down, she'd make sure of it. Although if he continued his harsh talk, she could be quickly turned against him. He was kind of mean to Rael, and she frowned slightly, "Be a little nicer to Rael, at least for the day? She doesn't need to be scolded."

Panthea knew it was probably out of her bounds to ask something of him like that, but she didn't like the way that he told her to have humility. Sure Rael had a way of egging him on, but still. . . She didn't want the other girls to be mad or to not want to go. This was to be their fun day. Then he spoke to Toya, and her cheeks went a little hot. Toya did look very scared for some reason. "It's okay, Toya."

[Dragon Heart]

((sorry guys, got caught up in the hatching... this is still before, and I want to finish this fishing adventure!))

Toya swallowed. She told herself that she had nothing to fear. This wasn't Ista Weyr. She really wanted to go fishing. Spiderclaws should be on the sands, and those were good eating. The temptation of fishing got the better of Toya's fear. Toya decided to laugh aout her fear, and so she said jokingly, "I'm Toya, and my story is that I grew up at Ista Weyr." Toya's secret was out. now they all knew where she was from.

Toya didn't give them any time to respond to it, but laughed and then said, "I'll go get the fishing gear!" Then, Toya headed back to the candidates barracks.

((She'll be back after a few posts))

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn was a bit surprised by the bronzerider’s reply, and he earned a slight of respect in her book. Most men she knew would have either taken her bait just for the sheer challenge of it, or would have swatted her arse for her cheek. He did neither, though his words were no sweeter than before. However, the man did not refuse to take her, as she had rather expected in a way, so the candidate smirked a little to herself. Well, well, she would get her trip after all. Perking up slightly at the sound of a brassy bugle, the girl could not help but grin. His bronze seemed rather anxious to be off, and for a dragon, she would be more than happy to be swift. “I certainly did hear your Lornath, good bronzerider. Be sure I will try to accommodate him.” Rael replied, though this time her voice was devoid of the acerbic jibe it held before.

Her attention rapidly snapped to Panthea as the other candidate pleaded on her behalf, and Rael was surprised by her as well. She was standing up for herself, after all, but the other Fort-born chose to stick out her neck too. She hoped her friend did not receive the man’s harsh tongue because of her. What the girl did not like the most was being told to learn humility, which was something she had when the situation warranted it. Normally, she was far more respectful to bronzers, but he had asked for it when he had made fun of her. However, the candidate would reign herself in now, if for no other reason but to get the other two out of trouble. She didn’t need Panna trying to cover for her and getting her own fat in the fire.

Raelwyn arched a brow in Toya’s direction then, also wandering what was wrong with her. Her fellow candidate seemed terrified of R’dir, but then again anyone without her own temper or Panna’s self-assurance would be. At least, she thought so. Stepping forward, the girl watched slightly surprised as the Istan hurried away, turning a confused look towards the other Fort-born. Shrugging, deciding to take this opportunity to get her sandals while Toya gathered the fishing gear, the candidate turned and pinned her green eyes on the dragonrider. “I am Raelwyn, bronzerider.” She said, deciding she better introduce herself since he did first. “I’ll meet you both in the bowl after getting some new sandals from the Headwoman. Someone told me she supplied clothes to those who needs them.” Inclining her head a bit, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, Rael turned and strode away as quickly as she dared with bare feet on the cold stone.